Western saddles are used for western riding and are the saddles used on working horses on cattle ranches throughout the United States, particularly in the west. This saddle was designed to provide security and comfort to the rider when spending long hours on a horse, traveling over rugged terrain.
The design of the Western saddle derives from the saddles of the Spanish vaqueros - the early horse trainers and cattle handlers of Mexico and the American Southwest. It was developed for the purpose of working cattle across vast areas, and came from the Spanish tradition.
The Western saddle is designed to be comfortable when ridden in for many hours. For a beginning rider, the western saddle may give the impression of providing a more secure seat.s.