The North Iranian Eurasian nomads known in Europe as Scythians and in Asia as Saka developed an early form of saddle with a rudimentary frame, which included two parallel leather cushions, with girth attached to them, a pommel and cantle with detachable bone/horn/hardened leather facings, leather thongs, a crupper, breastplate, and a feltshabrack adorned with animal motifs. These were located in Pazyryk burials finds. These saddles, found in the Ukok Plateau, Siberia were dated to 500-400 BC. Iconographic evidence of a predecessor to the modern saddle has been found in the art of the ancient Armenians, Assyrians, and steppe nomads depicted on the Assyrian stonerelief carvings from the time of Ashurnasirpal II. TheScythians also developed an early saddle that included padding and decorative embellishments. Though they had neither a solid tree nor stirrups, these early treeless saddles and pads provided protection and comfort to the rider, with a slight increase in security. The Sarmatians also used a padded treeless early saddle, possibly as early as the seventh century, BC. And depictions ofAlexander the Great depict a saddle cloth.
The earliest saddles were simple pads attached with a surcingle seen by 800 BC, with the saddle tree coming into use circa 200 BC, and paired stirrups by 302 AD.
The first 'saddle'(Created by the Sarmations) was basically just a cloth thrown over the horses back, this started in Central Asia and changed over time to include a surcingle to hold the cloth on. At some point stirrup straps were added and eventually stirrup irons themselves (they were originally made of wood). The design eventually morphed into the Iberian style of saddle, which is still cloth or leather with rolls in front and back. The saddle was 'redesigned' by the English who wanted a saddle that they could jump in as Iberian saddles are not designed for jumping. That is how the modern English style saddle came about. The western saddle was invented by Mexican Vaquero's who used the Iberian saddle and added a horn to the front to attach ropes and equipment. The western saddle was designed for the riders comfort in mind and not the horses when they were first created.
It was the infamous Mr sheen One day when he mounted up on his horse, he found himself in a rather uncomfortable position, he then invented the ingenius device the saddle. At first he skinned a sheep, and used the carcass, but then wondered if the wool might be softer , thus ends our story!
valsert gasmer phillops invented the saddle
There are some claims that the Assyrians were the first among the eastern Mediterraneans to use a saddle, or at least something similar to a saddle, but without stirrups.
Others claim that the Sarmatians, a people originally of Iranian stock who lived by the Black Sea, invented the saddle, including stirrups and spurs, around 365 A.D.. They were skilled horsemen who trained their horses for use in battle. After the Sarmatians were conquered by the Goths (of southern Russia) towards the end of the third century, the saddle concept was taken and developed further by European Medieval knights. They gave the seat more padding and added a pommel which rose high in front of the rider to protect his stomach from lances during jousts.
The Western saddle was an invention of the American colonists. They were sometimes required to remain in the saddle for many hours at a time - they would ride all day and sleep in swags at night. The formal English saddles were very uncomfortable for this sort of use. The Western saddle has lower stirrups and a deeper seat. It was invented to provide comfort, not looks (although some Western saddles are beautifully decorated and very valuable.) Its development occurred over time - there was no 'first' Western saddle. It was not invented by any one person, but developed over time to better suit the needs of the pioneers.
Saddles date back thousands of years, all the way to the Christian era. The English saddle, known for its forward seat position, is credited to Italian Captain Federico Caprilli.
The saddle was originally invented in 700 BC by the Assyrians. However the first patent on a saddle was granted to Wm D. Davis in October 6th 1896,long after the saddle had been invented.
greg:)
A tribe called the sarmatains invented the saddle in 365 A.D.
George Washington. The saddle was invented and became standard riding equipment long before the founding of the United States.
Well it won't be as hard to switch to western riding as it would be to switch to english riding. I do both and you'll basically just have to adjust to a more dressage like posture in the saddle, keeping a lose rein, typically using just one hand, and even using more visible type cues. English riders tend to be more smooth in their movements while western riders tend to be quite visible when cueing. Also the saddle will give you a little more balance as it's not as hard to sit on a western saddle, but they tend to 'bounce' the rider around a bit also. Also be ready for a western horses show gaits as they will feel odd at first.
English styles of riding predate western riding. As a result, English riding is practiced all over the world, but western riding is almost exclusive to the US and N. America.
The saddle pad actually predates the saddle itself. There is no exact year, but when horses were first ridden people used cloth as a barrier between them and the horses back. These were the first saddle pads, and the precursor to the saddle.
You can, but I would not recommend it. The horn of a western saddle would hurt every time you leaned over for the first half of the jump. the saddle is also hevier than a englash saddle, so itt will hurt the horse
october 6, 1895
Western rising saddles were developed from Spanish saddles brought to south America. The saddles found their way into Mexico where the cowboys there began changing them to suit their needs and eventually found it's way into North America.
You can. Go slow at first until he gets used to the feel of a different type of saddle. And remember that in a western saddle he won't be able to feel your leg as much as when he is tacked up english.
It all depends on what you're going to do with it. First, English or Western? I'm a Western rider, so I can't really help you with English riding. Since it's a Quarter horse, I'll assume it's Western. If you're going to do reining, get a reining saddle. Pleasure, get a pleasure saddle. Trails, get a trail saddle, western speed events, get a barrel saddle. I personally LOVE barrel saddles. I do all sorts of trails and moving cattle and speed events (barrels, poles, straightaway, speed, flags, etc.) And won't ever use anything else. It's easier to sit deep in the saddle. Again, it depends on what works best for you and your horse. As for size, that depends completely. Get a size that fits you, and make sure it fits your horse right. There isn't anything that is special for 'quarter horses.'
Elizabeth mounted side saddle on a horse riding crop in hand.
It was invented when horses were first used for riding to make travel easier. I think that took place in North America.