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When it comes to saddles, the first thing most people want to know is the difference between the English and Western saddles for sale. When looking at saddles for sale, the most obvious difference you will notice between the two will first of all be the horn that is present on the western saddle. The design will also be an obvious difference. The western saddle is a bit heavier than the English saddle.

What type of saddle is ideal for riding?

Western saddles are built to be comfortable for the horse and its owner. Western saddles are built bigger to spread the weight more evenly across the animal’s back. These saddles are usually constructed out of rawhide to ensure longer-lasting comfort on long and arduous cattle drives. Although many modern saddles for sale are built from synthetic and lighter materials other than leather, sheepskin and wool.

Pleasure saddles and ranching saddles are other distinctions in the saddles for sale you might find. You will find that work saddles are shaped and built differently than those intended strictly for trail riding or leisure. Another example of distinguishing construction is that racing saddles provide closer contact to the horse’s sides for the rider. English Saddles also form a posture for the rider that is more upright and suitable for precision steering.

The Differences

It can be hard for beginners to tell the difference between all of the saddles for sale on the market. For a newcomer, what makes horse saddle unique might not be so obvious at first glance. And some differences are not exactly visible at first.

After you take a saddle home and place it on your horse, you will notice right away that it has it’s own feel to it. And again once you yourself climb into the saddle, you will discover that your own body has a lot to with with how well the saddle works out. When you test a saddle, it’s a good idea to sit in it and go with your initial reaction to how you like it. But beyond that, what else should you look out for in a saddle?

All saddles for sale have some important things to think about:

Your horse’s fit should be your primary concern. Whether or not a saddle has any other drawing qualities, if it does not fit your horse well, it is pretty much useless. Poorly fitting saddles hurt your horse which tends to make them quite uncooperative.

This is bad for two reasons. If you’re horse is angry, you’re in danger. And if you’re saddle is not properly snug, you’re also in danger. Measuring your horse should be your first step before you go looking at any horse saddles for sale.

Horse care is not easy. It involves monitoring and maintaining your horse’s health as well as its emotional, physical and mental well-being. Be sure that you have all the necessary information to care for your horse and keep your horse healthy. Below are a few key aspects of proper horse care.

Overall Health

There are many vital parts of horse health. For instance, horses may drink up to 10 gallons of water each day. Also if a horse’s stay in their own excrement for long periods of time, they can become very sick. Horses coats need to be groomed on a regular basis for good hygiene. With all the issues involved in caring for your horse, it is important that you get the bulk of your advice from your own veterinarian because they are the most aware to your horse’s needs and situation.

Hoof Care

Horse hooves should be cleaned with a hoof pick to remove any debris and should also be checked to see that they are in good condition. Keeping feet clean and dry whenever possible helps prevent hoof diseases and complications such as thrush fungus which can severely handicap your animal. Daily cleaning is recommended, but a weekly hoof check for healthy horses is enough during milder weather conditions.

Feeding Your Horse

Taking care of your horse saddle is critical. The leather and metallic parts can quickly deteriorate if not properly maintained. Saddles are a pretty expensive purchase, so in order to protect your investment you want to care for your saddle properly on a regular basis.

A good cleaning every thirty days or so should e adequate. This will be enough to stop build up of dirt and rust on the components of your saddle. If you use your saddle more frequently you may also want to increase the frequency of your cleaning regiment to err on the safe side.

Saddles have a long lifespan in general, but if they are not cared for they can rot and deteriorate rapidly. It is also always important to use some sort of leather oil when caring for your saddle once you have cleaned it. This will help to preserve the leather.

You can straddle your horse saddle over a fence to scrub it. You may use water and a mild soap to begin cleaning, but do not soak or saturate the leather too deeply. You can use a medium soft brush to scrub the leather, but be careful not to shred or tear it.

You do want to take your saddle apart to clean those hard-to-reach places. Crud can collect in cracks and areas between saddle parts. You do not want your saddle to become a petri dish of funk that can make you sick, your horse sick or just plain reek a foul odor. Be diligent with the sanitation of your saddle and you will save yourself the grief of a nasty fungus ruining your riding time.