subject: Western Barrel Saddles And A Proper Fit Can Make The Difference Between Winning And Losing [print this page] You have spent thousands of dollars on a champion barrel racing horse that you hope will enable you to bring home many trophies. Now you need to purchase the right saddle for your needs. Will any western saddle suit the purpose? Absolutely not! Western barrel saddles are completely different from what you might be used to riding in, and you need to know what to buy and how this saddle should fit.
First and foremost, the saddle you choose must fit correctly for both the horse, and the rider. Buying a saddle that is either too small or too large can make the difference between whether you win or lose. A too small saddle will result in pain for your horse by rubbing and creating sore spots, thus affecting performance. The same applies for the rider, with an ill fitting saddle making the ride very uncomfortable. If the saddle is too large, the same problems can occur for both you and your horse, with the added danger of the saddle slipping as you negotiate the tight turns around the barrels.
Barrel saddles can cost the rider a good amount of money, which is why you must choose wisely when you purchase. If you are a regular competitor in barrel racing events, the purchase of a top quality saddle will be an investment that will pay for itself through the years of competing. Many times, used barrel saddles become available at a fairly decent price, but don't grab the first one you see without asking to try it out for fit. You are wasting your money if it doesn't suit you or the horse, no matter how good the price.
This saddle must also be as comfortable for your horse as it is for you. If not, you are going to find that the superbly trained animal you are counting on is not going to perform well, and may even begin to exhibit behavior problems as soon as you saddle up. If the saddle hurts or rubs anywhere, the horse will act up as soon as you mount up. Proper fit is extremely important for this animal.
You need to check your horse for any potential problems when first using any piece of equipment for the first time, but looking under the saddle is crucial. Be aware of spots that seem to be rubbing on any area on the back of the horse. The entire area under the saddle should be wet and sweaty, indicating that the weight is distributed evenly. Any dry areas will let you know that the weight of the saddle and you combined are actually creating pressure points in some areas, and none in others, resulting in an uncomfortable fit and the eventuality of sores.
The saddle you purchase does not have to be fancy by any means. Intricate tooling and added embellishments won't make any difference in whether you win or lose if the fit isn't right. A plain, well-made saddle that fits properly is all you need to compete in this category.
Invest in your equipment wisely even if you are only going to participate in barrel racing events once in a while. Western barrel saddles don't have to be fancy items, they just need to fit right and be able to allow your horse to perform to the best of it's capabilities in the area it has been trained for.
