English Saddle Colors

English saddles are commonly used in hunter-jumper competitions, fox hunting, dressage, polo, show jumping and trail riding. Unlike gaudier Western saddles, English saddles are manufactured in a solid color and are not designed to draw attention. English saddles come in a variety of shades of brown as well as a solid black option. Saddles may be made of leather or synthetic leatherlike materials.

  1. Basic English Saddles

    • The color of an English saddle will depend, to some extent, on its style. All-purpose and close-contact (jumping) English saddles are almost always some shade of brown. These are the type of saddles typically used for hunter and jumper competitions. Common colors are light brown, medium brown and dark brown, with the medium browns being the most common. Different saddle companies have different names for their saddles, so they may be labeled as Chocolate, Hazelnut, Chestnut and Natural. Basic English saddles are occasionally manufactured in black, but it is uncommon and not generally considered to be in style.

    Dressage Saddles

    • Dressage saddles are almost always black. On very rare occasions you may come across a dark brown dressage saddle, but black is the normal and most common color for these saddles.

    Matching

    • Your saddle and bridle will need to match and present an attractive (or at least unoffensive) presentation if you will be showing your horse. In general, it is a good idea to stay away from strangely colored or hard to match saddles because you will have a difficult time finding bridles and stirrup leathers that match them. Saddles can last for several decades, but most other tack items will need to be replaced long before the 10-year mark. You do not want to be left searching long and hard for a replacement item to go with an obscure-colored saddle.

    Saddle Color and Your Horse

    • The color of your saddle needs to be a good match for your horse. This means that you will need to try out different shades on your horse until you find a good blend for his coat. Reddish-colored saddles often look best on sorrels, for example, and you do not want a very light-colored saddle on a very dark bay or black horse, as it will stand out and draw attention away from the horse and onto the tack.