Choosing a saddle, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated. At first glance, all English saddles look basically the same to an inexperienced eye, so you might be inclined to select the cheapest or most stylish one without considering anything else. But each saddle has important differences in features such as seat depth and location, as well as flap length and shape. These differences directly affect your ability to ride effectively in certain events, so just as you choose equestrian boots based on how you intend to ride, you should do the same thing when it comes to saddles.

The three most popular English saddle styles are dressage, jumping, and all-purpose. Here are a few basic characteristics to keep in mind as you try to figure out which style to purchase from TheEquestrianCorner.com.

English Dressage Saddles

• Deep seat with long, straight flaps
• Higher pommel and cantle
• Helps riders maintain a straight-backed, upright posture from their riding helmets down through their equestrian boots
• Allows rider’s legs to stay closer to the horse’s body
• Available with or without knee rolls
• Appropriate for beginners, pleasure riders, and dressage events
• Top brands include Henri de Rivel (HDR), Germania, Jorge Canaves, Pro-Trainer, and Shannon

English Jumping Saddles

• Deep seat with short, angled flaps
• Lower pommel and cantle
• Helps riders to lean forward into jumps
• Available with knee rolls to provide more security and stability during jumps
• Available with Grip-Tac leather for improved grip
• Appropriate for jumping or cross-country eventing
• May not be suitable for novices or pleasure riders
• A leading manufacturer is HDR

All-Purpose English Saddles

• Essentially a cross between dressage and jumping saddles
• Medium-depth or deep seat with mid-length flaps
• Rounded or square cantle
• Available with knee rolls for extra support
• Provides riders with balance and security for participation in different disciplines
• Appropriate for pleasure riding , foxhunting, and competitions
• Suitable for novices and intermediates
• Top brands include HDR, Germania, Pro Am, and Jorge Canaves

Though these are the most popular English saddle styles, they are not the only ones available. Here at TheEquestrianCorner.com, we also carry close contact, event, and young rider saddles, so be sure to browse our entire collection. For your convenience, we also carry all the apparel, riding helmets, equestrian boots, and accessories you’ll need for training or your next event.

Choosing an English saddle comes down to your purpose for riding, skill level, and personal preferences. Your saddle has a direct impact on how well you ride and how quickly your horse responds to commands, so take some time to try out a few different models appropriate to your discipline to see which one feels the most comfortable.