02.02.2020 8 745 0 Horse riding
A saddle for a horse is one of the most important pieces of riding equipment. It is a kind of conductor between the horse and the rider, and its correct form determines the comfort of both the animal and the person. Therefore, it is important not only to correctly put on the saddle on the horse, but also to choose the right one, because it affects not only the movement of the horse, but also its health. An incorrectly selected piece of equipment will cause discomfort to the animal, can lead to physical damage (scuffs, bumps) and even back injuries. What are the main types and what it consists of, let's consider together.
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How horse saddles work
In classical sports (dressage, show jumping, triathlon), English-type saddles are usually used. The design of such a saddle includes:
- Front bow;
- Back bow;
- Fender liner;
- Wing;
- Sweat cloth;
- Stuff;
- Girths;
- Front girth;
- Back girth;
- Pillow;
- Schneller;
- Upper and lower strap of the harness;
- Stirrup;
- The supporting part of the stirrup.
Riding Saddle and Basic Structures
Experts recommend using stainless steel stirrups because they are considered the most durable.
The bracing is designed to hold the saddle in place. Their types depend on the constitution of the horse, the type of saddle and the work performed. Classic girths were made of leather, but nowadays they can be synthetic as well.
Sweat covers with saddles are placed under the saddle. They are more comfortable on the backs of horses than leather saddle bottoms. For their manufacture, natural materials are used that absorb horse sweat. The central parts of the saddle covers are tucked under the saddle chambers so that they do not press on the horses' spines.
To prevent the saddles from sliding back, they are equipped with props (bibs). Martingales are mainly used to keep horses from lifting their heads above certain levels.
English saddles are also divided into:
- Racing;
- Educational;
- Universal sports.
The latter two are used for rental or training of novice riders.
The Wintec 500 All Purpose saddle is ideal for walking or participating in multiple disciplines
DIY saddle making
It should be noted right away that preparing a saddle is not an easy process, and if you are just starting to get acquainted with horses, we recommend staying on ready-made saddles. If you have a good understanding of your needs and the needs of a horse, as well as already have experience with leather and wood, then the next instruction is for you.
Before proceeding, we recommend that you read the video on how professionals are engaged in making saddles.
Video - Making an English saddle
Lenchik
The creation of any saddle begins with the creation of a lien. To get the best quality cake, you should first create its layout. To create such a layout, you will need a one and a half meter wire, cardboard and scissors.
Correct saddle position on the horse
Layout
You can make a breadboard layout in three simple steps:
- The wire should be placed on the horse's back and pressed so that the material takes the shape of the animal's contours behind the shoulder blades. In this area, the front part of the tree will be located;
- The bent wire should be put on cardboard and the resulting contours should be clearly circled;
- Areas of cardboard outside the contours are cut off. As a result, you should have a piece of the animal's back in a cardboard version. It should be attached to the animal and see if the model matches the real outlines of the horse. In case of discrepancies, it is necessary to correct it.
You choose the material for the lien based on your preferences. It can be wood, plastic, plywood, or fiberglass. Each of the materials will require its own working tool. With this tool, you cut out the outlines that follow the horse's back in the same way as previously done with cardboard.
An example of a self-collected tree from a tree
As you can see, the main difficulty in creating a tree is not so much in designing a tree as in working with plastic or wood. In the absence of the appropriate skills, it will be problematic for you to get the desired shape the first time.
Upholstery
Once you are done with the ribbon, you can start making the upholstery. You will need to create two types of upholstery - external and internal. Each type of upholstery assumes its own material.
For upholstery, it is recommended to choose only high-quality and durable materials.
Internal upholstery
The inner upholstery is usually made of foam rubber and involves the following sequence of actions:
- Foam rubber is folded in several layers;
- The contours of the upholstery are determined using a ready-made lien. In this case, the upholstery should extend beyond the edges of the contours by a few centimeters;
- It is recommended to use plywood to make the saddle base. To determine the size of the plywood, it is enough to attach it to the ribbon and cut off all unnecessary;
- The foam layer should be located between the ribbon and the plywood base. To prevent the structure from falling apart, it is necessary to fasten it with nails. It is important that the nails pierce all the layers and reach the base of the flower, otherwise the saddle will be unsafe to use.
Inner saddle upholstery
Popular saddle varieties
- Dressage saddle for the horse: these saddles have deep seats with straight wings, which allow riders to ride with longer stirrups for better leg contact with the horse's sides;
- Show jumping saddle for horse: have more elongated and flatter ribs, shorter and protruding wings to help riders, to save the necessary fit, namely, to feed the body forward;
- Horse triple saddle: very similar to show jumping saddle, however, their wings are even more forward, and the footrests become more pronounced. This may be required for field plantings;
- Horse racing saddles: are even more suitable for riding. In this case, the knees rest against the wings with shortened stirrups. They are extremely lightweight, it is simply impossible to confuse them with other types of saddles;
- Horse Training Saddle: Designed for use in rental groups and for training beginner riders. Training saddles are made on the basis of show jumping wings with slightly straighter (no overhangs) wings and no benfutors. These saddles are made from genuine leather;
- Universal saddle for the horse: Universal saddles, in contrast to show jumping, have a slightly less forward wing overhang. The versatile sport saddles are almost the same as the training saddles, with some experts referring to them as a hybrid of show jumping and dressage saddles.
There are also some types of saddles that are quite specific, and are only common in a particular area.
Complete Hunting Officer's Saddle
These include:
- Cavalry saddle;
- Cossack saddle;
- Officer;
- Farming;
Saddles for horses, like bridles, are made from leather according to the old tradition, however, these days, you can increasingly come across cheaper synthetic materials.
Views
Consider what types of saddles are.
Probezhnoe
The main purpose is to travel long distances, often used for trekking or hunting. It is characterized by the presence of a soft seat.
Thanks to the wide shelves, the horse can move freely, and they do not put pressure on his back, since the rider's weight is evenly distributed. The seat is equipped with additional rings to which you can attach equipment.
Dressage
A distinctive feature is a deep seating position, thanks to which a person can straighten his legs. It has a shortened seat, narrow and long wings.
Did you know? Ancient saddles - blankets, began to be used as early as 700 BC.
In dressage, the horse must respond quickly to human commands, which in most cases are given by the body, so almost all dressage saddles are not upholstered, and the shelves are made narrow and short.
Universal sports
By the name of this seat, you can guess its purpose. It has a universal shape used in all types of equestrian sports.
We advise you to read about how to choose a horse for yourself.
You can also go hunting on it, it is ideal for walking, various training and other purposes.
Show jumping
It is used for show jumping and has some differences from the usual saddle: the wings can protrude forward, the back bow is round or square in shape.
Triathlon
In appearance it is very similar to a universal one, it can be used for different purposes. However, there is one difference - the airbag and the wing are slightly pushed forward, which makes it possible to change the landing to the field landing for the duration of the cross.
Skakovoe
The main purpose is horse racing. It has a simple shape, flat seat, shortened harness. Many are interested in the question - how much does this ammunition weigh. Its weight is very small - only 400 grams. It is easy to confuse this species with bezlenchikov.
Cavalry (race)
The main purpose is a long stay of a person on a horse. Strong materials (steel or wood) are used for the manufacture of saddles, which have a beneficial effect on wear resistance.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the most popular types of horse harnesses.
Thanks to these materials, there is a proper distribution of the load on the horse's back. Previously, similar ammunition was used in the army and on long campaigns, so it has additional mounting components for weapons.
Hunting
The development of the design of this saddle was carried out taking into account the wishes of the gamekeepers and hunters. Thanks to its device, it is ensured that the rider is properly seated, it does not hinder the movement of the animal.
Did you know? A horse can find its seat by smell, distinguishing it from others.
The horse's back is not injured, the seat does not come into contact with the withers, and it allows to evenly distribute the weight of the rider and the pack. For the manufacture of the tree, wood is used, reinforced with wrought iron. For linings, natural leather is used, which protects the back of the animal from namins and heels.
Cossack
It belongs to the travel type of saddle, but a different technology was used for its manufacture. The main elements are wings, pillow and archak. The seat has a shape of small size and a handle - thus, a person can rise and carry out tricking.
Officer's (Warsaw)
Most often, such a seat is found at military events, parades, it is worn on animals of the mounted police. It has many mounts for various weapons and other things.
Western (cowboy)
Previously, it was used by American cowboys - grazing cattle. It has a slightly different shape from the standard saddle, thanks to which a person can comfortably and comfortably sit in it and feel confident even with unexpected movements and stopping the horse. The Western has a perfect outline and is comfortable for horses to move around with.
Pack
A specialized type of saddle that is designed to carry heavy and large loads on horseback.
Womens (womens)
For the first time, they learned about a lady's saddle in the 7th century. At this time, women wore fluffy skirts, it was very uncomfortable to sit in a men's saddle in them, so ammunition was developed specifically for the weaker sex.
Learn how to do it yourself: bridle, halter, saddle cloth and blanket.
However, as soon as trousers entered women's fashion, these saddles ceased to be popular. But lately they have become in demand again. All of the above types, with the exception of the Western saddle, belong to the "English saddle" group.
The device of the sports version of the saddle
Saddle for equestrian training in dressage and obstacle courses
Each sports saddle consists of:
- Front bow;
- Seats;
- Back bows;
- Pillows;
- Loops to tuck in the end of the route;
- Rear wing cushions;
- Wings;
- Front wing cushions;
- Rings to fasten the props;
- Schneller (lock for securing the route).
Sports saddles can have a combination (wood and metal) or plastic ribbon. Sports saddle cushions are stuffed with wool or modern soft polymeric materials.
Combat and Cossack saddles
If you are planning a long ride on a horse along a not very good road, in rain or slush, and even take a lot of things with you, then it is best to opt for a drill or Cossack saddle for a horse. Initially, these types of horse saddles were invented for cavalrymen who spent most of their time in the saddle. That is why such saddles are still the most comfortable for long walks and horseback rides.
Field officer saddle
Lady's saddle: landing features
The women's saddle, which was widespread among the European aristocrats of the 18th-19th centuries, is now considered truly exotic. A ladies' saddle may differ from an ordinary one in that it has two horns or wings. These are the so-called bows, with the help of which it is possible for the riders to hold on to horses more tenaciously. The upper wings serve as supports for the right legs, while the lower wings support the left legs and act as supports when jumping over obstacles.
Ladies saddle assembly: 135 cm stubin leather girth, balancing girth, safety stirrup
On average, older side models in full gear can weigh approximately 12 kilograms. Today, craftsmen prefer to use lightweight materials. For example, ribbons are made from plastic, as well as from foam filler, as a result, the weight can be almost halved.
The main girths used in side saddles must be wide and secure. Constipation of the girths is under the bows and is triggered mainly in extreme situations, with the release of fetters. In modern and improved models of ladies' saddles, riders can feel more comfortable.
Differences
Each type of horse saddle is very different from all others, so you should not level all saddles with the same brush. So, when you come to the store, you will have to explain very clearly what exactly you need a saddle for and what you plan to do.So, for example, you cannot try to put on a saddle for any breed of pony on an adult horse, because it is not something that will not work, you simply cannot put it on a horse. It is also not a very bright idea to load a horse in a race saddle, or, conversely, in a pack saddle to force the horse to take a barrier.
Now let's talk about everything in order. In fact, you shouldn't think that horse owners have all 15 types of saddles. And why is it? A person with a horse will not do everything at once. Therefore, the saddle is chosen for its intended purpose and when it is really needed for certain purposes.
We prepare the frame from scratch
- The first thing to do for this is to determine the size of the animal at the highest and lowest point of the withers and in the arch of the back. The resulting dimensions should be transferred to cardboard, then draw a drawing of the frame for the ribbon and cut it along the contour.
- The next stage is the creation of 2 shelves. After cutting out of wood, connect them with wire so that they hold their shape along the back of the animal. In each shelf, a hole is made for a girth.
- They take a piece of wood, impose a pattern of a bunny and cut it out, and then attach it to the shelves with nails.
What the saddle consists of
All parts of the saddle are precisely tailored to the structure of the animal's back. The standard design includes:
- rigid frame (lien), which is constructed from hardwood, fiberglass or metal;
- sitting (seat) - rider's landing place;
- Luke (front and rear) - raised parts of the frame that allow the rider to sit more firmly in the saddle;
- wings - leather parts that cover the buckles that secure the girth and stirrups;
- girth - a belt covering the horse's body, with its help, the saddle is held on the back;
- servants - straps on which stirrups hang;
- stirrups - metal devices to support the rider's legs;
- pillow - a leather bag filled with sawdust or wool serves to protect the animal's back while riding.
This saddle structure has evolved over the years of using horses as a means of transport. The attachments are of different sizes and are selected individually for the horse.
