We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Collectibles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Wade Saddles?

By Brendan McGuigan
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 13,404
Share

A saddle serves as a seat for the rider of a horse, cinched on to the back using some sort of a strap, and providing support to help the rider stay atop the horse during riding. There are five general types of saddles: English, Western, sidesaddle, military, and Australian stock.

A Wade saddle is a type of Western saddle, inspired by the old Californio school of riding. The Californios were Spanish-speaking inhabitants of California before it was incorporated into the United States. They belonged to the school of natural horsemanship, and had strong working relationships with their animals. Their saddles are easy on both the rider and the horse, providing a nice balance.

Like all Western saddles, Wade saddles have no built-in padding, and should be used with a blanket or other form of padding between themselves and the horse's back. The girth is a leather cinch, and Wade saddles are meant to be used with stirrups.

This type of saddle features a dipped seat and a strong plate rigging system. This rigging system helps evenly disperse the pull of the saddle evenly, reducing impact on the horse. Most often the fork of the saddle sits very low on the horse. A large horn is featured to aid in roping. Stirrups are hung directly under the rider, allowing one to use their feet for support while letting them sit comfortably, in a fusion of Western and English styles.

Above all, Wade saddles are built with maximum comfort on extensive rides in mind. Every aspect of the saddle is built around buckaroos riding rough terrain for full day rides. It is no surprise then, that they are most favored amongst Western riders in the American south-west. Though for some time they were of secondary popularity to other Western styles, they have recently enjoyed a resurgence of interest; many top-end saddle makers now produce high-quality Wade saddles in a variety of sizes.

Share
Sports n' Hobbies is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon11866 — On Apr 24, 2008

The Wade wasn't based on Californios but on a saddle inherited by Clifford Wade from his father and redesigned in part by Tom Dorrance and made more popular by Ray Hunt's use in demonstrations.

By anon6100 — On Dec 15, 2007

I'd like to say that the girth of a wade is not a leather cinch! The cinch can be any type of material used for cinches. Wool stringed, mohair, neoprene, nylon with wool or felt lining name most types. I have personally never seen a leather cinch on a western saddle. Perhaps that's what was used in the past - but not anymore. Leather girths yes - for english. Leather stretches too much to be a cinch, because of hard action like roping, the cinch would become useless quickly.

I am a horse trainer, and this is what I have seen and noticed in my experience.

Share
https://www.sportsnhobbies.org/what-are-wade-saddles.htm
Copy this link
Sports n' Hobbies, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Sports n' Hobbies, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.