What Is the Difference Between Icelandic Tack & Western Tack?

Overall Design

• Western saddles are known around the world thanks to the popularity of Western novels, movies and television shows. The saddle has a horn, originally used for roping and holding cattle,and leather skirts to help hold the saddle in place during these chores. The Icelandic saddle, on the other hand, resembles an English saddle. Since it has mainly been used for pleasure riding, there is no need for a horn or skirts to keep it in place. Because of the extra leather on the Western saddle, it is much heavier than the Icelandic and often weighs 40 lbs.or more.

Seat and Stirrup Position

• Most Western saddles have a deep seat usually padded for comfort. In addition, the stirrups are placed so that the rider's feet are directly under him, allowing him to stand to throw a rope if necessary. The seat of an Icelandic saddle sits back farther on the horse with the stirrups hung slightly forward. This seat and stirrup placement allows the horse more shoulder freedom, much as a saddle used on gaited horses would. The stirrups on the Icelandic saddle are usually adjusted so that the rider's legs are almost straight with little bend.

Stirrups

• The stirrup shape of Western saddles depends on use. Saddles used for roping will usually have a wider tread, sometimes several inches in width to allow the rider support for standing if necessary. Those used for barrel racing are often in an oxbow shape with a narrow tread to avoid foot slippage. The stirrups for Icelandic saddles resemble those for English saddles, although according to Horses North,

  the Icelandic stirrup "has a forward swoop to the outside half of the bail." This is a safety feature that keeps the rider's foot from being hung up in the stirrup.

Cinches and Girths

• A cinch made of mohair or neoprene usually holds a Western saddle in place while a leather girth does the same for the Icelandic saddle. In addition, the Icelandic girth is placed farther back than that of the Western or English saddle. This is once again done to free up the Icelandic horse's shoulders.

Bridles

• The bridles used on Icelandic horses resemble English bridles and usually make use of a snaffle bit . The traditional western bit is a curb bit with a port and shanks. While English bridles almost always have a browband, noseband and closed reins, the Western headstall will often make use of a split or one-ear design. Except when used for roping or barrel racing, the reins of a Western bridle are rarely fastened together.