Stirrups, girths and saddles for horses

Riding saddles, stirrups with stirrup leathers and a matching girth are essential for enjoyment and above all for success in equestrian sports. Everything must be matched exactly to the specific requirements and conditions, as unsuitable equipment can otherwise lead to permanent problems.

The right saddle for the horse

Every horse is unique, so it is quite logical that every horse's back is different. Each horse therefore needs its own fitted saddle. Buying the right horse riding saddle is often not so easy in practice. Horses without a typical back always present saddlers with great challenges. In order to meet external conditions and the requirements of equestrian sports, there is a wide range of different riding saddle designs. Among the best known are the classic all purpose saddles, eventing saddles with a focus on jumping or dressage, as well as fur saddles. Bareback pads and special saddles for Icelandic horses are also suitable for many horses.

Eventing saddles, the general-purpose horse saddles

As the name already promises, this horse saddle is incredibly versatile. It combines all the basic requirements of a dressage saddle, a jumping saddle and a cross-country saddle in one. They are usually made of leather, but there are now also saddles made of synthetic material. Among the best known are the Wintec general purpose saddles, which are particularly easy to care for and also very light. 

Bareback pads and fur saddles

Bareback pads for horses are padded underlays for riding. Visually, they look like thickly padded saddle pads. There are bareback pads with stirrups, but they are usually used without stirrups, as the stirrup straps can exert pressure on the back at certain points. Riding pads are generally not intended for permanent use or even as a complete saddle replacement. However, they offer a good alternative for horse and rider. They can also be a useful addition to riding for carriage ponies and shetties. The purchase of an expensive saddle for small horses is usually very cost-intensive and time-consuming, as there are only a few models available for them. In contrast, bareback pads are cheap and are available as bareback pads for ponies and bareback pads for shetties, so that they can be ridden as well as driven.

Fur saddles offer a little more support than riding pads. Like the pads, fur saddles usually have no stirrups, but there are also fur saddles with stirrups. The saddle itself is treeless, but has shaping panels under the seat, giving the rider better support. Fur saddles also offer more withers freedom than simple riding pads. The Christ Fellsattel Bareback Iberica Plus, for example, has removable panels for this purpose. This m like Baroque horses, have special requirements for saddles due to their proportions. As gaited horses, many Icelandic horses also have a particularly pronounced shoulder area and their gait in trot must also be taken into accoakes the chic sheepskin saddle even more comfortable for both horse and rider, and it can also be easily adapted to horses with high withers. 

Icelandic saddles

Finding the right saddle for Icelandic horses doesn't have to be difficult. Conventional English riding saddles usually do not fit them because Icelandic horses, like Baroque horses, have special requirements for saddles due to their proportions. With an Icelandic saddle specially designed for these requirements, such as those from Karlslund, the chances are good that you will quickly find the right saddle. 

Saddle girths 

Saddle girths are available in different lengths and shapes and made of a wide variety of materials. A rough distinction is made between long girths and short girths. Long girths are used for jumping saddles, short girths are usually only used for dressage saddles. Both types are available in different designs, the best known being the anatomical girths, the straight girths and the asymmetrical girths. The long girths also include the cleated girths. Stud girths are mainly used in show jumping. They distribute the pressure of the girth optimally and protect the horse from injuries caused by the studs in the horseshoes when the horse bends its legs jerkily while jumping. The classic saddle girth is made of leather, and brown saddle girths are now very popular. However, leather can cause pressure points and friction on very sensitive horses. For sensitive horses, it is therefore worthwhile to use a sheepskin girths or a suitable girth cover. 

Stirrups and stirrup leathers 

A conventional saddle needs suitable stirrups and stirrup leathers. The classic stirrup is usually made of stainless steel, but there are now many other materials available. Stirrup leathers are used to attach the stirrups to the saddle. Stirrups serve as a climbing aid and in particular ensure a better hold in the saddle. When choosing the right stirrups, you should pay particular attention to the right size. Only when the stirrup fits the foot can it provide the necessary safety. This also applies to safety stirrups. The safety mechanism can only work if they are not too tight or not too big. 

At Horze you will find all the basic saddle gear. Starting with the right saddle, chic Acavallo stirrups with brown stirrup leathers and matching brown girths. Discover the best quality from strong brands such as Christ, Horseware, Kentucky Horsewear or Sprenger. In our girth range you will also find lunging girths, western girths and other saddle accessories. You can find more information about girths in our guide Which saddle girth is right for my horse?.