Why are trail rides always western?

Question

When you go on a trail ride, why do you always use western saddles?

Answer 1

Alright guys, Western saddles aren't always more comfortable. It depends on what you do the most often. I'm mainly an English rider, so that's more comfortable to me than the big bulky Western saddle.



I've been on several trail rides in an English all-purpose saddle.



If you mean like why do resorts or destination-riding use mainly Western, my guess is because more beginner riders like the feel of a Western saddle - they feel more secure in that, than a smaller, flimsier English saddle. I myself have only run across one place, down in the Bahamas, that trail rides with an English saddle. The guide said "In Western, you ride the saddle. In English, you ride the horse."



I know that last comment is going to offend you lovely Western riders. No offense is meant, it's just what the guide said when explaining why they used English saddles instead of Western. I ride in both saddles daily and know they both have their pluses and minuses. I'm in no way 'dissing' Western riders.

Answer 2

The answer is quite simple.....



Western saddles were designed so that people could spend all day, day after day in the saddle. The old cowboys would often spend 14 and 16 hours a day, every day for a month in the saddle. That is not something that you would want to attempt in an English saddle. The closest things to an English saddle that are used much on the trails are the Aussie saddles and the old time plantation saddles (though some of those are more western than others). Both the Aussie saddles and the plantation saddles though, have a considerably wider seat than the english, which enables the rider to sit longer with more comfort.



The horse too is more comfortable with your weight spread out over a larger area (provided of course the saddle fits properly). That too was a consideration when the western saddles were designed. An uncomfortable horse is a horse that tires quicker and responds less swiftly.



Though it is true there are uncomfortable western saddles, you will find very few if any serious trail riders that prefer English. This is especially true on long trail rides. For example, our typical ride is about 10 miles and occasionally we do 20 mile rides. I have found that most people who use english saddles on trail rides tend to ride for 3 to 5 miles at most. Not always true I am sure. But is most of the time. By contrast, there is a local trail ride hosted every year known as the 100 mile ride. It starts at Emminence Missouri and ends in Mountain Grove, Missouri. It takes five days to ride if you stay with the group. They camp each night at a different location after covering 20 miles that day. Now that may sound easy, but I assure you that after five days, you are going to be sore unless you are very used to it.



@gale hawk When you put up your western saddle, turn the stirrups a little farther than they would be turned while riding and put a broom handle through them if the stirrup leathers are leather. Store it this way and the stirrups will be turned already for you and it will not cause the problems.

Answer 3

People don't always ride western while trail riding. People in the Americas usually use Western saddles for trail riding. Over in the Eastern hemisphere you'll rarely see western saddles if ever.



That being said, a properly fitted western saddle has a broader area of contact with a horse's back therefore offering better weight distribution for longer rides which is why many people on this side of the pond prefer western vs english for long trail rides. However it is possible to find English saddles that offer the same protection for the horse, namely endurance and trail models that have padded flaps to increase the area of weight distribution.

Answer 4

Western saddles are no easier to ride in than an English saddle, but they do give the illusion of being easier because there is more saddle. If you actually have you reach and grab the horn, you're probably going to fall off anyway. Tourists don't know that though.

Also, the leg position tends to be a bit easier for novices to understand.



As far as why many people who trail ride extensively use Western saddles, it is because they tend to be more practical. A well made trail saddle is designed for comfort and security for both horse and rider. A Western saddle spreads weight out more effectively making a long ride over rough terrain easier on the horse. Also, they tend to be easier to hang stuff on, like supplies.

Answer 5

People think the saddles are more comfortable. I beg to differ :) All the bumps and random pieces of leather annoy me and are uncomfortable. I would rather go in an English saddle and just lengthen the stirrups :)

It is also considered to be a more "secure" seat because of the deepness of it and of course the horn to hang onto. So for beginners, they like to put them in a Western saddle.



EDIT- Also, I just want to say, for the people that are saying no serious trail rider would ride in an English saddle, or that people that ride in English saddles only go 5 to 10 miles, well.. Endurance isn't trail riding, but its similar. The difference is you have to go faster, because its a race. And 99% of endurance riders ride in an English saddle, often with a sheepskin cover over the seat. One of my trainers is a champion 100 mile endurance rider and she uses an English saddle. Just saying, you don't have to use a Western saddle to go on a long ride.

Answer 6

Because Western saddles are generally more comfortable.





The term ''trail ride'' is Western, btw. If you found an English trail riding place, they would call it hacking out.





I ride English and go on trail rides often. And I use an English saddle on my trail rides.

Answer 7

I don't have a western saddle, so I don't have an option. I use my english saddle which is extremely comfortable for schooling and the normal rides, but on long rides (6 hours+) it soon becomes a bit unpleasant. Western saddles are 'working saddles' because they are comfortable even after 6 hours in the saddle, generally high quality and durable, and they have places where things can be attached.



An australian stock saddle is an in between saddle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Stock_Saddle

Answer 8

Well, they don't. When people ride English, they trail ride in an englih saddle. When they ride western, they ride in a westen saddle.



If what you mean is why do so many resort type places that offer trail rides always use western saddles... Firstly, the people that are riding don't know what the *** they're doing, so it safer for them to have plenty of saddle to hang on to. Have you ever noticed that the people who go on those rides slump forward awkwardly and grip the horn? They feel more secure. (I won't teach beginners in a western saddle because every two seconds I'm going "the horn is not a handle!")



Second, a lot of it is novelty. People who aren't "horsey" like to go, "Hey look at me, I'm a cowboy!"



But for people who actively go out on trails it's just choice. Some people like to use western saddles on trails because if somehig goes nasty they like the security of the extra saddle. Of course, I ride both so am comfortable either way. But I don't really like saddles, so I usually go bareback. :)

Answer 9

The difference between a Western and an English saddle is mostly the stirrup placement. English stirrups are kick up and back and Western are down and forward for comfort for long hours Cowboys spend in the saddle. It has actually trailed over into motorcycles. American bike have a Western set up and Europeon bikes are English style.

Answer 10

They're not. I suspect you're talking about rental trail rides, where anyone can come and pay to go on a ride. In that case they like to use western saddles to the beginners who show up can hold onto the horn and feel more secure in the saddle.

Answer 11

We have a lot of FT ers and TWlkers in our area, some of them go on trail rides with E. saddles.



True that W. saddles are easier on a horses back, especially the square skirted ones.



But I feel if a person rides a lot E. their balance is better and they will not fall off if the horse spooks. When I have been training tall horses I use a E. saddle often because my W. saddle is too hard for me to get on a real tall horse and I would rather ride them E. but I have never fallen off when one spooked.

Answer 12

I prefer to use my Stubben Seigfried or my Aussie because all that leather on the stirrup leathers on my western saddle put too much torque on my knees and I end up lame if I ride in it for more than two hours. My western saddle is hard and hurts my butt too.



It probably depends on what type of saddle you are most use to using. For commercial trail rides Western saddles are used so the tourists have the horn to hang onto.

Answer 13

Because western saddles are typically much more comfortable, as well as being more secure, as there is more "saddle" to hold you in. For example if the horse is spooking, you can grab on to the horn, but an english saddle doesn't have a horn for balance. Being larger, western saddles also have places to tie gear on for longer rides, whereas english saddles don't. :)

Answer 14

there not ALWAYS :D i have been on quit a few trail ridesin english saddles but i think the longer ones are in western because its more comfertable for horse and rider because the saddle is made for long rides (: hope this helped :D





--- horseloverxo

Answer 15

some horses do not care about going from an english to a western saddle yet i understand some which have freaked. positioned it on his back intently and lunge and get him used to it in an area earlier a path, you do not understand how he will react. we received't truly decide that both. they're different shapes and weights (an Australian/inventory saddle is outfitted resembling an english, yet a western is different to both, higher area on the back, rectangle structure, and stiffer). i'd vacation contained in the english saddle, in case you at the instantaneous are not tender using this horse in an english saddle then do not vacation the horse.

Answer 16

Western saddles are waaaaaaay more comfortable and there is more saddle for you to sit in, especially handy when going on long trail rides.

:)

Answer 17

I don't I prefer to ride english. really riding western for longer periods of time is more comfortable though :P

Answer 18

I think the English saddles are not designed for that kind of thing... I think :D