Reining is a competitive event in which riders direct their horses through intricate patterns of circles, spins and sliding stops. A reining saddle gives the rider close contact with the horse to communicate commands to the horse in a subtle manner so the signals cannot be seen by observers. It also helps keep the rider balanced and out of the horse's way for athletic movements.
Step 1
Look at the saddle fork and horn. The fork gives the front of the saddle its shape and acts as a base for the saddle horn. The fork and horn on a reining saddle should sit lower in height than on other types of western saddle; this position keeps them out of the way of the rider's hands and the reins.
Step 2
Observe the saddle's profile. A good reining saddle's seat sits low and close to the horse's back. It also has a shape allowing you to roll your pelvis back toward the rear of the saddle to brace for hard stops.
Step 3
Choose a saddle with cutout skirts. The skirts are large pieces of heavy leather attached to the saddle's underside. They help to evenly distribute your weight on the horse's back and keep the horse's sweat from saturating your pant legs. Cutout skirts are smaller than the skirts on other western saddles, allowing you to keep your legs close to the horse's sides so you can more easily communicate your commands.
Step 4
Check the saddle's fenders and stirrup leathers. The fenders, vertical pieces of leather that lie under your legs, should hang from the center of the saddle tree--the saddle's frame--and swing easily so you can move your legs with minimal effort to give cues to your horse. The stirrup leathers, on which the stirrups hang, should be thinner than on other saddles to minimize the bulk under your legs.
Step 5
Look for a saddle that has only a front cinch; you do not need a flank cinch for reining. Choose a reining saddle with rigging--the rings and plates that secure the cinch--out from under your legs to minimize bulk and allow closer contact.
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