Your horses saddle is of prime importance in every aspect of your training schedule. Not only must it fit your horse perfectly, but it must also make you feel comfortable and secure.

There's no use having the most expensive, flashy bit of tack if neither you nor your horse feel good in it.

An ill fitting saddle can cause your horse pain, which can then lead to your horse resisting your aids. Loose fitting tack may fail to convey a signal to your horse, or in a worst case scenario may come off altogether and cause a serious accident. If you have any doubts about the horse tack or equipment you are using consult an expert.

"In an ideal world every rider could afford to buy a saddle that had been individually tailor-made for them and their horse, with the riders weight, shape, gender and length of leg factored in as well as the tree and under panels of the saddle being contoured to fit the horse. But this is rarely possible for the average rider. The alternative is to go back to the pad type saddle, and that is precisely what has happened."

The vast majority of horse saddles are manufactured using leather. Leather saddles are designed to provide comfort for both the horse and rider and to last a lifetime. However, qualified saddlers are becoming rarer and rarer and the purchase of a good synthetic saddle should be considered, if you're on a tight budget.