| Western style horse back riding is perhaps a riding | | | | rider for longer periods of time. Additionally, unlike its |
| style most associated with rough and tumble cowboys | | | | English counterpart, Western saddles generally feature |
| and the storied Wild Wild West. Certainly, that is where | | | | a saddle horn that was historically used to hold and |
| this style got its start. In those times, due to the needs | | | | secure rope. Heavier and hard to replace stirrups are |
| of the American cowboy, riders would train their | | | | also typical of the Western style. A good Western |
| horses to obey without the presence of heavy rein | | | | style saddle is made up of a combination of both high |
| contact. This training provided a rider with the freedom | | | | quality wood and leather. Perhaps not surprisingly, |
| to steer the horse with only one hand, while freeing up | | | | many of the most well known Western saddle |
| the other hand for roping and cattle work. Although | | | | manufacturers are headquartered in the American |
| born of the long gone golden era of cowboys, | | | | South -- particularly Texas where cowboy culture is |
| Western style riding is still quite popular today. | | | | still a beloved tradition. Popular manufacturers include |
| Like its counterpart, English riding, the Western style is | | | | Tex Tan, Timberline, Southern Trails, Blue Horn, and |
| still widely used in sport and can be commonly seen in | | | | Alamo Saddlery. |
| horse shows and rodeo competitions. Rodeos, in fact, | | | | Additionally, Western riding equipment also bears some |
| originated from the aforementioned roping and cattle | | | | similarities to the equipment used in dressage, or |
| work, and can be found not just in the U.S., but all over | | | | competitive horse training. The saddles used in |
| the world -- Spain, Mexico, Canada, and even as far | | | | dressage also need to be both secure and solid, but |
| away as Australia. While there are some differences, | | | | the style of dressage saddles are decidedly more |
| surprisingly the equestrian equipment used in Western | | | | formal. Saddle manufacturer, Germania, offers a stylish |
| riding is not dramatically different from the equipment | | | | and sophisticated model at an affordable price that |
| used in English riding. | | | | meets the needs of the professional dressage rider. |
| Like English riding, the Western style requires a secure | | | | Lastly, manufacturer Henri de Rivel offers both |
| and solid saddle. However, the saddle is typically | | | | Western style and dressage saddles suitable for |
| deeper and designed to remain comfortable to the | | | | almost every rider. |