How Long Can You Keep A Saddle On A Horse?

A high-quality Western horse saddle can easily last 25 years, but you’ll be lucky to get five good years from a cheap saddle. Saddles will start to show signs of aging and can be uncomfortable for horses relatively quickly when you don’t take care of them.

How often should a saddle be fitted?

How Often Should a Saddle Fit be Checked? We recommend that a professional assessment of the fit is carried out at least twice a year, three times for competition horses, to allow for seasonal condition, diet and work changes in your horse’s life, which can result in changes to the fit of the saddle.

How long do English saddles last?

A well-made, well-cared-for saddle could easily last 15-20 years.

What is the best way to store a saddle?

Your saddle should be stored on a commercial or handmade saddle stand in a dry if possible climate-controlled room. We recommend using a fleece wrap for your saddle stand.

Can you put a saddle on a 1 year old horse?

Young horses should not be ridden hard until they have physically matured enough to safely carry weight. For most breeds, this will occur when the horse is approximately 2 years old.

Is it better for a saddle to be too big or too small?

In general, it’s better to have a saddle a smidgen too big than a smidgen too small. (A smaller saddle may cause uncomfortable chafing.)

Is it better to buy a new or used saddle?

The Pros of Pre-Owned Saddles
It’s a better investment than new. You won’t face the steep depreciation in initial value you would with a new saddle and, on resale, you can often recoup all or most of your money (occasionally more, says Whitney) as long as you’ve taken care of the saddle.

How often should you replace a horse saddle?

“For an amateur rider, we suggest a saddle change every 15,000-20,000km (9,300-12,400 miles). This doesn’t mean the saddle is not usable after this distance, but the performance of the padding and the shell will start to deteriorate.”

How do you rejuvenate an old saddle?

Combine 1 part of white vinegar into a container with 2 parts water. Dip a clean rag and toothbrush into the mixture and clean the saddle. Let your saddle air-dry, and then wash it with non-glycerine saddle soap. Then, treat your saddle with balsam or dressing to make it supple.

What is the average cost of an English saddle?

Saddle: The saddle, stirrups, a saddle pad, and girth can run you anywhere from $250 to over $8,000. Bridle: A bridle, reins, and a bit may range from $70 to $1,000. Accessories: Some types of riding, like western or jumping, involve other pieces of tack like a riding crop, martingale, or breastplate.

Should saddles be stored indoors?

If you need to store your saddle for an extended length of time, make sure to thoroughly clean, oil and condition it first. “Once it’s completely dry, store it indoors in a temperature- controlled environment,” says Loudon.

How often should you oil your saddle?

It depends… but as a general rule you should oil your saddle before your first ride, and perhaps every 2 – 6 months there-after depending on how often you ride and your climate. If you ride in very dry or very humid conditions, you may need to oil or condition your saddle more often.

How do you store a saddle long term?

When storing a saddle long-term it should never be left in a bag, on the ground, or sitting on a flat shelf. This will cause it to lose its shape over time. Instead, make sure that it is hanging on a saddle rack (contoured is best!) with a good quality cover over the saddle.

At what age should you quit riding a horse?

As a horse begins to age, their requirements change. The strenuous rides and exercise routine that were once easy to accomplish become more of a challenge. Each horse is unique in the rate at which they age. However, it’s common to stop regularly riding your horse when they are between 20 to 25 years old.

Is it okay to ride a 3 year old horse?

While some trainers believe it is acceptable to work a two-year-old under saddle, many believe that riding is best put off until the horse is more mature. Many wait until a horse is up to four or five years old to begin training under saddle.

Is it OK to ride a horse without a saddle?

To start, it is safe to ride a horse without a saddle, though I would not start a newbie bareback. Riding without a saddle means that there are no stirrups, so if the horse takes off the rider has to be able to stay on the horse without the use of a saddle horn or the platform that stirrups act as.

What size saddle fits most horses?

Under 16.5 inches — You probably need a 15-inch seat size in an English saddle. Between 16.5 and 18.5 inches — Look for a 16-inch saddle. Between 20 and 21.5 inches — Try a 17-inch saddle. Over 21.5 inches — Try an 18- or 19-inch seat size.

What happens if a saddle is too long for a horse?

If a saddle is too long for a particular horse, the rear of the panels will extend past the horse’s saddle support area. This is extremely uncomfortable for the horse, as it puts pressure on his lumbar region.

Should a saddle fit the rider or horse?

Important is always that the saddle fit the rider first – because if it doesn’t then no matter how well the saddle fits the horse, the rider’s discomfort due to poor rider saddle fit will always translate down to the horse. This limits both the horse and rider in attaining optimum performance.

How much should a good saddle cost?

How Much Does a Horse Saddle Cost? On average, a horse saddle will cost around $500. But as we just stated, the price of horse saddles is influenced by many factors, thus it can vary greatly from one saddle to another. While some saddles will cost as low as $100, others can go up to $ 8, 000 or more.

Do saddles hold their value?

Thankfully, used horse saddles keep their value better than most sports equipment. Depending on the brand of the used horse saddle, the age, and how well it has been cared for, a used saddle can sell for anywhere from under $100 to several thousand dollars.