It is not often that a new breed gets officially recognised in the horse world. The Aegidienberger, bred only since the 1980s, has managed exactly that. As a cross between the Icelandic pony and the Paso Peruano, this handsome small horse comes with a rock-solid natural tölt gait, a balanced temperament, toughness and a bright character.

Bigger and more heat-tolerant than the Icelandic horse, yet just as nimble as its cuddly little cousin, the Aegidienberger is an extremely comfortable riding horse for the whole family, and is considered one of the most attractive gaited breeds.

A high-arched neck, a powerful croup, elevated, round movements: Andalusians captivate with their presence and nobility, but also with their character and willingness to learn. Their rounder shapes, knee action and higher collection, together with an often not very pronounced wither, mean that Andalusians and other Baroque horses have very particular requirements when it comes to saddle fitting.

Spots and dots like a modern abstract painting: on the Appaloosa, the striking coat pattern is the whole point. Appaloosas are among the most popular horse breeds in the USA. As agile as they are friendly, these eye-catchers are popular in Western riding, but are also appreciated in other equestrian disciplines and as pure leisure horses.

Intelligence and charisma, grace and performance: the noble Arabian simply shines, in almost every facet of equestrian sport. As born princes and princesses, they are of course excused from log-hauling and cart-pulling, but otherwise they show themselves as versatile as hardly any other breed. Whether racing, endurance riding, show jumping, dressage or Western: Arabians have been and still are successful in every one of these disciplines.

A pedigree that goes back to the age of Goethe, a truly regal appearance, phenomenal performance and a highly strung, passionate temperament: the English Thoroughbred is a true connoisseur's horse. Top specimens sell for millions at auction, but the breed also has a reputation for being highly strung, and is often not recommended for purely hobby and leisure use.

The Freiberger is a light to medium-weight draft horse, and the last original Swiss horse breed. Thanks to its good-natured character and performance, this robust working horse displaced all other Swiss draft breeds in the 19th and early 20th century, and then very nearly fell victim itself to the mechanisation of agriculture, road transport and the military.

Enthusiasts took up the breeding and gradually turned the Freiberger into the perfect partner for modern leisure riders and drivers: healthy, good-looking, sure-footed, with supple gaits and a lovable, dependable nature.

It is clever and beautiful, powerful and elegant at the same time. It moves with great ground cover, full of impulsion. Its talent for classical dressage makes it the ideal partner for riders with high expectations. Yet it is anything but a temperamental diva: it is a good-natured, people-oriented family horse.

So there is nothing to complain about when it comes to the Friesian. However, when it comes to buying a saddle, many a Friesian has given its owner a headache. Why is that? As a Baroque horse, this breed differs considerably from the horse type that dominates equestrian sport today.

Do the four- and five-gaited horses need a special gaited-horse saddle? We believe: gaited horses need a saddle that fits properly, just like any other horse. A saddle with a flat seat that allows the rider's weight to shift can be a sensible choice. And if the shoulder can also slide completely unhindered under the saddle, clean tölt becomes easy too.

The pretty, lovable Haflinger is seen by many as the ideal leisure and family horse: it is even-tempered, robust, good-natured, capable and sure-footed on the trail, and as a small horse, easy for young riders to climb onto as well.

Powerful and elegant, clever and obedient, and wow, those wonderful gaits: when it comes to the Hanoverian, the compliments just keep coming. Whether in the dressage arena or on the show jumping course, this dream of a horse has practically subscribed to sporting success. Hanoverians are also fantastic leisure horses that often go through thick and thin, quite literally, with their owners: these usually bay riding horses with a large frame love movement and activity, and are correspondingly enthusiastic whenever there is something going on, be it in the arena, out on the trail, on a walk, in the water or anywhere else.

For horses with Iberian roots, an Iberian saddle is the obvious, traditional choice. Anyone who wants a saddle like this often thinks of the look first: an Iberian saddle, perhaps with a smart sheepskin cover and matching bridle, is simply and clearly “something different” from conventional English saddles. But as with all genuine traditions, the unmistakable look is closely connected to the “inner values” of such a saddle. And it is these that ultimately make an Iberian saddle a good choice for our Iberian horses too (and many other breeds).

Short, round, cuddly: who doesn't love these weatherproof little Icelandic horses?

There are around 65,000 of them in Germany, and it is not least their tölt, a special gait without a suspension phase that allows almost jolt-free riding that is very easy on the rider's spine, that makes them so popular.

Anyone fulfilling the dream of owning their own young horse has a magical time ahead: in the first weeks and months with the young horse, building a bond and trust and simply enjoying time together take absolute priority. But the responsibility you have taken on for your horse also includes good training. In this context, the question of the first saddle for the young horse soon comes up.

Ardennes, Belgian Draft, Dutch Draft, Shire Horse, Black Forest Chestnut, Percheron, Noriker or South German Coldblood: the earth almost trembles when these mighty horses gallop.

And yet a draft horse can be guided with the lightest touch and can be far more than just a pulling or logging horse, provided you know how to ride and motivate it correctly.

The Knabstrupper is a horse with a princely history that, thanks to its rarity and stunning spotted coat, attracts admiring, and sometimes bewildered, looks. Even the occasional shouts of "Little Uncle" are taken as a compliment by Knabstrupper owners. After all, there is really nothing to say against Pippi Longstocking's very fine riding horse, and she herself is also of (South Seas) royal blood.

The Lipizzaner is a dream horse. A Baroque type, athletic, beautiful, talented, willing to learn: anyone who sees a Lipizzaner thinks "classical dressage". Anyone who calls one of these noble greys their own usually takes equestrian sport pretty seriously. Lipizzaner owners want to challenge and develop their horse, in the arena and at competitions. Then, for well-earned recovery, out on the trail, to the beach, into the sunset. A Lipizzaner is far more than a hobby: horse and rider as a dream team.

The Murgese, a medium-sized, jet-black Baroque horse, is a fairly rare breed. All the more people fall head over heels for it the first time they see this rare horse, perhaps at a trade fair or on holiday in the Italian region of Apulia. And that holiday romance lasts: this wonderful Italian is not only a talented riding horse with an innate gift for collection, but also a loveable equine companion that bonds closely with its person and loves a really thorough scratch.

The Norwegian, properly the Norwegian Fjord Horse, is a breed with very old roots, and a dream of a little horse. Here is a true all-rounder: a robust riding horse for extended trail rides that looks like it belongs in the landscape; a willing partner for lessons from working trot to circus tricks; a Western horse, driving horse, jumping horse. A lovable companion for a leisurely hack and having fun. Or all of the above.

Who wouldn't like to ride a Paso Peruano at least once? This South American breed only became known in Germany in the 1970s and is still something of a rarity here today. Even so, the Paso Peruano has made a name for itself among horse lovers, as the most comfortable horse in the world. Anyone who has ever sat on a Paso is very likely hooked for life: you won't find riding this comfortable on any other horse, a natural tölter through and through.

They compete for top honours in Warendorf, shine in the dressage arena in Munich-Riem, and have impressively proven their strengths at the European Championships in Fontainebleau, France ... we're talking about ponies! The abilities, intelligence and sensitivity of these small horses are often underestimated. Sadly, so are their saddle needs: the good-natured school pony, the reliable childhood companion and the lively little leisure horse suffer from an ill-fitting, pinching saddle just as much as the "big" horses.

Tinkers are true friends. Good-natured animals with charm and a very special temperament. They have strong nerves and a good character. However, there are a few things to keep in mind during training and when buying a saddle, so that both horse and rider feel comfortable.

Tinkers naturally have a back with somewhat less load-bearing capacity. A relieving saddle that distributes the rider's weight as evenly as possible therefore makes a lot of sense.

Trotters are harness racehorses, bred and trained for a racing career in front of the sulky. Trotter breeding is exclusively about speed and a resilient temperament, which is why their appearance varies a great deal. Height and build range from pony size to "actually quite big", and from Thoroughbred to Baroque type.

The Trakehner breed is more than 290 years old. The noblest of the warmblood breeds is Germany's oldest riding horse breed. It has been bred since 1732, and continues to produce exceptionally beautiful and intelligent individual horses.

As elegant and refined as Thoroughbreds look, you might think they could be demanding luxury creatures.

The complete opposite is true: these dream dancers straight out of the Arabian Nights have a number of qualities that also make them popular as leisure horses: healthy and robust, undemanding, and riding horses with tremendous stamina.