Whats the major distinguishing feature of an English saddle compared to a Western saddle?
The major distinguishing feature of the English saddle is it’s lack of a horn and it’s “panels” which are a pair of pads attached to the underside of the seat and filled with wool, foam or air. Do both Western and English saddles have different styles? There are several different styles of Western and English saddles. Specifically designed Western saddles are used by ropers, stunt and trick riders, etc. There are specific English saddles used for show jumping, hunt seat, dressage, saddle seat, horse racing and polo. How did the two saddles come from the same concept when they are so different in design? The English saddle was developed from what was more like a western style saddle by a French riding master named Francois Robinchon de la Guérinière who made many contributions to the form known as “Classical Dressage”. His greatest emphasis was the proper development of a “three point” seat that is still used today. When fox hunting became popular in England in the 18th century among th
