Iberosattel® SHOP Buy top riding accessories
Trail Riding Saddles: Which Saddle for Trail Riding?
Because every little bit of pressure, rubbing, or pinching almost inevitably grows into a huge problem on a long tour, saddles for trail riding need to be especially comfortable. And they need to fit both horse and rider with absolutely no compromises.
Jump Directly to
Features of a Good Trail Riding Saddle
- Wide bearing surface: Particularly important for a trail riding saddle is the largest possible bearing surface. This distributes the weight of rider, luggage, and saddle widely across the horse's back – reducing the pressure acting on the saddle area (and thereby protecting the muscles and connective tissue from pressure-related strain).
- Freedom of movement: The saddle also must not restrict the horse's movement. For this, sufficient withers, shoulder, spinal, and loin clearance is important. That means: the width, height, and angle of the saddle's gullet should ideally be individually adapted to the horse, as should the clearance between the saddle panels (the width of the spinal channel) and the length of the saddle.
- Lightweight: The saddle should be light – this is especially true for riders whose own weight already pushes close to the limit of what the horse can carry.
- Leg freedom: Finally, the saddle must allow the rider a variable seat with sufficient leg freedom. Dressage saddles, which seat you correctly for dressage through a deep seat and possibly large thigh blocks, but very inflexibly, tend to be uncomfortable on a trail ride.
Increasing the Bearing Surface: How It Makes Sense
The usable back length for the saddle is dictated by the horse's anatomy – the loin and kidney area beginning behind the last rib must remain free of saddle pressure.
A saddle therefore does not achieve its maximum bearing surface through arbitrary lengthening. But rather through
A saddle therefore does not achieve its maximum bearing surface through arbitrary lengthening. But rather through
- An impeccable fit: By following the sweep of the horse's back lengthwise and adapting, across the width, the gullet width and angle as precisely as possible to the angle formed between the shoulder blades.
- Wide saddle panels: By widening the saddle panels as much as possible – this is especially useful for saddles for short horses.
With a large, wide bearing surface, you distribute the weight of rider and luggage evenly across the horse's back when trail riding. — Comfort Pad for the trail riding saddle.
These Saddles Are Less or Not at All Suited to Trail Riding
- Conventional dressage saddles are not particularly well suited as trail riding saddles – their narrow saddle panels create only a relatively small bearing surface for the saddle.
- Eventing saddles: these are often considered more suitable for cross-country, but essentially differ from dressage saddles only in the cut of the saddle flaps (not in the design of the bearing surface).
- Jumping saddles are very light, but also have small bearing surfaces and force the rider into a seat position with bent knees that is unsuitable for trail riding.
So Which Saddles Are Actually Recommended for Trail Riding?
Many trail riders use Western saddles (these, however, are often quite heavy). Others swear by old army saddles or so-called pack saddles – all saddle types characterised by a large bearing surface. Some saddle makers also offer saddles that they explicitly classify as trail riding saddles. But be careful: these saddles certainly have a comfortable, not-too-deep seat and all sorts of attachment points for luggage, but not always a large bearing surface as well!
In general – perhaps you are looking for a saddle you can use more versatilely? For trail riding, for smaller rides out in the countryside, but then also for dressage work?
Did you know that Iberosattel® offers exactly these kinds of versatile saddle models? Our trail riding saddles prove themselves just as reliably on long tours as in everyday arena work.
These include the saddles:
Did you know that Iberosattel® offers exactly these kinds of versatile saddle models? Our trail riding saddles prove themselves just as reliably on long tours as in everyday arena work.
These include the saddles:
Trail Riding: These Are the Advantages of an Iberosattel®
The Iberosattel® Comfort Pad is our own specially developed extra-wide saddle padding, which roughly doubles the bearing surface of the saddle compared to conventional dressage saddles. This makes saddles with the Comfort Pad excellently suited to all riding activities where the saddle stays on the horse for extended periods – whether that is a demanding trail ride or simply an extended leisurely ride through the countryside.
An Iberosattel® not only matches Western, pack, and military saddles when it comes to bearing surface – Iberosattel® saddles also have several important advantages over these saddle types:
- They are especially lightweight (the El Primero, for example, weighs just 6.5 kilos).
- They sit fantastically comfortably (thanks, among other things, to the Amazona solution against saddle sores).
- The saddle tree and padding are precisely adjusted to your horse by us.
- The saddle can be readjusted at any time if your horse changes.
- You have complete freedom when it comes to the visual design of our premium models.
And: many Iberosattel® models are true all-rounders. That means you do not need a separate trail riding saddle in addition to your dressage saddle. With an Iberosattel® you can do it all!
Also Suitable for Dressage!
In the dressage arena, our saddles not only cut a fine figure visually – they also put you really close to the horse: the relatively thin padding of the Comfort Pad, additionally cut back at the leg area, creates such close contact with the horse that even very subtle weight and leg aids come through perfectly.
If you would like to get a baroque saddle for trail riding – many riders feel very comfortably and securely framed out in the countryside by the high cantle of this saddle type – we can recommend the Ibero Barock. A baroque and dressage saddle in one are the Ibero Classic Plus and the fully customisable premium model Ibero Amazona Comfort. On these versatile models, the cantle can be removed, creating an FN-compliant dressage saddle that you can even use to compete in tournaments!
If you would like to get a baroque saddle for trail riding – many riders feel very comfortably and securely framed out in the countryside by the high cantle of this saddle type – we can recommend the Ibero Barock. A baroque and dressage saddle in one are the Ibero Classic Plus and the fully customisable premium model Ibero Amazona Comfort. On these versatile models, the cantle can be removed, creating an FN-compliant dressage saddle that you can even use to compete in tournaments!
Trail riding saddles from Iberosattel® are light, comfortable, and can be readjusted to your horse at any time. — An Iberosattel® for trail riding.
What Our Customers Say About Their Trail Riding Saddle from Iberosattel®
Uschi A.: Trail Riding with the El Primero
I can only report good things about the quality and workmanship of the leather too. Even after almost two years, the girth straps still look very good, and the saddle is in use about 4–5 times a week.
I can recommend Ibero's service to everyone. I know what I am talking about, because I have already had plenty of unpleasant experiences with other saddle makers.
I can recommend Ibero's service to everyone. I know what I am talking about, because I have already had plenty of unpleasant experiences with other saddle makers.
Which Trail Riding Saddle Is Best for My Horse?
We would be happy to help you find the right trail riding saddle for you too. Which saddle suits you and your horse? Do you have questions or would you like to arrange an appointment? We are happy to advise you by phone and will then gladly come to visit you for a test appointment.
Simply download our brochure with prices to get a first overview. Or call us directly or fill in our contact form.
Simply download our brochure with prices to get a first overview. Or call us directly or fill in our contact form.
Hotline: 09179 / 964117
Everything About Trail Riding on Iberosattel.com
Soft, Wide Padding for Your Trail Riding Saddle
For wide horse backs: the wide Comfort pad
Soft, short and wide is what you want? The Comfort-Compact Pad meets all these – for many trail riding saddles very important – requirements.
Thanks to its super-soft sandwich structure, it acts as a kind of pad, allowing you to ride out without a thick saddle pad while still achieving perfect pressure distribution.
Thanks to its super-soft sandwich structure, it acts as a kind of pad, allowing you to ride out without a thick saddle pad while still achieving perfect pressure distribution.
We Individually Adjust the Spinal Channel to Your Horse!
For your horse's comfort: measuring for a sufficiently wide spinal channel
To give your horse sufficient freedom of movement and reduce pressure on the spine, the panel channel of a saddle must be individually adjusted for each horse.
At Iberosattel®, we take this adjustment seriously and arrange a saddle fitting appointment with you and your horse.
At Iberosattel®, we take this adjustment seriously and arrange a saddle fitting appointment with you and your horse.