Portuguese saddles and their types
The country of Portugal, now a prominent member of the European Union to which it merged in the last decades of the 20th century had been previously a part of the Roman Empire and has been exposed to multitudes of influences which have affected its history in manifold ways. Equestrianism is an art which has developed through the advancement of time and even today continues to be influenced considerably by traditional norms.
It is significant to remember that the equestrian activities in Portugal have strong historical roots and the art of horse riding is very prominently influenced by the use of apt saddles and bridles and riding attires. There are various traditional forms of Portuguese saddles. The foremost among them is the traditional Portuguese saddle also known as the 'sela a portugesa' and its recent designs are said to have evolved from 15th century Portuguese saddles, thus bringing it closer in terms of being acknowledged similar to the Baroque saddle. These saddles are more often hand made and its color depends upon the quality of the leather and suede used for making. In fact they are made with the same materials that were used in primitive times and are available in a variety of colors. Apart from this, the Relvas saddle is also another prominent traditional Portuguese saddle and its name is a tribute to a famous bullfighter, landowner, photographer called Carlos Relvas who lived in the 19th century and who was the father of a famous Portuguese statesman of the 20th century called Jose Relvas.
While these were the traditional models of Portuguese saddles, with the progress of time, several newer models have evolved from these traditional versions. These include the Ribatejo saddle, Portuguese Equitation, D.Dinis saddle, D.Dominigues saddle. These latest innovations go to prove the popularity and significance of equestrian and horse activities which are continuing for centuries.