English saddle
noun · first attested 19th century
The name exists only because Americans needed a word for the saddle that was not theirs.
A saddle with no horn and padded panels, used for hunting, jumping and dressage.
53.0000°N -1.0000°W · Q21
Record
- Relationship
- Named from the place
- Confidence
- Well attestedThe place link is the standard scholarly account.
- Attested
- 19th century
- Part of speech
- noun
Explanations here are written for this atlas. Dictionary text is not copied; the sources are linked so the claim can be checked.
- Step 1
England
- In English
English saddle
The term is an Americanism, coined to contrast with the Western stock saddle, which descends from the Spanish and Mexican vaquero saddle and carries a horn for roping. The English type developed from European hunting and cavalry saddles as riders began jumping fences in the eighteenth century. Its padded panels sit directly on the horse, so no separate saddle blanket is needed.