Trail Riding Saddles & Accessories

Which saddle is best suited for a long horse trek?

If you plan to ride your horse frequently for several days, you should think about buying a specific trekking saddle.
This saddle is characterised by the following criteria:

• Light & compact
• Wide contact surface
• Comfortable and flat seat
• Shoulders, withers, spine and lumbar area are free
• Possibility to attach luggage

Which saddle is suitable for horse trekking?

This depends on the length and route of the trek. In principle, there is nothing to stop you from undertaking a horse trek with your usual saddle, as long as it fulfills all the criteria of a well-fitting saddle. A dressage saddle is more comfortable to sit in than a jumping saddle because of the extended leg position, but neither type of saddle is ideal for treks lasting several hours or even several days. A Western saddle is comfortable for the rider, but the heavy weight of a Western saddle is not ideal, especially if you also carry a lot of luggage in your saddlebags. The best compromise between riding in the arena and horse trekking is a leisure saddle. If trekking is one of the main activities you plan to do with your horse, you should consider buying a special trekking saddle, so that the individual requirements - from comfort for horse and rider to the attachment of the saddle bags - are combined in the best possible way.

Would you like to learn more about trekking saddles or the optimal fit of a Western saddle? You can find more information in our guide.

Which saddle pad is best suited for horse trekking?

Originally, many horse trekkers used a so-called woilach as a saddle pad. This is a large woollen blanket which, with the appropriate folding technique, can be used both as a saddle pad and unfolded to become a cooler. This type of woollen blanket originated in the cavalry. There are still some horse trekkers who swear by woilaches, but most of them now prefer functional saddle pads with optimal fit and cushioning properties.

A trekking saddle pad is slightly larger than conventional saddle pads. Since the saddle bags must not rest directly on the horse's body, the larger surface of the trekking saddle pad absorbs not only the pressure peaks of the saddle, but also of the luggage. To cushion the higher weight somewhat, the saddle pad is thickly padded.
The material should be highly breathable in order to reliably wick away moisture from the body under the saddle pad and improve air circulation. Practical details complement the functionality of a horse trekking saddle pad, e.g. by attaching additional pockets to the saddle pad for stowing small items.

However, the best saddle pad cannot compensate for ill-fitting saddles, which is why you should make sure that your saddle is suitable for trekking. Which saddle pad you should ultimately buy for trekking depends, among other things, on the saddle you are using. Unlike general-purpose saddles, Western saddles are not padded. A thick padded Western pad is needed to distribute the weight and cushion pressure peaks. Since a Western pad has larger dimensions per se, there is usually enough space to position saddlebags on the pad so that they do not rest on the horse's back. If you are using a general-purpose saddle, you can also buy a conventional saddle pad in addition to a trekking saddle pad. Saddle pads for general-purpose saddles are perfect for preventing the saddle from slipping.