Whenever you are shopping for any type of saddle it is important to purchase a brand name that has a good reputation for quality and durability. It may not be essential to purchase the most expensive saddles that particular brand offers but in most cases you are going to get what you pay for. Cheap or very low cost English saddle brands will almost always have shoddy leather that is not easy to mold to the horse, will crack and wear poorly and also will simply not hold up to even average use. Buying the most expensive saddle, on the other hand, doesn’t necessarily make sense either unless you are a highly competitive rider or are buying one saddle as your only saddle. Typically the middle of the line saddles are the most economically sensible saddles for most riders, plus they allow you to also have additional tack if you are in one of the many specialized English riding events.
General purpose English saddles, also called all-purpose saddles, are a good choice for new riders and those riders that are competing in events such as equitation, hunt seat, jumping and even basic dressage at low levels. They are also ideal for children since the saddle will need to be replaced as the child grows plus kids may decide to move into other specializations over time. Choosing a brand name saddle that is good quality and has a high resale value will be important under these conditions. Brand names such as Courbette saddles are ideal for children’s saddles as well as for adult tack since they hold their value and are good quality all round saddles.
Specialty competitive English saddles are going to be more expensive but also will give riders the competitive edge in almost any type of event. Some brands such as Stubben are designed around a specific feature, in the case of Stubben it is the spring tree system that provides comfort for both horse and rider. Courbette saddles come in a variety of seat, style and tree sizes to correctly fit any rider and any horse.
Crosby saddles, like Stubben, offer a wide range of specialty saddles as well as general all-purpose English riding tack. The Anky saddle is one of the most popular with its beautiful design and leather this is a true competitors saddle that looks great in the ring.
