[kansess]

1. Why do most English saddles have those oval-ish section where the knee is?
2. Why do some English saddles don't have those thingies?
3. Why are dressage saddles so long and why is the seat deep and cantel tall? (Plus, why do dressage horses' necks all arched?)
4. Why is there that half-of-a-tunnel down the underside of an English saddle?
5. Why do western saddles have the stirrups attached?

and random questions

6. Why do English riders have shorter stirrups than western riders?
7. Why don't western riders post like English riders?
8. Why was English riding invented?
9. Can you ride western in an English saddle?
10. Can you rid English in a western saddle?

[I Love BODIE!]

1. Oval-ish section is a knee-patch, to help keep your knee in place

2. Some "close contact" saddles don't have knee patches so you can "feel" your horse better. However, I find them hard to ride in

3. Dressage saddles are long so that the rider can put her leg long underneath her in order to cue the horse very accurately. The seat is deep and the cantel tall because the rider needs to sit deep and straight to cue the horse.

4. That is space for the horse's spine, so that the saddle doesn't rest right on his/her spine

5. I do not really know the answer, but I don't think the stirrups are attached...

6. English riders have shorter stirrups so that they can get up out of the saddle and jump/post/etc

7. Western was for "cowboys" who rode for the entire day, and posting would be very tiring (at least that's what I always learned)

8. English I think was invented in Europe while Western was invented in the Americas (I believe), and at about the same time. Just as a way to ride the horse, I guess

9. Yes, kind of, but it would be hard and not very comfortable.

10. See #9

I tried to answer all of your questions!

[endurgirl]

Originally Posted by kansess

1. Why do most English saddles have those oval-ish section where the knee is?
2. Why do some English saddles don't have those thingies?
3. Why are dressage saddles so long and why is the seat deep and cantel tall? (Plus, why do dressage horses' necks all arched?)
4. Why is there that half-of-a-tunnel down the underside of an English saddle?
5. Why do western saddles have the stirrups attached? They are not. The leathers will come completely off, but they are not held on by the same as English. Western leathers wrap around part of the tree.

and random questions

6. Why do English riders have shorter stirrups than western riders?
7. Why don't western riders post like English riders? We do, and there is also the sitting trot, like English.
8. Why was English riding invented?
9. Can you ride western in an English saddle? Um, sure, but it'd be kinda hard to rope a cow and hold it or cut a cow without a saddle horn.
10. Can you rid English in a western saddle?

Yea, sure, but getting poked in the belly over jumps wouldnt' be too fun.

[greyongray]

Here are some of your questions - the ones I can best answer!

1. Why do most English saddles have those oval-ish section where the knee is?
2. Why do some English saddles don't have those thingies?

You're talking about the flap being padded or not -- well when padded it can provide a cushion to the knee or if suede, some grip. I personally like plain flaps which is good for saddle shopping as they are not in style right now! Though I know people who at first were skeptical and then in love with the padded flaps once they rode in them.

4. Why is there that half-of-a-tunnel down the underside of an English saddle?

There should be ample clearance between the spine and saddle in ALL saddles. But since english saddles are padded the difference is more noticeable. Since the saddle has stuffed panels you don't need to use a thick pad like those for western.

5. Why do western saddles have the stirrups attached?

? They can come off. They're not attached.

7. Why don't western riders post like English riders?

They like to get a really slow trot - a jog if you will. But any rider worth their salt knows how to post and will when necessary.

9. Can you ride western in an English saddle?
10. Can you rid English in a western saddle?

That depends - are you referring to the seat or the activity? It's very hard to ride with an english seat on a western saddle, and darn near impossible the other way around IMO. I wouldn't do any jumping with a western saddle - what about the horn?! And likewise I don't think most people would be too keen on doing the serious speed events or rope a cow in an english saddle. Could it be done - yes, but it doesn't sound like fun to me!

[shyxpony]

Well, some people have already answered, but I have a couple things to say that are a bit different... I'll just answer all the questions haha.

Originally Posted by kansess

1. Why do most English saddles have those oval-ish section where the knee is? It is called a knee roll, it helps keep the rider's legs in the correct place.
2. Why do some English saddles don't have those thingies? It isn't absolutely necessary... some people find it easier to ride in a saddle without them.
3. Why are dressage saddles so long and why is the seat deep and cantel tall? (Plus, why do dressage horses' necks all arched?) Dressage riders sit very deep in their saddle to maximize their ability to communicate with their horse. They ride with long stirrups so they can cue the horse better. Therefore, a deep seat and long 'sides' of the saddle are very helpful. Not sure on the dressage frame question.
4. Why is there that half-of-a-tunnel down the underside of an English saddle? It helps put pressure off the spine of the horse.
5. Why do western saddles have the stirrups attached? I believe you can take them off, actually.

and random questions

6. Why do English riders have shorter stirrups than western riders? Shorter stirrups allow english riders to post/two point.
7. Why don't western riders post like English riders? Posting is to avoid bouncing around in the saddle when you're going faster. Western tends to be slower than english and therefore the need to post goes away.
8. Why was English riding invented? Not sure, probably so people could go hunting in the fields and be able to jump over obstacles that were in their way. It's hard to jump in a western saddle!
9. Can you ride western in an English saddle? If you really wanted to, I guess you sort of could at home... at a show, absolutely not.
10. Can you rid English in a western saddle? Same as above.

[kansess]

thanks everyone!

[Shotgun93]

I wanted to add to the posting question -

Posting is done partly because when a horse is trotting, the inside hind and outside front move together and the outside hind and the inside front move together. This means that at one point, the horse is only balancing himself on the inside on one leg. Young horses, or horses that are green in their training are considered to be unbalanced still, and the posting helps take your weight off of their back (directly) when they are on the inside (hence the rise and fall with the leg on the wall). Horses (or riders) that are further along in their training generally are considered balanced, so they no longer have the need to post. I know just as many western trainers as english ones that post when working with a youngster until they are more balanced.