It can also make the difference between an enjoyable ride for you and an experience akin to a session in a medieval torture chamber. Endurance riders have learned much about what works and doesn't work, and this chapter will try to pass along some of that experience. At a typical endurance ride you'll see nearly every kind of saddle known to man or beast.
Many beginners ride a traditional Western saddle, but it is a poor choice.
First it is heavy, and any extra weight is a penalty for a horse going 25 to 50 miles or more. Worse, most Western saddles put the rider's weight too far to the rear, leading to early fatigue and soreness. They are designed to keep the rider in place while working cattle, not to provide balance and comfort for miles and miles. Roping saddles are even worse in this respect. Another flaw of Western saddles is that the rigging is too far forward, contributing to girth soreness or galls.