Hundred Oaks, Inc.

So you want to try riding sidesaddle!     You won't regret taking the time to learn a bit about the different types of sidesaddles and what to look for.    Buying a saddle is a fairly significant investment, and this guide can save you time and money.

First, determine what you're going to do with your saddle.   Do you normally ride English?  Western?   What are your riding interests?    Do you plan to ride in parades?  Jump?   Do dressage?     Ask yourself too, what styles your horse is trained for.     If your horse is western and you want to ride English, you may need to work on getting the horse into the proper frame before purchasing a new saddle.

Do you have more than one horse?   Do you plan to use the saddle on all of them?   Unless the horses have very similar conformation, this may not be possible.   

In sidesaddle, the horse determines your success.       The saddle must fit the horse, and the horse must be of a temperment, conformation,  and training level that is suitable for sidesaddle.   If you're shopping for a saddle for a young horse that you won't be riding for a couple of years - best to wait.      Horses' backs change greatly as they mature and are worked.    The saddle that fit your 3 yr old may not fit the same horse at 6.

Many customers call to say that they're on a budget, and need the cheapest saddle possible.     This philosophy might work if you're buying sneakers at a discount store, but it's not a good one to follow when purchasing a saddle, which cannot only make or break your success in the show ring, but might also be unsafe to ride.      

Price is rarely an indication of the value of a sidesaddle.   Unfortunately there are a lot of very expensive sidesaddles out there that have major flaws - flaws that can affect your safety and the health of your horse. 

A saddle that is poorly designed and/or poorly made will be less comfortable for both you and your mount.     A saddle that doesn't fit correctly can cause back problems for your horse, so you see, it's best to do some homework before buying.     You can spend $300 on something you'll toss to a corner of your tack room, or spend more and get a sidesaddle that you'll actually use.

Take a look at our Overview Page  and look over some of the different styles.

Then go to our Measuring and Fitting Page and determine the size you need, before continuing here.

 As you can see from the Overview Page, there are many types of sidesaddles.     By reading the descriptions you should be able to narrow down the type that you need.

Our Measuring Page tells you that you'll have to measure to get the correct seat size.    Astride saddle measurements do not correspond to sidesaddle measurements, which include the length of seat and thigh, and are largely determined by the length of your thighbone.

If you have a friend who has a sidesaddle, ask if you can try it.    Even if it's not the correct seat size for you, you'll get a feel for whether or not riding aside is something you want to do.

If at all possible, go to a sidesaddle clinic or demonstration near you.    You'll get to see several saddle types (and hopefully sit on a few of them) and most riders are eager to help you understand the basics. 

It's much better to get the right information when starting off, than to learn bad riding habits which you will have to unlearn later!

For information on clinics, sidesaddle instructors in your area contact the American Sidesaddle Association by clicking here:

American Sidesaddle Association

Some people who already own a sidesaddle that needs repair come to these pages, looking for information.    We do not do repairs, but we're happy to refer you to Pete Harry, an independent saddler in Kentucky.

1.    Fit - The saddle must fit you and your horse. 

2.      Soundness - The tree must be sound in order for the saddle to be safe to ride.  In cases where you are unsure, have a professional check the saddle before you buy. .

3.      Leather - "Critical" leather (i.e., billet straps, rigging straps,stirrup leather) must be pliable so it will not crack. 

4.    Horns - Upright should be comfortable for the rider's right leg.  It must be of adequate width to brace the rider's right leg, and must be firmly attached to the tree.  It also needs to be tall enough to accommodate the thigh.  On a rough-gaited horse the right leg could bounce over a short upright pommel.      The upright hom or pommel should fit correctly just behind the rider's right knee.

 Leaping horns must be of the correct curvature for the individual rider, and should also be firmly attached to the tree.  A leaping horn which will not tighten may be an indication of a broken tree.    The leaping horn should strike the rider's left leg at a point just above the left knee.

5.      Buckles - Check the leather holding each buckle on.  Leather in this area is often ignored at oiling time, and it may be cracked or worn. 

Check the buckles to make sure they are not bent or cracked.  Bent buckle tongues will allow the leather to slip off under pressure.

6.    Stirrup attachment -  Types will vary from a plain roller bar to a breakaway arrangement.  In any case, the attachment should be solid and well maintained.   If it is a breakaway type and the special safety release stirrup attachment is missing it will be difficult and expensive to replace.

If your saddle does not have a breakaway mechanism, consider ordering a breakaway stirrup.  English breakaways are readily available, and we carry them in the shop.    Western breakaway stirrups are available, but we do not sell them.   

7 .       Billets - Leather should be strong and supple.  You should be able to bend it sharply without cracking or tearing.  Remember, your safety depends on your billets!

8.       Girths &  overgirths -  Some of the older U.S. made saddles have woven cotton girths and overgirths.  Some of the Western sidesaddles have cotton string girths.  These will need to be replaced, no matter how good they look.  Leather girths and overgirths need to be checked for dry rot.

 9.   Remember that, no matter how beautiful or well made the sidesaddle is, and even if it fits the rider like a glove, it will be useless unless it fits the horse.

10.    The seat must be of the correct length for the rider.    A seat that is too short is not only uncomfortable, it sets your horse up for back problems because tremendous pressure is placed over the horse's kidneys.

11.    The saddle must be balanced to ride well.   Many modern sidesaddles offered for sale dump the rider to the left.   NOT GOOD!

12.  The horns or pommels must be properly placed for the conformation of the rider.

13.  An English sidesaddle that fits correctly will be perfectly level from front to back.   If it rides uphill or downhill, you may have an incorrect tree width.   English sidesaddles can be restuffed to balance them, but restuffing cannot cure a poor fit.

 14.   Western sidesaddles and Steele sidesaddles should not have thick padding over the bars.   Padding a western bar style sidesaddle interferes with the way it stabilizes on a horse.  

Want to learn more?   All this advice and more, plus step by step instructions on how to ride sidesaddle can be found in our book -

$27 includes postage

Page updated 4/23/2010