Jan 03, 2024 | Super Equestrian
Wondering which saddle would be perfect for your particular western riding activities? Is it a Wade saddle or an association one? Both Wade and association saddles are useful for distinct disciplines of Western riding.
Many years ago ancient artisans used to make various designs on the wade tree to prepare the wade saddles. In the 20th century, two renowned equestrians Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt made this saddle popular.
Following the evolution of the Wade saddle, the association saddle is prepared by adding some modern features to it. In this article, we are going to provide you with the ultimate guide to these two western riding saddles. Let's begin the saddle exploration!
The Wade saddle is the classical saddle, getting popularity as a cowboy saddle. It is widely used in ranch work and other western riding activities. Let's examine some unique facts about Wade saddle in detail:
Wade saddles have a few features that make them special. Let's discuss those features in detail:
Although you will get the convenience of doing both ranch and roping activities by using the same Wade saddle, there are some specific saddles available for doing those activities. If you want to know more about those saddles you can read: Ranch saddle Vs roping saddle.
There are several reasons why riders prefer this Wade saddle. But most of the equine enthusiasts do not have any idea about it. Let's unravel the secrets of the Wade saddles demand among the riders:
But you should keep in mind that only choosing a horse-friendly saddle is not enough for making a good bond with your equine buddy.
You must ensure sufficient training to make your horse follow your instructions and perform accordingly. You can read natural horsemanship vs positive reinforcement to get a good understanding of these training strategies.
Despite being so popular, Wade saddles have some downsides. Let's discuss them in detail:
These horse breeds are basically suitable for skillful athletic activities like performing in rodeo events.
Since this saddle is not perfect for rodeo competitions, if you perform this with those aggressive breeds, you can not keep balance and may get injured from falling from the horse. If you want to know more about such horse breeds, you can read this article, Why do Hancock bred horses buck?
Association saddles are the modern version of traditional Western saddles. Let's have a good understanding of the association saddles:
The Association saddle is basically modified by including some additional features in the classic Wade saddle. This saddle is being used for versatile western riding disciplines, where riders need to do competitive activities with speed and flexibility of movements.
Let's examine the additional features that an association saddle provides:
Additional padding: All the association saddles have extra padding over the seat and other parts of the saddle, which helps in shock absorption when performing athletic activities.
You can make a close connection with those horses who have aggressive characteristics by handling them correctly under the association saddle.
A good horse trainer can assist you in handling those breeds during rodeo events or other riding contests. If you are interested in getting professional assistance, you can read this article on how to find a reputable horse trainer.
Both the Wade and association saddles are popular for western riding but they have a lot of similarities and dissimilarities. Let's have a well-researched comparison between Wade and association saddles.
Fundamental Factors | Wade Saddle | Association Saddle |
Ideal for | Ranch and roping activities, pleasure rides, hunting, and trail riding. | Competitive racing contests with great speed such as performing in rodeo competitions. |
Design of the seat | Deep and polished ground seat | Square shaped flat seat |
Benefit | Stable and secure fit | More flexibility and control |
Diameter of the horn | Thick | Thin |
Cantle | High | Lower |
Position of stirrup | Slightly forward of the saddle tree(the part of the saddle that is capable of holding the rider's weight) | Directly under the rider. |
Weight | Heavier | Lighter |
Additional feature | No | Yes |
Capability of shock absorption | Some Wade saddles have this capability, but not all. | True for all association saddle |
Cost | Affordable | Quite expensive |
Comfort | More | Less |
Durability | More | Less |
You should select the saddle considering the pattern of your riding because you can not perform all kinds of riding with the same saddle.
But if you are a beginner in horse riding you can use the Wade saddle, because it would be safer for you and you can gradually learn advanced-level riding with the same saddle. So, you can use this Wade saddle for general riding activities along with trail riding as well.
On the other hand, if you think you are able to participate in skillful riding contests you can use the association saddle because it will provide you more flexibility and control.
Simply, you can choose any saddle according to your riding purpose, riding frequency (how much you ride), preference, and considering your horse's comfort. But the most important thing you need to keep in mind is that whatever the saddle is, make sure it fits perfectly to your horse.
If the particular saddle fits you and your horse well, you can easily perform any riding activities by using that saddle. If you want to know the steps of adjusting western saddles to the horse's back with the correct fit, watch this video: Western saddle fit- the essentials.
Wade and association saddle both play an important role in versatile equestrian activities. This article covers the ultimate guide about these two popular western riding saddles and suggests which one would be the right choice for individual riders.
You can share your valuable opinion regarding this article in the comment box. Feel free to share this post with your known people who are concerned about these saddles and looking for a good suggestion about which one to purchase according to their requirements.
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