How to Ride Saddle Seat Style

Riding horses is fun and great exercise. There are many ways to ride horses, most of them differing from each other based on the tack used. This article will give you some tips on how to ride in the saddle seat style.

Things You'll Need

  • Well-trained horse
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Instructions

    • 1

      Saddle seat is a modified English style that was designed to show off the extravagant gaits of modern show horses. Developed on plantations in the South of the United States, the saddle seat was created for smooth, high-stepping horses that would show off the owner and also allow him to ride in comfort all day. The first and most important step of learning saddle seat is to know how to ride a horse in a standard English saddle.

    • 2

      Once you have learned to ride well in an English saddle, you may make the switch. The saddle seat saddle is flat. There is no swell, no cantle, and no horn or rise in front of the crotch. There is a "cutback" in the front of the saddle to make room for the upright neck and withers of the saddle-seat horse. The leg flaps of the saddle are straight and have no curve. The rider will sit upright and farther back on the horse than in the standard English saddle. This is to show off the high trot and erect neck set of the breeds typically shown in saddle-seat disciplines.

    • 3

      The back is held erect, and the legs nearly straight down and "pumping" as the rider posts the trot. Posting the trot is a very important part of saddle-seat riding, as well as learning to "sit the trot" when requested by a judge. Professional guidance is an absolute must for learning these skills.

    • 4

      The rider's hands are held higher than in standard English, and a double bridle is used on the horse. This demands previous riding experience and a light hand with the mouth, as the saddle-seat bridle requires that two bits be in the horse's mouth at the same time, and heavy hands can cause the horse severe pain. Again, professional instruction is a must.

    • 5

      Finally, dress the part. Saddle-seat riding carries a very strict dress code based on the business suit or tuxedo. Both men and women must dress appropriately and follow the latest fashion trends in the show ring in order to be successful saddle-seat riders. The overall appearance should be one of style, class, wealth and pleasure. Cleanliness, stylishness and appearance are all of the highest importance in this riding discipline.