Saddle seat riding began in the United States, when smooth-moving, high-stepping horses were used by plantation owners to travel across their fields. All saddle seat riding is done on the flat never over fences.

Saddle seat riders use a special saddle not seen in other riding disciplines. The pommel and cantle have been raised, providing a deeper more supportive saddle seat. The saddle-shaped seat naturally puts the pelvis into the right position to preserve the natural curve of the spine. Most saddle seat saddles attempt to position the rider's body, at or near the 15th vertebrae of the horse.

The saddle cannot interfere with the rider's use of leg and seat. The extra deep seat ensures a secure feeling in the saddle. The deepest part of the saddle's seat is tipped back toward the cantle. A deep-seated saddle should sit higher in the back because of a bigger cantle which is not designed to be sat on. The pommel and cantle have been raised, providing a deeper more supportive saddle seat. A jumping saddle will have a shorter and more forward flap than a dressage saddle, with the seat slightly more towards the cantle.

A saddle seat horse should be thrilling to watch; extremely elegant, classy, and stylish. Many horses used in saddle seat are shod with pads and special shoes, so they pick their feet up higher. In the saddle seat show ring no formal attire can be worn in pleasure or pleasure equitation classes and spurs are generally not worn by saddle seat riders.