A roping saddle is designed for activities requiring a rider to be able to move around quickly, such as calf roping. They feature a deep seat, high cantle and a wide swell. The horn is typically shorter and the stirrup leathers are made extra long to allow the rider to dally quickly.
A barrel racing saddle is designed to be lightweight and allow the rider to move quickly. It typically has a shallow seat and low cantle to allow the rider to lean back when making tight turns. The stirrup leathers are shorter than in roping saddles and the saddle horn is usually longer to allow for better control.
