How Long Does a Horse Saddle Last?

Written by Felice in Riding

Horse saddles come in a great variety of makes and models, and your saddle’s longevity rests on multiple factors. Leather saddles have the longest lifespan depending on the quality of the leather and craftsmanship. If you are seeking a saddle that will last you for decades, you should consider leather. 

Horse saddles, particularly leather, may last you a lifetime with proper care. Synthetic saddles last up to ten years, depending on use and quality. Your saddle’s longevity depends on its quality; high-grade leathers that are well-tended will last decades while low-grade leather has a short lifespan.

The longevity of your saddle usually comes with a price, both in a monetary and maintenance sense. Synthetic saddles are less expensive, and although they may not make the lifetime mark, they have their specific benefits. If you are trying to decide between leather or synthetic saddles and what you should expect to pay, please read on.

How Much Do Horse Saddles Cost?

Much like car makes and models, saddles come at different prices, from entry-level synthetics to top-quality leather. Synthetics are usually a great entry-level option, and you may find a quality saddle for a fraction of the price of a high-level leather saddle. Even though there are low-cost leather saddle options, it is wiser to choose a synthetic saddle over a low-quality leather option that often degrades faster than synthetics.

New saddles can be found for under 500 dollars, but generally, they are not good quality saddles, especially the leather and fittings. Mid-to-top range leather saddles will cost anywhere from 1500 dollars to 8000 dollars and above, depending on the customization. Used saddles are always an option for the budget-conscious as long as you are cautious about the item’s condition.

For your interest, here are some price comparisons between mid-level leather and synthetic saddles.

Are Leather Saddles Better Than Synthetic?

Leather saddles are aesthetically appealing and can conform to a horse and rider over time. Also, leather has an organic quality and feels that synthetic materials cannot mimic, and with the proper care, a leather saddle may last a lifetime. That being said, synthetic saddles do have their advantages.

Price

A new quality leather saddle costs you between 1500 to 8000 dollars, which can be a sizable investment. There are less expensive leather saddles on the market, but they will often not have their premium counterparts’ lifespan. Synthetic saddles are considerably less costly than even their medium-range leather counterparts and are significantly lighter, saving you on shipping fees. 

If your budget is of concern, it would be better to consider a good quality synthetic saddle rather than a low-quality leather option. Inferior quality leather is prone to weakness and becomes brittle and dry fairly quickly in use. However, good quality leather saddles’ resale value is higher than the synthetic variety, so a leather saddle is an investment.

The Fit

Although your leather saddle will conform to you and your horse’s shape beautifully over time, this may have its disadvantages. One person’s saddles tend to conform overly well to your shape and lose their versatility and may not interchange between riders and horses well once properly broken in.

One of the synthetic saddles’ key selling points is the synthetic saddle tree’s interchangeable gullet plate. Gullet plates are u-shaped bars attached to the underside of the pommel arch or head of the saddle. This interchangeable gullet allows riders to change the widths to accommodate horses of different sized withers with just a few screws.

Traditional laminated beech wood springs are expensive to alter, and alterations can only be safely made once or twice by a professional saddler. Also, one synthetic saddle can accommodate various horses without much effort, making the synthetic saddle more versatile.

Durability

It has been noted that adequately cared for high-quality leather saddles last longer than their synthetic counterparts. This fact fails to take into account the ability of synthetic saddles to cope with inclement weather conditions. Unlike leather that can be damaged by soaking, synthetics saddle can easily be drenched and suffer no real consequences.

Generally, synthetics are a lot tougher than leather and hold up well to heavy outdoor use with a fraction of the time spent on care relative to leather upkeep. 

Longevity

High-quality leather saddles cared for with diligence will last a rider a lifetime. Synthetic saddles have not yet accomplished that feat, and generally, riders find that the synthetic saddles do not last as long as leather saddles. However, opinions differ on the subject of synthetic saddle longevity from 10 years to a forum member claiming 20 years’ use of her Wintec synthetic saddle.

Care and Maintenance

Leather saddles are a beauty to behold and become even more so over time with proper care. However, maintaining an organic material such as leather is a time-consuming commitment. Synthetic saddles can be hosed down and soaped with no real sweat, unlike the thorough cleaning, conditioning, and oiling needs of a leather saddle.

Multiple Horses and Beginners

The cost of a leather saddle is a large outlay for riders new to the sport. Children significantly benefit from the lightweight and relatively low-cost synthetic option when starting their riding adventure. Many of us were introduced to riding in leather saddles that we would grow into, and we can all attest that they were heavy and unwieldy for smaller children. 

Moving from a pony to a larger horse often entails the cost of a new leather saddle. In contrast, synthetics can be altered via the interchangeable gullet or replaced without the charge of a new leather tack. Beginners can get a feel for which saddle style most suits their riding style with the synthetic saddles without having to discover their leather saddle does not accommodate changes in riding interests such as jumping or eventing.

Weight

One of the best points of a synthetic saddle is that they are lightweight and infinitely more portable than leather saddles. Synthetic saddles weigh in at an average of half the leather weight and are a hands-down win in the weight division. Not only are the synthetics easier for you to carry, but they lessen the weight on your horses back, which is always a good thing.

How to Tell if a Saddle Is Synthetic or Leather

With the advances in synthetic saddle design, it is not always easy to tell a synthetic saddle from a leather one. Many synthetic saddles incorporate leather and suede into their saddle flaps, making it easy to become confused. Here are some ways to tell the difference:

  • The weight. Leather saddles generally make use of a wooden tree, unlike the synthetic saddles, which make use of carbon fiber or fiberglass. Because your stirrups add weight to your saddle, take off the stirrups and feel the weight of your saddle. It should give you a clear indication of whether your tree is wood or fiber.
  • The underside of your saddle flaps or the leather closest to your horse on a saddle will generally have a rough leather finish. The feel of the leather fibers is distinctive and not flat or uniform, as in a synthetic saddle.
  • Quality leather saddles should bear the manufacturer’s mark or brand name stamped in the leather or on a small metal plate. These are commonly located under the skirts of your saddle on the flap. 

Conclusion

Your saddle may be a lifetime investment, so you should choose wisely. If you are the kind of person who hates maintenance, the synthetic is made for you. If you are a traditionalist and are willing to put in the hours to keep your leather saddle like new, expect to pay a bit more for a great quality saddle. Either way, always remember to choose a saddle to fit your horse first and then yourself, because your horse deserves the best care.

Sources

Felice

Felice has competed, bred, and cared for horses ever since she was a little girl. Now, more than 15 years later - she has started educating and coaching other riders in their own pursuits, be it racing, jumping, dressage, or simply riding as a hobby.

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