November 14th, 2008 
Alex
A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider or other load that is fastened to an animal’s back by a girth. The most common type of saddle is the equestrian saddle designed for a horse. There have been created specialized saddles for camels and other animals. The leather saddle has a long history. The first saddle was created some 4,000 years ago and it was made from a small piece of animal hide and cloth. The saddle evolved in a long time and got crafted for more comfort. In the Middle East around 700 BC, the Assyrian warriors began using very decorative saddles for their campaigns. A 5th Century Scythian tomb was opened and revealed an amazing leather saddle that was embellished with animal motifs and gold.
Nowadays the most popular saddles are Western saddles and English saddles, both being padded to provide the rider with the ultimate comfort. Western saddles have one basic style with many different shape and size variations while English saddles are much lighter than western saddles and more simplistic in style.
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Good post. From the time one of our distant ancestors put a piece of hide between himself and his horse's back, riders have been trying to improve on the idea. The need to feel closer, safer, more effective, drove us to experiment with all manner of notions, incorporating every new material from wood and leather to plastic and fabric; from positioning the rider forward on the withers to back on the horse's kidneys to sideways of all things!
Nice Post. And such a good luck of yours that after 2008, it is now getting views and comments.
I agree with the first comments that riders were very much passionate about the idea of improving this.
A must to read by all animal ride lovers