Advantages & Disadvantages of Cordura Saddles

Cordura saddles are made with synthetic materials that are designed to be easy to clean. These saddles are very popular with trail riders, and even with some horse show competitors. Cordura saddles have a number of advantages over traditional leather saddles, but there are some drawbacks you should be aware of as well.

  1. Lightweight

    • Cordura saddles are very lightweight, making it easy to move them around and saddle your horse with one hand. Cordura saddles can be particularly good choices for children, as well as for older riders who may have trouble lifting a heavier saddle. The light weight of a Cordura saddle also makes it a good choice for trail riding, and for barrel racing and other competitions where weight can be a factor.

    Easy Cleanup

    • One of the biggest advantages of Cordura saddles is how easy they are to clean. Cleaning a leather saddle requires saddle soap, leather conditioner and a lot of hard work, but you can clean a Cordura saddle with just soap and warm water. In addition to that easy cleanup, you do not have to worry about getting a Cordura saddle wet, since the fabric will not crack or deform the way leather does.

    Fitting Issues

    • While Cordura saddles should fit the average quarter horse or Arabian fairly well, they may not properly fit horses with wider frames. If you have a draft breed, a Haflinger or a Warmblood, you might find that the Cordura saddle does not conform properly to the horse's shape. This could result in soreness issues and back problems in your horse.

    Nylon Rigging

    • Cordura saddles typically come with nylon riggings for the girth and cinch, as well as nylon in the stirrup leathers. While that nylon is very durable, it can stretch over time, making it necessary to readjust the stirrups from time to time. You might also need to replace the nylon cinch and girth rigging if it becomes too stretched. Many riders prefer to replace the original nylon rigging with leather for additional durability.