Saddles
Throughout the world people ride horses for work, to war, for pleasure and to get places. Different terrain, climate, type of horse and riding styles have led to the development of many different types of saddle and bridles.
While there are far too many interesting saddles and riding equipment to ever be collected by a person, we felt that pictures of our little collection would stimulate some interest in other riding styles and give interested visitors a small sample of the huge palette of horse equipment which are used out there daily.
We will try to expand this list with images of gear in our and other collections in the future. Enjoy!
Portuguese Saddle
There are a variety of saddles in use in Portugal today, the pictured one is commonly known as the Portuguesa. It is the traditional bullfighting saddle usedin Portugal. It is available in all colours and the seat, pommel and cantle are usually done in suede, often of contrasting colour. But some work saddles are finished completely in smooth leather.
This saddle was made in Portugal or Spain and shows no makers marks. It was bought second hand with matching leathers, stirrups and bridle (Collection of Narrawin Stud).
The same saddle with a sheepskin cover looks as follows:
The stirrups on the above saddle are traditional Portuguese ones with matching leathers. The buckle is embellished and sits above the stirrup on the side facing away from the leg. This way there is no lump under the thigh like on conventional english saddles.
Another Portuguesa (was in Narrawin's collection, now owned by A.Beck, Sydney). Note the extension pieces below the flaps. These are attached to the underside of the flap by way of two small buckles. The saddle can be used with or without these extension flaps.
There is another type of Portuguese stirrup which is often used for cattle work and bullfighting. They are large wooden "boxes" with metal ornaments, which encase most of the rider's foot. (Photo coming soon)
Ultraflex Espanola Saddle
Made by Deuber and Partner in Germany, this saddle in style resembles the Saddles of the Iberian peninsula. It is however, built on a modern fibreglass tree. The points are long and are attached near the front and rear of the saddle, forming a large V, making the saddle very stable on the horse once the matching girth is tightened.
The seat is of different colour and has in it firm but soft closed-cell foam. The stirrups we chose for this saddle are made in Portugal, and have matching Portuguese stirrup leathers with the characteristic flowered buckle. The stirrups leathers are used with the buckle at the stirrup and facing forward, in the traditional Portuguese manner.
(Collection of Narrawin Stud)
Cut - back Show Saddle/Gaited Saddle
This is the saddle used to show American Saddlebreds, Tennesse Walkers, Morgans, Arabian and other horses in North America. Some of these saddles have very flat seats, the one in the picture is an "equitation" saddle with a more dipped seat and higher cantle, but the same wide flaps and cutback pommel.
The pommel on these saddles is tradtitionally cut back very far. Often this type of saddle comes with adjustable stirrup bars.
The general idea is to sit the saddle well behind the horse's shoulders so that the horse can show off his extavagant front leg and shoulder action without impediment. In practice, the saddles are sometimes placed so far back that the rider sits on the horse's lumbar region. As many of these horses are often shown from a very early age, damage to the back can result.
A well fitting and well placed saddle of any description used by a good rider won't hurt a horse. Unfortunately, certain types of show ring excess go hand in hand with "English Equitation" so to many people the cutback show saddle has come to be associated with bad horsemanship and horse abuse. In reality, ignorance and abuse occurs in all flavours of riding and is not dependent on the type of equipment used.
(was in collection of Narrawin Stud, now sold)
Icelandic Saddle with ribbed seat and extended bars
This saddle is made for riding Icelandic horses. It has extended bars to spread the weight of the rider over a large area. The seat is padded and ribbed for additional rider comfort. It is very flat and the flaps are quite broad to assist the rider to sit in a position which makes riding the toelt very easy. Similar to the gaited horses of North America, the Icelandic is ridden with a long leg and with the weight further back on the horse. The flact seat allows shifting the weight back when required.
This particular saddle is made by Goertz in Germany. The model name is Champion. The stirrups shown are Australian safety ones with an offset side. Traditional Icelandic stirrups have two offsets, one facing each way, and often the slot for the leather is set at a 90 degree angle so that the leathers do not have to be twisted.
Stirrup leathers can be used over or under the flaps.
Collection of Narrawin Stud
Icelandic/Gaited horse saddle designed by Walter Feldmann in Germany
This saddle was made by Waldhausen in Germany. It is used to ride Icelandic horses and other gaited horses. It is similar in style to the American cutback show saddle, but has suede kneepads and a crupper-dee.
The first picture shows the saddle bare. It is mounted with standard stirrup leathers and stainless steel stirrups. The girth shown with it is an American made "humane girth". It is made from leather and lined with rubber to prevent slipping. The buckles are attached to the dees either end of the girth by leather straps which can slide a little way. This provides a little give when girthing up and it allows the girth to sit around the belly at the angle which best follows the horses build.
The second picture shows the same saddle with a seat cushion. These are commonly used by trainers and other riders on cutback saddles. It was made in USA and fits all cutback show/gaited saddles.
The third picture shows one of the adjustable stirrup bars (right side). It allows the rider to determine where the stirrup leather should hang, enabling different riding styles by changing the rider's balance. Also note that it is possible to hang the stirrup leathers above or below the saddle flaps.
(Collection of Narrawin Stud)
Brazilian Saddle
This is the type of saddle used on Mangalarga Marchadores and other Brazilian horses. It is similar to a McClellan saddle but has a covered in seat which is padded. The saddle in the picture is made by Selleria America. As with many South American Saddles, it has flaps as well as fenders and oxbows.
It can be rigged using one or both dees, in either straight or V rigging. Alternatively, the second dee can be used for a flank cinch.
(Collection of Narrawin Stud)
South African Trail and Endurance Saddle
This saddle is made by Leon Liversage saddlery in South Africa, with the maker's plate on the rear of the cantle. It is the trail rider model.
It has extended bars. Under these are movable leather skirts which allow the saddle to adjust to the horse's back to a certain extent. This and the large bearing surface, make the saddle comfortable for the horse on longer trips. It is reasonably lightweight and can be dismantled to a certain extent, making it easy to maintain.
For the rider's comfort, the seat has rubber under the leather. To help the rider's stability it has small knee rolls.
The rigging is similar in style to that of the McClellan, forming a V which fixes the saddle in position very well and will suit horses with different types of withers.
(Collection of Narrawin Stud)
Branderup Saddle
This saddle was designed by Bent Brenderup, one of the masters of classical dressage living in Denmark. The saddle was made by Deuber and Partner in Germany. It has a fibreglass tree and is very light with a certain degree of flexibility.
It is especially designed to give close contact to the horse and to foster a correct seat suitable for correct dressage. It has fasteners to hold up the stirrups. The points are located far forward and back, holding the saddle firmly in position. The matching girth allows for the V formed by the arrangement of the points. The seat is of soft, glove-like leather. A beautiful and comfortable saddle which we use for the training of horses using classical dressage, the riding and training of gaited horses and general trailriding.
The stirrups are styled after Portuguese ones, but the treat is slightly angled.
(Collection of Narrawin Stud)
Maremma Saddle
In the Maremma region of Italy, mounted cattlemen to this day look after large herds of cattle. These cowboys of northern Italy are known as butteri.
Their saddles come in two varieties, on type is built on an army-saddle tree, the other variety has no fixed tree, instead it relies on heavily stuffed panels to give it shape. Both have in common a lot of padding on the seat and a breastplate with a typical leather plate on the front.
The latter variety is pictured below. It was handmade in Italy by De Santis.
(Collection of Narrawin Stud)
Vaquera Saddle
In the region of Andalucia in Spain, cattle are also raised. There are large herds of beasts which are especially bred for their fire and stamina. These herds are the cradle of Spain's best fighting bulls, destined for the bullfighting rings.
There are various types of saddles in use in Spain. The vaquero (cowboy equivalent) rides in a saddle which has been the same for hundreds of years, a saddle of unusual design and construction. The vaquera saddle does not have a wooden tree, instead the seat is built up from "ribs", being tubes of material filed with special reeds. The pommel and cantle are formed by steel arches attached to the main seat. The underside is linen, stuffed with hair. The top of the saddle is leather, covered with a thick sheepskin. The girth is a long strap with a buckle and double holes which simply goes right over the seat, but under the sheepskin cover.
The stirrups are large triangular blackened steel boxes which protect the rider's foot from scrub and bull horns. The saddle is equipped with a crupper which is fastened to the pommel by way of buckles under the seat. On the pictures you can see a strap sticking out from under the sheepskin at the front of the saddle. This is one fork of the crupper. The buckle is hidden under the cover, and there is one on each side.
The saddle in the picture has "cortesia" stirrups. They are a more ornate version of the blackened steel work stirrups. In day to day work, the black steel ones would be used. Only "garrochistas", men armed with lances which are used to direct and control cattle, use silver coloured steel stirrups.
The cloth tied to the front is from wool and protects the rider's legs. It is sometimes embroidered with the brand of the hacenda. Sometimes it is a folded up poncho.
These saddles are heavy and they take some time to settle down and mould to the shape of the horse and rider. Once set, they are very comfortable for both horse and rider and serve well for many hours of riding. They are to this day the saddle used by the mounted bullfighters in Spain and all the vaqueros who to this day maitain the cattle herds.
The saddle in the picture was made in Jerez in Spain, and has not yet been ridden in long enough to settle down properly.
View fron the front showing the fork forming the pommel and the woolen cloth tied to the front of the saddle.
View under the sheepskin at the front showing the black cinch with it's double buckle. The tan strap is the stirrup leather. The white linen area against the horse on the front and the back of the saddle shows how far down on the horse the bearing surface of the saddle is. Only where the rider's leg lies against the side of the saddle is the padding shorter. The huge bearing surface ensures that the horse can easily carry a big rider's weight for many hours a day without breaking down.
These saddles are traditionally ridden without a saddle blanket. The sweat and heat of the horse's back forms the underside of the hair-stuffed cushions until it perfectly matches the horse's back. This settling in period takes a considerable amount of time.
(Collection of Narrawin Stud)
Selle Royale
This saddle is the one used by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria. It is made by Kieffer in Munich, Germany. The underside is smooth leather, the upper is white suede.
It is a typical school saddle for classical dressage. The tree is made from wood and steel. The stirrup bars are under the flap. Stirrups and leathers are standard english type. The girth used is a regular four or six buckle one.
(Collection of Olivaylle P/L)
McClellan Saddle
Used by the US cavallery, this saddle is very basic, very light and very useful. It is made on a wood and steel tree. It has numerous dees and fittings for attaching saddle bags and other items. It is suitable for riding long distances as long as it fits the horse well. There is no padding under the tree, it is lined with sheepskin, similar to Western saddles.
The seat is not covered in, leaving a slot along the length of the seat. The saddle has fenders and oxbows. Some versions of this saddle come with flaps and stirrup leathers.
The saddle in the picture was made by Marin Harness in Florida, it has mainly been used on Paso Fino horses. In USA and the caribbean region, this type of saddle is very common, but often it has a covered seat and various ornaments.
For this particular saddle there is a seat cushion which can be strapped onto the seat. The rigging is by single latigo, tying the girth/cinch to both the front and back dee on the saddle. The resulting Y rigging makes the saddle very stable on horse of all different shapes. Some saddles of this type come with modified rigging.
(Collection of Olivaylle P/L)
Bedouin Saddle
Made in Egypt, this is a copy of the saddles used by the bedouins and other desert tribesmen. It has a rawhide-covered wooden tree, which has a cushioned seat. The stirrup bars are simply slots in the bars, the girth a strap that fits over the whole saddle. The saddle is covered with an embroidered blanket which also covers the horses back. A matching bridle and breastplate are made of braided wool with kauri shells and beads.
Picture coming soon
(Collection of Melanie Bahlo)
Argentinian Gaucho Saddle
The pampas in Argentina is home to huge herds of cattle and the gaucho. He spends most of his time in the saddle, riding sturdy and fast Criollo horses. Even more so than the cowboy in the west of the United States, the gaucho has legendary status in Argentina. Being a gauco is a way of life.
The traditional recardo saddle of the gaucho reflects his needs and his simple life. It does not have a tree in the usual sense. It consists of several layers of material starting with a leather blanket to keep the horse sweat out. Then a folded blanket. Then a layer consisting of two leather pieces joined over the spine by thongs. Each side is a horsehair stuffed tube parallet to the horse's spine, which forms the padding the rider sits on. Over this goes a leather plate with holes each side to which stirrups are attached. Over this goes a sheepskin and the girth to hold it all together. In camp, the saddle becomes the gaucho's bed and blanket. The simple working version of this saddle is like the one pictured.
The bridle is made from rawhide straps which may or may not be braided. The headpiece is a single strap with a browband. Over it goes a headstall of distinctive shape with straps over the forehead and a low noseband. It does not have cheek straps but it has a close fitting throatlatch which is connected to the noseband and terminates in a steel ring under the chin. This headstall is very strong. The bit is generally a curb bit with short shanks but in some areas a jointed snaffle bit with a metal chin bar is used.
The gaucho's horse is traditionally worked and shown in a hogged mane and forelock but a tuft of mane is left long near the withers. The tail is often cut just below the tailbone. This way of presenting horses has it's roots in the history of the gaucho in fairly recent times.
A man's Sunday saddle is encrusted with silver and has a breastplate made from silver links. Bit and bridle and spurs are made to match.
In some areas of Argentina, the saddles in use have a tree and are similar to western saddles. Characteristic are the saddleblankets made from cowhide which have very long pointy corners front and back. The gaucho in these thorn-infested areas wears large cowhide chaps and sometimes the horse's chest is protected by a cowhide plate.
Blanket, felt pad, stuffed leather pad and rawhide plate with stirrups and cinch
And this is what it looks like with the sheepskin on top - ready to ride!
(Collection of Narrawin Stud)
Orthoflex Saddle - Endurance Cutback
Made in USA, Orthoflex saddles have flexible bars that are attached to the actual tree in four places. That way, the bars will move with the horse, shaping to it's back. They also have a very large bering surface.
Orthoflex saddles come in a variety of styles and sizes to suit various disciplines. The one in the picture is the endurance cutback with aluminium oxbows. The tree is made from fibreglass. The saddle is fairly lightweight.
The panels are covered in synthetic fleece which can be removed and washed, and the saddle requires no pad or blanket. The seat is heavily padded and stitched down. The pommel of this particular model is well cut back. This saddle fits most types of horses due to the flexible panel design and the cutback pommel.
There are numerous well placed and solid dees for attaching equipment. The leathers on this particular saddle are from PVC coated webbing and the stirrups are from aluminium and with a very wide, padded tread.
I have mounted the stirrups in the Mexican way, twisting one of the leathers. This way, each hangs in the correct position at all times without twisting the ankles.
(was in collection of Narrawin Stud - now sold to Pam Hay, WA )
Peruvian Saddle
Peruvian saddles are made from leather on a wood tree. The bars usually have no padding and are simply covered with leather. A very thick woolen blanket, called jerga is used under it.
Peruvian saddles come in a simple work version which often lacks the leather seat cover but can be ridden with a ribbed padded seat cover, called a pellonera.
The saddle in the pictures is a show saddle. Most Peruvian show saddles are carved along the edges or all over. Many have metal bands on the cantle and often they also have a metal plate on the pommel. The are always used with a leather blanket called the carona which has matching carving to the saddle. They are also used with a crupper, "breeching" and a carved tailcover. The tailcover is the guarnicion and the straps are called retrancas. The function of the tailcover is thought to be purely decorative. The retrancas, which sit just above the hocks sometimes animate a horse to more hock action, but generally are for adornment only.
The stirrups are usually from carved wood with metal ornaments on the show saddles. On work saddles they are similar to oxbows with tapaderos.
The rigging is similar to western saddles. On the offside the cinch is attached with a strap and buckle. On the near side the saddle has a latigo which is tied in a cravatte knot. The picture below shows the cinch and the stirrup attachment. The other strap is the point of the near side retranca, terminating in a buckle under the circular flap.
Collection of Narrawin Stud
Plantation Saddle
This type of saddle was used on the Walkers and Saddlers and other horses in the southern states of the USA (Kentucky, Tennessee). There were several variations on the theme. Some had a horn, most of them didn't. The rigging varied and so did the mounts.
Many of these saddles were made by Buena Vista and this name is still a synonym for these saddles.
Plantation saddles are designed to have a large bearing surface, spreading the rider's weight over a large area for long hours of riding. The seat is usually padded and sometimes fitted with a roll at the pommel and cantle.
The saddle in the photo was made by Hillcrest Saddlery in Indiana, USA. It has special trapunto quilting on the pommel and cantle, brass fittings and the underside is made from heavy cotton fabric. This saddle is very comfortable and sits on many types of horses very well. It has points for english style rigging and is usually fitted out with a humane style girth (See the Icelandic/Gaited Feldmann saddle above). The stirrups are wooden oxbows with tapaderos.
Collection of Narrawin Stud
Luc Childeric Dressage
This saddle was made by the french saddler Luc Childeric. It has a fairly soft and deep seat. It is a mono flap saddle with long points. It has fairly large and softly padded knee rolls. The top is made from buffalo leather. It is a very comfortable saddle and tends to give a lot of security.
Collection of Narrawin Stud
Startrekk Espaniola
This is a modern treeless saddle in the shape of the old haute ecole saddle. It is made by Deuber & Partner in Germany. It looks very similar to the Branderup saddle above.
It has an exchangeable gullet which keeps the pommel up off the horse's withers. The panels attach to the bottom of the saddle with velcro and can be adjusted to fit different horses.
It is a very comfortable saddle which gives a good feel of the horse and is very secure due to it's V rigging. The seat is suede. It was purchased from Horse Connection.
Collection of Narrawin Stud
South American Saddle
This saddle was made in South America, judging by the rigging and the type. It may be a ladies saddle or a parade saddle. It has no maker's mark and there is no information regarding it's origin. It is done in rough out leather with a stitched pattern. It came with oxboxs, fitted with matching tapaderos and the leathers are normal ones which are bucked under the flaps.
The underside is white leather, and unlike many South American saddles, it has some stuffing in the panels.
The girth is made from folded leather. The bottom flap is square, same as the top one but made from smooth leather with a scalloped edge which shows around the edges of the top flap. The big dee is for the cinch, the smaller sqare dee is for the stirrup leather.
Collection of Narrawin Stud
Freeform Treeless Saddle
This saddle was made in Canada. It was purchased from Horse Connection in NSW, Australia. Please contact Natalie if you are interested in treeless saddles.
Collection of Narrawin Stud
Syd Hill Stock Saddles
The first saddle shown is my old faithful Superdrafter. I purchased it second hand, though near new, in 1983, which makes it about 25 years old. It has done many years of good service and aside from one restuffing/relining and one new set of points, it has only needed some saddle soap and some oil over the years. It has seen many horses and been my competition saddle for years. It's kept me safe during polocrosse, tentpegging, stockhorse events, bush races, endurance rides and all else. But most importantly, it is the saddle, which to this day I prefer when working young or green horses.
It is still a beautiful saddle and with a good clean and oil it comes up very well, although with constant use, it has a plethora of rubs and scratches and the odd teeth mark :-) The seat is padded and as comfortable now as it was when I first bought it. And it sits me just right for most purposes.
I bought it with matching leathers and leather covered oxbows and surcingle, all of which are still in use and ok.
So here are photos of old faithful, hard at work starting youngsters.
The second saddle shown is a Steve Brady Special which we acquired in about 2002. We bought it with a quilted seat and the matching mounts. As it has not had a lot of use, it's in beautiful condition. I have used it for stockman's turnout and ridden classes at shows only. A nice saddle.
(picture to come)
Mexican Charro Saddle
Collection of OliVaylle P/L
The saddle in the photo is a very elaborate version of the traditional charro saddle. It came complete with the matching saddle blanket (you can see the red and black rolled edge of it near the front of the saddle), girth and blanket (tied behind cantle). It also came with a machete, the handle finished similar to the conchos and dees on the saddle, the scabbard made from the same leather as the saddle.
There is also a matching one ear bride with conchos to match the saddle and reins in black and red. They are the traditional mexican thin curb reins which are designed to go on a curb bit with bit chains. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo.
We will shortly add a section about bridles, bits and bitless bridles. Please check here.
Please note: None of the saddles shown are for sale, excepting those shown in our Gear for Sale page. However, if you have any questions about any of the gear, we'll try to answer those.
If you are passing through the area we would be happy to show you our collection of saddles and the horses of Narrawin Stud. Please ring so we can ensure that we are home and have time to show you around.
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