The Cutback Saddle – The Standard of Saddleseat Saddles
The cutback saddle is an English saddle specifically designed for the saddle seat rider and with gaited horses. The cutback saddle’s benefit is the freedom of movement it provides to higher withered gaited horses.
The cutback saddle received its name from the cut back at the pommel. In a cutback saddle, the front of the pommel cut open in a U shape, normally 1½ inches to 4 inches. This cutback section allows shoulders and withers the freedom to move, much needed for the correct action of a gaited and saddle seat horse.
Designed to sit straight on the horse’s back with little padding the cutback saddle offers the rider a close contact with the horse’s back.
The flaps of a cutback saddle are long and cut straight down from the pommel, as opposed to a jumping saddle with its shaped and rounded knee rolls.
As with other saddles, the cutback saddle is made in traditional leather.