The first thing to determine when choosing a saddle is what type of riding you'll be doing. Most riding falls under one of two styles: Western or English. In addition, there are specialty saddles designed for specific activities like dressage or polo. There are all-purpose saddles, but if at all possible, it is best to buy a saddle particularly designed for your type of riding or activity.

As with any sport in which your body has close contact with the equipment, a horse saddle should fit you--and your horse--comfortably. Aside from your own comfort issues, an ill-fitting saddle can cause back muscle bruising on your horse. Saddle sizes are measured in inches (the length between the pommel and the cantle). When you are seated in your saddle, you want there to be about two to three inches of space between you and the back edge of the saddle.

It is easiest to fit a saddle to both your horse and your body if you have someone with you. This person can either act as you in the saddle (so you can see how it fits on the horse), or he/she can do this gauging for you while you're in the saddle. In general, the saddle should not impede the horse's movements, and it should fit you comfortably. You do not want to go with a saddle that's either a bit large or a bit small--it needs to fit just right in order to keep you from sliding off or becoming cramped in awkward positions. You also don't want to be placing undue pressure on your horse's withers.

This unique fit is important, particularly for children. The only issue here is that they'll grow out of anything that fits at the moment. Make sure the saddle sits level on the horse's back, and that there is approximately a hand's width of room between your child and the rear of the saddle.