Western Saddles: Top 7 mistakes shopping
Buying the wrong western saddle is a very common problem in riding the Western world. It is also a very expensive learning experience. You can skip this painful lesson by avoiding the top seven western saddle buying mistakes.
1. Acquisition Pretty. While everyone would like a nice chair, leaving seems to drive their buying decision is asking for trouble. The quality of materials and construction the chair is much more important than the appearance of a saddle. A bad chair can look very well done, especially for the uninitiated. Do not fall for this.
2. Image Acquisition. Have dreams of riding the range and working cattle drive? Or maybe riding an NFR championship buckle barrel racing? " While the cowboy and cowgirl dreams and imagery can be strong and attractive, do not let those images determine your choice of chair. Choose a saddle type that fits the actual type of riding that is made.
3. Buy cheap. Cheap seats are a bargain. Poor quality of materials and construction shorten the life of a saddle, and, more importantly, cause discomfort and affect the movement of your horse. If you can not pay at least half-de-la new road-chair ($ 500 and up), then buying used is a great solution. Quality chairs last much longer, making the purchase of a "second hand" saddle a smart buy.
4. Acquisition of fools. You need to educate yourself on some basic concepts chair before you buy. Ride as many different saddles as you can. Talk to all the people you know about riding their horses. Pick the brains of people knowledgeable chair. And always, before you buy a saddle, know the seller and test return policies.
5. Acquisition of selfish. You found a chair that is high quality, nice, and fits you well. That's all right? Incorrect. You forget a very important partner in this deal – your horse. If the chair does not fit your horse well, the rest does not matter. Make sure you understand the basics of horse fit and determine in advance whether the chair will be a good fit for your horse.
6. Buy one size fits all. While you should not need a saddle horse different for every mountain in a chair will not fit all horses that cross. The best approach is to choose a chair that meets the basic types of physical horse you ride. For example, I ride Quarter Horses that are in the smaller size. I have a chair that fits most horses of this type. If you drive more than one type of horse, you need multiple saddles.
7. Acquisition brand (or approval). This is a bit complicated. The purchase of a well established brand is not a bad idea. Just be aware that a number of brands chair have existed for a long time and the quality of their saddles have varied significantly over time. The quality can also vary along its current product lines. Never blindly buy the brand without thoroughly inspecting the quality of the chair into consideration. In addition, the backing of celebrities may seem like a stamp of approval but really just means that the celebrity is receiving payment for the use of his name. Very few celebrities have any involvement in the design and construction of saddles that bears his name.
Many riders have a tack room full of saddles that did not work. Others are constantly buying and selling saddles in search of just the right. It need not be. If you do your homework beforehand to truly understand your horse and your own needs, you can buy the chair that will be a match for you, your horse and equestrian activities.
About the Author
Beth Stefani is the publisher of http://www.western-saddle-guide.com a comprehensive online resource for understanding, choosing, and caring for the western saddle and accessories that are right for you.
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