All-Purpose English Saddle
Saddle designs change over time, and of course, due to purpose. As mentioned above, some saddles are deeper, with higher pommels and cantles. Others are flatter and lighter, allowing for a closer contact with the horse. In time, the saddles became more specialized. Even twenty years ago, the English saddle didn’t look quite as much as the modern English saddle.
These changes in design make sense, as they reflect the changes in riding styles and norms. Even within a sport, these changes reflect the evolution there and even the technological evolutions. Today, many saddles are synthetic rather than leather.