Western Saddle Evolution
One usually thinks of the western saddle as an American style of rig, but in fact it's origins can be traced back to the Dark Ages. With the Moors invading of Spain in the 700's, came the unique style of horseback riding and tack. Their saddles were designed for battle with longer stirrups to accommodate bulky armor and high cantles for protection and security.Spanish adapted the Moors saddle was then adapted in to the Spanish War Saddle. This was the same saddle that was brought to the New World. As the need for military gear changed to a need for a growing colonial expansion, the military saddle was again transformed in to a stock saddle. The Spanish Stock Saddle was born. Designed as a tool for the working cowboy and the expansion into the American West.
From then on the stock saddle was influenced by geography and the culture using it. Very distinct styles developed reflecting differences in climate, terrain, culture and stock working styles. The harsh climate and punishing brush of the mesquite of the southwest resulted in saddles built to protect the rider, thus making it big, bulky and plain. California, on the other hand, had a mild climate with lush land where the vaqueros had much more leisure time. Their saddles were not only smaller than the Texans, but evolved into highly decorative pieces.
Through the 1950's, the western saddle continued to evolve, with many new features to support cattle work and improved construction methods that extended the strength, durability and comfort of the piece.
Saddle making today doesn't focus on the cowboy in the same way. They are now designed for a wide variety of uses and riders such as trail/pleasure, endurance, rodeo contestant, team roper, barrel racer, reiner, cutter. All forms of contests that riders are now envolved with. They are manufacured and shipped all over the world, but they all have a common ancestry they share from the western stock saddle.
Labels: saddle
posted by Posh Pampered Pets @ 12:28 PM
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