The History of the English Saddle

The English saddle developed over time into its current form.

It's taken 4,000 years to form the English saddles of today. Early riders sought comfort on long rides, and form soon turned to function. The history of the English saddle is really continual adaptations that led to more and more refinements as riders' needs helped to create the modern saddle.

Early Riders

Early saddles were really just leather or wool blankets.

Horses have been used and ridden by humans for thousands of years. Throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages, people used animal hides or woven cloth to soften their rides. The saddle began to take shape thanks to the Moors of Northern Africa. While these early forms weren't really saddles as they are known today, they were an advancement nonetheless. By 700 B.C., the Assyrians began entering battles with cloth strapped onto their horses using leather. Engraved leather saddles with girths and straps likely used as stirrups found in Siberia date to about 500 B.C. Eventually, the saddle tree came into use, which helped to distribute the rider's weight on the horse and provide greater stability for the rider.

Saddles in the Roman Empire

The Romans conquered Europe using saddles but no stirrups.

As saddles became more common, horses entered the army. Yet balancing on a horse with a spear or sword was difficult. By 300 A.D., Sarmatian developed a fully leather saddle with iron stirrups. The Romans adopted this style of riding, which improved their strength in battles. Even though Roman saddles didn't have stirrups, their saddles were structured with four horns on the corners, which the rider could use to grip. The saddle was held on by a girth, breast collar and breech strap that wrapped around the horse's rump.

Medieval Knights

European knights needed saddles that would distribute the weight of their heavy armor.

Saddles continued without many changes or improvements for roughly the next 1,000 years. Medieval knights needed stronger, wider saddles to accommodate their heavy armor and improved upon the Roman design. The saddles had high pommels and cantles to keep riders in place on the horse, anticipating the English-saddle style that would follow.

18th & 19th Century Modifications

The popularity of fox hunting required changes to the saddle.

Saddles became more refined in subsequent centuries. Foxhunting brought regular jumping to horses and riders, and riders found that the high pommel uncomfortable for the preferred jumping position. Riders also started raising their stirrups for safer jumping. Saddle makers adapted to these changes making a flatter saddle with stirrups placed farther forward. Padded leather flaps helped give the rider security over jumps.

Modern English Saddles

Jumping saddles bring the knee flaps forward to enhance a rider's balance.

The English saddles used today developed from foxhunting saddles. Lower pommels and cantles give the rider freedom of movement, while padded knee flaps secure a rider's legs. Riders' needs continue to bring modifications to saddles. Saddles specified for jumping have knee flaps placed further forward to accommodate their forward seat and shorter stirrups. Dressage riders want long stirrups for more contact with the horse and their legs, so dressage saddles have long, straight flaps. The typical English saddle, sometimes called an all-purpose saddle, is a halfway point for jumping and dressage riders. The big movements of gaited horses require the rider's weight be carried away from the shoulders and withers. Their saddleseat saddles are flat with almost no pommel.

References

• Limebrook Farm: History of the Saddle
• Equisearch: The Saddle Evolves
• English Saddle Review: History of the English Saddle