Think of the working cowboy. Could he afford to buy a different saddle for each horse he rode? Not on cowboy wages. And yet, if his saddle caused soreness for the boss's horses, he wasn't a working cowboy for long. He needed a high quality, well-built saddle designed for the physical type of horses he rode. That's proper saddle fit.
That's what you need, too. With a suitable quality saddle and a variety of saddle pads, you should be able to ride many horses of the same physical type. Such a saddle should comfortably clear a horse's withers, allow for free movement of the shoulders, be the proper length and shape for its back, and be well balanced to provide good weight distribution. That's proper saddle fit.
Multiple saddles will be necessary if you ride horses of different breeds or significantly different sizes, or if you ride horses that deviate from the norm for their physical type (i.e. a narrow, high withered Quarter Horse). Definitely something to keep in mind when you're out horse shopping.
Beth Stefani is the publisher of the http://www.Western-Saddle-Guide.com. Whether you're just starting out with horses or a seasoned horseman, the Western Saddle Guide provides all the information you need to understand, choose, and care for the saddle that's right for you.
