R+ Riding Tack Saddles
When we begin riding with R+, choosing what tack to use becomes a big question. We want to choose the kindest option that supports our horse's ability to do what we're asking.
Many of us natural, empathetic, relationship focused horse people like the idea of riding bareback, being close to the horse and as free as possible. This is great for short, low intensity, easy rides. But unless you and your horse are fit, bareback doesn't provide the support or weight distribution. So not ideal for longer or more active riding.
A bareback pad can provide nice cushion for longer or more active rides. They're our favorite choice for our light riding. But it still doesn't provide the support and distribution you'd want for atheletics. Bareback pads should never be used with stirrups.
A soft saddle is usually a foam type, saddle shaped, more structured bareback pad. These often come with stirrups but stirrups should not be used without really good padding to ensure the saddle doesn't slip and always use safety stirrups. These provide a bit more rider support, weight distribution, and cushion. But they aren't very solid and tend to shift and slip. Its best to use these with pads designed for treeless saddles with spine relief and antislip undersides. These are great for long, light rides, or unbalanced riders, but not high speeds or jumping.
Treeless saddles are our favorite option for active riding. They're as reliable as a treed saddle, but can vary in quality and structure. They need to be fitted and often come highly adjustable so you can keep adjusting it as needed, seasonally or as a horse grows muscle. With the right pads you can fit the same saddle to multiple horses as well. They provide great structure for active riding, speed, and jumping. Always use with safety stirrups and have a fitter teach you to adjust it correctly.
A treed saddle is also ideal for highly active riding, weight distribution and support for horse and rider. This will be uniquely fit to you and your horse and needs professional checking and adjustment often (a few times a year) to ensure consistent, correct fit.