A saddle lets you ride certain mounts. It is easy to find conflicting advice about obtaining one because the rules changed: Minecraft made saddles craftable in the Chase the Skies update.
How to make a saddle
Use three leather and one iron ingot in a crafting grid. Minecraft showed the recipe when it announced craftable saddles, and the Java 1.21.6 release notes confirm saddles became craftable.
Older versions have different obtaining routes. If your recipe does not appear, verify your edition and version before searching for materials.
What is a saddle for?
Equip an appropriate rideable animal, then mount it. The saddle is the item that makes riding practical; the exact controls and compatible mobs depend on the mount. The newer update also made saddles removable with shears in relevant cases, according to the official release notes.
Why keep one?
A saddle turns a useful mob into a way to travel or explore. Keep an extra near your base if you switch mounts or travel far from your usual routes.
Version check: The recipe and other saddle changes are documented in Minecraft Java 1.21.6.
