The show saddle has a rich and lengthy history, directly tracing its roots back to the types of saddles employed by British horse dealers during the late 19th century up until the onset of World War II.
A Commercial Creation
The original dealer’s saddle was crafted with a purely commercial objective in mind: to showcase a horse in the most aesthetically pleasing manner for potential buyers. This entailed illustrating that a horse had ample shoulder breadth in front of the saddle and a generous length of rein, attributes valued by buyers of the time.
Saddle Design: Enhancing Horse Aesthetics
To adequately highlight a horse’s shoulder size and front, specific design elements were incorporated into the saddle. It typically featured either a straight flap or a flap designed to slightly curve backward towards the horse’s rear. The saddle was also constructed to snugly fit the horse’s back, ensuring that it didn’t disrupt the horse’s top lines – the flowing, natural outlines of the horse’s body when viewed from the side.
This was made possible by building the saddle on a short, skeleton-type panel, also referred to as a “Rugby” panel. Composed of felt, this panel was deliberately thin, measuring no more than 19 mm (or approximately 4 inches) in depth.
The Modern Show Saddle: Echoing Traditions
The modern show saddle is testament to time-honored traditions, echoing the same objectives as the older dealer’s saddle. Much like its predecessor, the modern variant is designed to accentuate the horse’s superior physical characteristics, achieving this through similar design strategies. It is further proof that sometimes, the best way to move into the future is by bringing pieces of the past along for the ride.
The Integrity of the Show Saddle Tree
The tree, or the structural frame, of a show saddle possesses unique characteristics designed to display a horse’s physical attributes optimally. It’s crafted to prioritize the horse’s conformation, or body shape and structure, over the rider’s seat positioning.
Rigid Tree: Enhancing Horse Conformation
In contrast to many other saddle types, the tree of a show saddle is typically rigid. This flat, hard framework is deliberately chosen as it more effectively aligns with the long and low design requirements of the show saddle. The goal is to accentuate the horse’s streamlined, elegant body lines in order to draw attention to its conformation.
Crafting the Pommel: Accommodating Horse Anatomy
The design of the pommel, which is the front, upward-curving part of the saddle, also adheres to this aim. In order to maintain a low yet secure position over the horse’s withers—the ridge between its shoulder blades—show saddles often incorporate a cut-back head. This design element can range from a quarter cut-back to a full “cow-mouth” or deep cut-back. The result is a pommel that doesn’t unnecessarily highlight the height of the withers, thus maintaining a smooth, uninterrupted top line of the horse.
Low Cantle Design: Preserving the Top Line Aesthetic
Similarly, the cantle—the rear, upward-curving part of the saddle—is also designed to be low. This further preserves the continuity of the horse’s top line, contributing to a pleasing, the whole-body profile. Show saddles may feature either square or rounded cantles, depending on specific design and aesthetic requirements.
Understanding Show Saddle Flaps
The flaps of a show saddle are unique and specifically designed to cater to the needs of both the rider and the horse, with their shape, size, and placement significantly differing from those in other saddle types.
Flap Design: A Nod to Classic Dealer’s Saddles
In a manner reminiscent of the vintage dealer’s saddle, the flaps of show saddles are cut straight. This attribute helps maintain the traditional look and functionality of the saddle, showcasing the horse’s shoulders and front in the most favorable light.
Wider At The Top: Complementing the Rider’s Position
A distinct feature of show saddle flaps is that they’re wider at the top than those found in other saddle variations. This intentional design aspect is aimed at comfortably accommodating the rider’s legs in the proper show position. By doing so, the flaps ensure that the rider’s legs do not directly press against the horse’s body, offering both horse and rider a more comfortable and balanced riding experience.
The Importance of Stirrup Bars in Show Saddles
In a show saddle, the construction and design of the stirrup bars play a significant role in ensuring that the rider maintains the correct posture while also contributing to the horse’s seamless appearance.
Extended Stirrup Bars: Enhancing Rider Position
For optimal performance and presentation, a show saddle should be equipped with extended stirrup bars. These bars extend further towards the rear when compared to those found on general-purpose saddles. Once the stirrup leathers are fitted, the extended bars effectively divide the flaps vertically down the center.
The usual stirrup bars on general-purpose saddles tend to place the rider’s knees too far forward for the show position. In the case of a straight-cut saddle, this situation could result in the rider’s knees protruding beyond the flaps.
Adapting Show Saddle Skirts
To address these concerns, the skirts of show saddles are designed wider than those found on other saddle types. This creates a tailored space for the rider’s legs and complements the extended stirrup bars. These skirts may be left plain, or covered with pigskin as an additional design feature, depending on the rider’s preferences and the intended aesthetics.
Panels in Modern Show Saddles
Saddle panels act as an important interface between the horse and the rider, distributing the weight evenly and maximizing comfort. In the context of modern show saddles, the design and the choice of materials for these panels are carefully considered to ensure optimum performance.
The Use of the Rugby Pattern
A common feature in modern show saddle panels is the use of felt shaped into the traditional Rugby pattern. This pattern is specifically designed to align closely with the contours of the horse’s body, ensuring an intimate fit that enhances the comfort of the horse and allows it to perform at its best.
Leather or Linen: Choices for Panel Lining
While the main body of the panel is made of felt, further customizations are often applied in the form of lining. Many show saddle manufacturers choose to line their panels with leather, a material known for its durability and comfortable fit. However, others prefer the use of linen, a fabric that offers breathability and softness, while still maintaining the strength needed for long-lasting use. The choice between leather and linen often depends on specific preferences of the rider and the horse, and the overall manufacturing philosophy of the saddle maker.
The Role of the Point Strap in Show Saddles
An important feature of show saddles is the point strap, an additional girth strap that plays a vital role in both the positioning of the saddle and the overall presentation of the horse and rider.
Ensuring Ideal Saddle Placement
A point strap is located under the point of the tree, enabling the saddle to be positioned farther back on the horse. While keeping the saddle in this location, the girth can still be fitted into the horse’s girth groove, which emphasizes the extent of the shoulder and the horse’s front view.
Stability and an Uninterrupted Back Line
The point strap is designed to prevent the saddle from slipping forward, significantly benefiting children’s show ponies that might have less developed shoulders than horses. Moreover, the strap helps to pull the saddle closer to the horse’s back for a streamlined appearance and uninterrupted back line.
Solutions for Slipping Saddles
In situations where the saddle tends to slip backward rather than forward, typically on slab-sided animals, there are alternatives that can help alleviate the issue. Utilizing the two rear straps, which come standard with most saddles fitted with three girth straps, may improve stability. Additionally, fixing pimpled rubber at the top of the saddle panels can further enhance the grip and prevent the saddle from moving during rides.
Disadvantages of Straight-Cut Show Saddles
While straight-cut show saddles are designed to accentuate the conformation of a horse, they also come with certain drawbacks that may affect the rider’s positioning and the horse’s performance in specific situations.
Rider Position and Balance
The flat seat and elongated stirrup bars of straight-cut show saddles can push the rider towards the cantle and force their legs forward in an exaggerated manner. This positioning places the rider on top of, rather than within, the saddle and may cause them to be slightly behind the movement. Consequently, this can lead to difficulty in drawing out the best paces and performance from the horse.
Impact on Judges’ Perception
Although show judges have grown accustomed to straight-cut saddles, they might still find it challenging to truly appreciate the horse’s actual paces and performance when viewing from an elevated perch. However, experienced judges should be able to discern qualities like good rein length and shoulder conformation, regardless of the type of saddle used.
Challenges in Performance Show Classes
The disadvantages of straight-cut show saddles become particularly noticeable in performance show classes, such as working hunter events where the horse needs to jump before being shown. Some riders switch saddles during these events to adapt to different requirements, whereas others choose saddles specifically designed for working hunter classes, featuring deeper seats and slightly more forward-cut flaps.
Exploring Spring-Tree Dressage and Other Show Saddles
Different types of saddles are available to competitors, including those who do not exclusively participate in showing events. One such popular choice is the spring-tree dressage saddle, but other specific designs meet the needs of various horse breeds and disciplines.
The Benefits of Spring-Tree Dressage Saddles
Increasingly, competitors are choosing to use spring-tree dressage saddles for showing. These saddles strike a balance by incorporating the straight-cut flap design of traditional show saddles while offering a deeper seat. With this combination, riders benefit from a more impactful seat position — a feature critical in dressage and helpful in many show events.
Specialty Saddles: Tennessee Walking Horse and American Saddlebred
Looking at specialty saddles, the ones designed for Tennessee Walking Horses and American Saddlebreds represent some of the most exaggerated forms of show saddles. These saddles often have distinctive features including cow-mouth heads (knee rolls that curve outward resembling a cow’s mouth), very wide saddle flaps, and extremely flat seats. These unique features cater specifically to the riding style and movement characteristics of these particular breeds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Show Saddles
Q: What is a show saddle?
A: A show saddle is a type of saddle specifically designed for use in horse showing events. These saddles emphasize the horse’s conformation (physical form and structure) and facilitate specific rider postures beneficial to showing purposes.
Q: How does a show saddle differ from other types of saddles?
A: Unlike other saddles, show saddles usually have a straight-cut flap and tend to place the rider further back on the horse. These features help emphasize the horse’s shoulder and underline the front of the horse.
Q: What is a straight-cut saddle flap?
A: In a straight-cut saddle, the flaps are designed to fall directly downward from the point where the tree meets the flap. This design aims to display the full length of the horse’s shoulder, enhancing its appearance.
Q: What are point straps and what is their purpose?
A: Point straps are additional girth straps located under the point of the tree in show saddles. They help position the saddle farther back on the horse, prevent the saddle from slipping forward, and create a smooth back line.
Q: Why might a saddle slip forward or backward, and how can this be prevented?
A: Reasons for saddle slippage may vary, but it often relates to the shape and movement of the horse. Extra girth straps and use of pimpled rubber at the top of the saddle panels are common solutions to enhance stability.
Q: What is a spring-tree dressage saddle and what are its benefits?
A: A spring-tree dressage saddle fuses the straight-cut flap of a show saddle with a deeper seating characteristic of dressage saddles. The deeper seat often gives the rider more effective control of the horse during performance.
Q: Are there specialized saddles for particular horse breeds or classes?
A: Yes, there are specialty saddles designed for specific breeds and classes. For example, the saddles designed for Tennessee Walking Horses and American Saddlebreds have unique features to accommodate the distinctive movement of these breeds.
Q: How can one maintain a show saddle?
A: Show saddles should be cleaned after every use, using saddle soap and a soft cloth. Regular inspection for wear and tear is also important to ensure the saddle’s longevity and the horse’s comfort.
Q: What factors should be considered when buying a show saddle?
A: When purchasing a show saddle, consider the horse’s conformation, the rider’s skill level and comfort, and the type of events you’ll be participating in. It’s often helpful to seek advice from a professional saddle fitter.
Q: Can a show saddle be used for everyday riding?
A: While a show saddle can be used for everyday riding, its design mainly favors the aesthetic presentation during a show. For daily riding, a more functional and comfortable saddle type may be preferable.
