Minecraft is a world where exploration and creativity collide. Among the many useful tools and items in the game, the saddle stands out for players who want to ride animals and explore faster. Whether you want to tame a horse, ride a pig into battle, or simply traverse vast biomes, knowing how to get a saddle is essential. Unlike most items, a saddle cannot be crafted at a crafting table, which can be confusing for many players. This guide will walk you through every reliable method of acquiring a saddle and how you can make the most of it once you have one
What Is a Saddle in Minecraft
A saddle is an item that allows players to ride specific mobs such as horses, pigs, striders, and more. Once a saddle is equipped on a rideable mob, players gain control of movement (in some cases with special conditions like a carrot on a stick for pigs). While saddles can’t be crafted, there are several tried-and-true ways to obtain one
Why You Need a Saddle
Having a saddle opens up new possibilities in Minecraft. With a saddle, you can ride horses to travel faster across large areas, tame striders to cross lava lakes in the Nether, and even ride pigs for a fun and quirky experience. Riding animals also allows you to navigate terrain that might otherwise be slow or dangerous on foot
Ways to Find a Saddle in Minecraft
Since saddles cannot be crafted, players must rely on other methods to get one. These include looting chests, trading with villagers, fishing, and more. Here’s a breakdown of all the ways to find a saddle
Dungeon Chests
Dungeons are small rooms made of cobblestone and mossy cobblestone that generate underground. Inside, players often find a mob spawner surrounded by one or two chests. These chests have a solid chance of containing a saddle, making dungeons one of the best sources early in the game. To find dungeons, listen for the sound of multiple mobs or look for caves that seem packed with monsters
Bastions and Nether Fortresses
If you’re exploring the Nether, bastions and Nether fortresses often have chests that can contain saddles. These structures are more dangerous than overworld dungeons, so be prepared for combat. Bastions have piglin brutes, while Nether fortresses are filled with blaze and wither skeletons. Bringing good armor and weapons improves your survival chances while you search for loot
Desert Temples
Desert temples are structures commonly found in desert biomes. They contain four chests hidden beneath a pressure plate trap. Carefully dig down the center and break the pressure plate to avoid triggering the TNT trap. The chests in desert temples often contain saddles along with other valuable items such as emeralds, enchanted books, and gold
Jungle Temples
Jungle temples, located in jungle biomes, feature two booby-trapped chests. Players can disarm the traps and access the chests, which have a chance to contain saddles. Exploring jungle temples also rewards players with rare loot like diamonds and bones, making it worth the effort to search dense jungles
Village Weaponsmith and Leatherworker Chests
Villages are peaceful places where players can trade and find resources. Weaponsmith and leatherworker houses often contain chests with valuable gear. These chests sometimes include saddles. Villages are safer than other structures and easier to locate, so exploring them can be a low-risk option
Strongholds
Strongholds are large underground structures with many rooms and corridors. Chests found within these rooms can have saddles. Strongholds are more challenging to find but offer numerous rewards, including access to the End portal. Ender pearls and eyes of ender help players locate these elusive structures
End Cities
After defeating the Ender Dragon and accessing the outer islands of the End dimension, players can find End cities. These tall structures house valuable loot, including saddles. End cities are especially useful for acquiring enchanted gear and elytra. Keep in mind that shulkers defend these cities, so combat is inevitable
Fishing
Fishing is an underrated method of acquiring a saddle. With a basic fishing rod, players have a small chance of pulling up a saddle as a “treasure” item. Using an enchanted fishing rod with Luck of the Sea increases the odds. Building an automatic AFK fishing farm can yield multiple saddles over time
Trading With Villagers
Leatherworker villagers offer saddles as a trade at the journeyman level. Players can level up a leatherworker by trading leather-related goods such as leather and rabbit hide. Once the villager reaches journeyman, they typically offer a saddle for emeralds. Trading is a reliable and renewable way to acquire multiple saddles
Ravager Drops
During a village raid, players encounter a powerful mob called a ravager. Defeating a ravager guarantees a saddle drop. Raids are dangerous events that require strong armor and weapons. Players who are well-prepared can farm saddles by initiating and winning raids
How to Use a Saddle in Minecraft
Once you have a saddle, using it is simple. The process varies slightly depending on the mob you intend to ride
Using a Saddle on Horses
- Tame the horse by repeatedly mounting it until it stops bucking
- Open the horse’s inventory by pressing the appropriate button (Shift + right-click on PC)
- Place the saddle in the saddle slot
- Now, you can control the horse’s movement and speed
Using a Saddle on Pigs
- Right-click the pig with the saddle to equip it
- Mount the pig and use a carrot on a stick to control its direction
Using a Saddle on Striders
- Right-click the strider with the saddle to equip it
- Mount the strider and use a warped fungus on a stick to navigate across lava lakes in the Nether
How to Remove a Saddle
You can remove a saddle from a horse or strider by opening its inventory and dragging the saddle out. For pigs, once saddled, the saddle cannot be removed unless the pig dies. Keep this in mind before committing a saddle to a pig
How to Get Multiple Saddles
While one saddle may be enough for basic needs, having multiple saddles allows you to equip various animals simultaneously. Setting up an AFK fishing farm, locating multiple dungeons, or trading with leatherworkers gives players an easy way to stockpile saddles
Tips to Increase Saddle Finding Success
- Always bring torches and weapons when exploring dungeons or fortresses
- Use enchanted fishing rods (Luck of the Sea III) for better fishing results
- Explore multiple villages to find more leatherworker villagers
- Utilize maps and online tools to locate structures like strongholds and temples
- Keep backup gear ready before starting Nether and End expeditions
Frequently Asked Questions About Saddles in Minecraft
Can you craft a saddle in Minecraft?
No, saddles cannot be crafted. Players must find them through chests, trades, fishing, or mob drops
What mobs can you use a saddle on?
You can use a saddle on horses, donkeys, mules, pigs, and striders
Can villagers sell saddles?
Yes, leatherworker villagers at the journeyman level can sell saddles in exchange for emeralds
Is fishing a good way to get a saddle?
Yes, fishing with an enchanted rod (Luck of the Sea) increases the chance of finding a saddle
Can you remove a saddle from a pig?
No, once placed on a pig, the saddle cannot be removed unless the pig dies
Can you use a saddle in Minecraft Bedrock Edition?
Yes, saddles function the same way in both Java and Bedrock editions
Do saddles break or wear out?
No, saddles do not have durability and can be reused indefinitely
Are there mods that allow crafting saddles?
Yes, some Minecraft mods introduce saddle crafting recipes, but in vanilla Minecraft, crafting is not possible
Can you enchant a saddle?
No, saddles cannot be enchanted in vanilla Minecraft
What is the easiest way to get a saddle early in the game?
Exploring villages and trading with leatherworkers is often the safest and quickest method early on
