Horse tack for Western riding offers a distinct look. It’s often beautifully detailed, with showy conchos, interesting inlaid hair on hide embellishments, or even hand-painted designs. If you’re new to the world of Western riding, you might wonder exactly what to purchase. With the right horse tack, your Western riding ensemble will have a complete look, plus you’ll be safer in the saddle.

Basic Horse Tack for Western Riding

Basic horse tack for Western riding shares some similarities with English tack, however you’ll find some differences between the two when you take a close look. In this section, we’ll take a look at basic horse tack for riding Western style. When you shop, you’ll find some extras that aren’t covered here; discussing every single piece of western horse tack would require several pages!

Bridle

A bridle is a general term for horse tack that’s actually made up of several pieces. You can purchase bridles complete, or you can buy various parts separately. The first part is the headstall. This surrounds the horse’s face, supporting the bit and allowing you to maintain control of your mount’s head. The bit is the portion of the bridle that goes into the horse’s mouth, enabling you to communicate gently. If you like, you can go with a bitless bridle or use a hackamore or bosal instead of a bit. The reins are the final piece, connecting the bit to your hands. Most western-style bridles have split reins, either plain or with decorative touches that may or may not match the headstall and breast collar.

Saddle Pad

Because western saddles tend to be bulky, the saddle pads needed to fit underneath them tend to be much thicker than their English counterparts. Be sure that you purchase a saddle pad that’s well-suited to the type of riding you’ll be doing as well as one that fits your horse’s back comfortably. See Below for more details.

Saddle Pads That Absorb Shock and Pressure

With the exception of a few types, nearly all saddle pads absorb shock and pressure to a certain degree. This having been said, some models offer innovative designs that enhance saddle fit and reduce the amount of shock and / or pressure that your horse feels. Surprisingly, old-fashioned felt does a fantastic job of distributing weight, and it's found in many of the most popular performance pads. 

Saddle Pads with Gel Inserts

Some of the newest saddle pads boast space-age gel inserts that work by distributing impact and then regaining their original shape. The inserts fit into pockets between the pad's layers, and are shaped to lie in the area where the saddle's bars come into contact with the pad. A saddle pad with gel inserts is generally heavier than one without, but don't let that worry you. The additional weight isn't significant enough for your horse to notice it, and he's sure to appreciate the improvement in the way weight, shock, and pressure are distributed on his back. Like most types of foam, gel does not breathe. Saddle pads with gel inserts are best for deflecting shock, particularly in performance events, and they can help alleviate minor issues with saddle fit. In addition, these pads are good for adding comfort to everyday rides.

Open and Closed Cell Foam Saddle Pads

Both open and closed cell foam saddle pads do a good job of distributing pressure and absorbing shock. What's the difference? An open cell foam saddle pad is made with the same type of flexible foam that's found in mattresses and office chairs. It's a synthetic material that's filled with minuscule air bubbles with broken surfaces. These bubbles release air when pressure is applied, allowing the foam to compress. When the pressure is released, air rushes back in, and the saddle pad bounces back to its original shape. Open cell foam saddle pads conform to your horse's back, providing a flexible cushion while offering some breathability. This type of saddle pad is best for adding extra cushioning and easing minor issues with saddle fit. On the downside, open cell foam saddle pads soak up sweat and hold in heat.

A closed cell foam saddle pad resists pressure very well, and helps with the job of distributing weight. It compresses less than an open cell saddle pad does, because the tiny air bubbles inside don't have broken surfaces. The air in the bubbles just moves around when pressure is applied. While closed cell foam saddle pads don't absorb sweat, they do not breathe. They're easy to rinse clean, but they do hold in heat. This type of saddle pad is ideal for deflecting shock in performance events such as roping, and they can be nice for adding some comfort during everyday rides.

Memory Foam Saddle Pads

Memory foam is everywhere these days. You might enjoy it in your mattress or even in your bedroom slippers. Not surprisingly, memory foam, also known as visco-elastic foam or slow recovery foam, does a pretty good job of absorbing shock. It molds to your horse's back, distributing your weight while stabilizing your saddle. It relieves pressure points, and it can help with minor issues with saddle fit. Memory foam gets softer in hot weather, and it recovers slowly. Like many other synthetic materials, it absorbs heat from your horse's back. It can bottom out under heavy pressure, particularly in hot weather.

The Takeaway

While high-tech liners made from shock absorbing materials are typically used as under-pads, they are also found in innovative saddle pads with multiple layers designed to provide a a total performance package. The top layer is typically designed to provide an attractive appearance while standing up to wear and tear, while the layer lying closest to the horse is usually meant to breathe and wick away sweat. Some performance pads meant for short-term wear are designed to prevent saddle slip, and feature materials such as textured neoprene or closed cell foam. Most saddle pads that absorb shock and pressure are thicker and somewhat heavier than the pads you might be accustomed to. Some brands have thinner inner layers through the leg area to allow for better contact, while others are built up to suit swaybacks or horses with high withers. High tech saddle pads are available in different styles to suit English and Western riders. Whether you prefer the look of a straight back or contour, you can find a shock absorbing saddle pad to suit your taste.

Girths

Also known as cinches, girths are attached to either side of the saddle, beneath the stirrups. There are many types of girths available, including neoprene and wool covered models that provide greater comfort during long rides and athletic events. Girths come in different lengths; be sure to measure your horse so that you know what size to choose!

You may or may not elect to outfit your saddle with a rear girth or back cinch. Western riders sometimes skip this piece of horse tack as it’s optional in many cases. Not sure whether to use a back cinch or not? This piece of equipment keeps your saddle secure during vigorous activity, preventing excess bouncing that can leave you and your horse feeling tired and sore.

Breast Collar

The breast collar is another piece of horse tack that western riders sometimes omit. This is an item that not only makes your horse look better under saddle but also provides some insurance against slipping. If you decide that you’d like to use a breast collar, consider picking up a matching set that includes most of the pieces you’ll need.

Most of our saddles already come with the matching Headstall, Reins and Breast Collar. You can usually see which sets are still available with your saddle by looking at the photos or checking in the descriptions. These are while supplies last.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or if you need any assistance, our saddle experts at www.saddleonline.com, will be more than willing to help.

Call us at (800) 967-2335, Monday - Friday: 10a.m.-6p.m.