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Shop Reining Saddles Built for Stops and Spins

Compare new and used reining saddles from Crates, Billy Cook, Bob’s Custom, Scott Thomas, HR Saddlery and Continental. Check the seat size, tree and skirt on each listing before you buy.

What Makes a Reining Saddle Different

A reining saddle is built so the rider can sit deep and still while the horse slides, spins and rolls back. It usually has a close-contact seat and slim skirt so your legs stay near the horse, a low cantle that lets you sit down into a stop, and a cut-away or square skirt that frees the shoulder.

Weight sits in the middle of the western range: the reining saddles here that state a weight run from about 25 to 39 lb, with a middle weight of about 32 lb.

Four of our reining saddles are ladies’ models, cut with a narrower twist and a smaller seat.

Reining Saddle Makers We Stock

MakerListingsPrice in our stock
Billy Cook7About $855–$2,960
Crates6About $760–$3,235
Continental and Equiflex6About $1,080–$1,710
Bob’s Custom5About $1,800–$3,090
Teskey’s, Piland, Wenger and Troy Cox4About $855–$1,690
Scott Thomas3About $2,800–$2,925
Circle Y, including the 2672 Ohio Reiner3About $760–$2,280
HR Saddlery, Dakota and McDaniel Saddlery5About $912–$2,590

Continental reining saddles are a popular used buy, and we usually have several. Custom-built reiners from Bob’s Custom and one-off saddles from makers such as Tim Piland and Troy Cox also come through, and they are often the best value for a hand-made saddle.

What to Check on a Reining Saddle Listing

  • Seat. Ten of our reining listings describe a suede seat, which grips through a stop; smooth seats let you move more freely.
  • Rigging. Fourteen mention in-skirt rigging, which keeps bulk away from your leg.
  • Silver. Eleven mention silver trim. Show riders often want it; for schooling at home it only adds cost and weight.
  • Tree bars. Four listings state full quarter horse bars, and five mention a flex tree. Check the bars and gullet against your horse.

Reining Saddles by Budget

BudgetWhat you’ll findHow many
Under $1,000Older used reiners and one-off saddles14
$1,000–$1,800The largest group: used Continental, Crates and Billy Cook21
$1,800–$2,600Used Bob’s Custom and new mid-range reiners10
$2,600 and upNew Crates, Scott Thomas and Billy Cook models11

New vs Used Reining Saddles

NewUsed
Price in our current stockAbout $760–$3,235About $613–$2,755
Middle priceAbout $1,575About $1,405
Returns30-day refund and returns policy14-day Test Ride Demo Program

About four in ten of our reining listings are used, and most of the saddles under $1,000 are used one-offs from smaller makers.

Seat Size and Tree Fit

  • Seat size fits the rider. 16″ is the most common reining seat in our stock, followed by 15″ and 15.5″.
  • The tree fits the horse. Check the bars and gullet on each listing, since a saddle that shifts will cost you marks in a stop or spin.
  • Measure first. Our Saddle Size Guide shows how to measure seat and tree.
  • Working cattle too? Compare our cutting saddles and ranch saddles.

Reining Saddle FAQs

A reining saddle is a western show saddle built for the reining pattern: circles, spins, rollbacks and sliding stops. It puts the rider in a deep, balanced seat with the legs close to the horse, using a close-contact seat and a slim or cut-away skirt so the horse’s shoulder is free. The cantle is usually low so you can sit down into a stop without being pushed forward.

Both keep the rider deep and close, but they suit different jobs. A cutting saddle has a flatter seat, higher swells and a tall, slim horn you hold while the horse works a cow. A reining saddle has a more shaped seat and lower swells so you can move with the horse through spins and stops, and its horn is lower. If you do both, see our cutting saddles page.

Seat size depends on your build. Measured from the back of the swells to the top of the cantle, most adults ride between 15″ and 17″. In our reining stock, 16″ is the most common size, followed by 15″ and 15.5″. Reiners often prefer a snug seat that holds them in place through a stop. Then check the bars and gullet so the saddle fits your horse.

In our current stock the middle price is about $1,515, and prices run from about $613 to $3,235. Used Continental, Crates and Billy Cook reiners mostly cost $1,000 to $1,800, and older one-off saddles go below that. New saddles from Crates, Scott Thomas and Billy Cook are the top end, from about $2,600 to $3,235. Custom saddles such as Bob’s sit in between.

Often, yes. About four in ten of our reining listings are used, with a middle price of about $1,405, and a well-made reiner lasts for years. Check the photos for a cracked or loose tree, worn rigging and dry leather, and confirm the seat size and gullet. Used saddles can be tried through our 14-day Test Ride Demo Program so you can check the fit before you commit.

Looking for other styles too? Browse our full range of western saddles.

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