The Difference Between Western Saddles and English Saddles

So you want to know the difference between the Western and English saddles? The Western saddle is long and heavy with thick stirrups and a horn to grab when the horse goes fast. Sometimes there is metal on top of the leather of Western saddles. The English saddle is short and light with thin stirrups and has no horn to grab. There is no metal put on English saddles for looks, whereas there is on the Western saddle. Depending on the saddle type there are different saddle pads. The Western saddle has a long rectangular pad, while the English saddle has a short pad shaped like the saddle for the show ring and a short rectangular pad for the practice ring.

The Western saddle

The English saddle