Buying the wrong western saddle for your horse can be a costly mistake. A badly fitted saddle could injure the horse's back or make your ride a horrible experience. Checking the size of a western saddle will provide you and your horse with the right gear for both of you to enjoy the ride.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Preparing the Horse
Step 1. Put the saddle on the horse's back
Make sure the horse is well tied or restrained by a helper during the operation.
Step 2. Place the saddle directly on the back without a saddle pad, making sure it does not block the front shoulder or reach past the last rib of the rib cage
Step 3. Check the space for the tree
The saddle is the space that runs along the top of the horse's spine. If you stand behind the horse, you should be able to look through the tree and be able to see up to its mane. On the front of the saddle, you should be able to slide 2-3 fingers vertically into the saddle.
- If you can only fit one or less, then the saddle stem is too tight.
- If you can fit well over three fingers, then the saddle stem is probably too wide.
Step 4. Check the top line of the horse's back
An average horse has a topline that peaks at about the withers and rump, with a lower point between the two. The two main problems arise if the horse is too saddled (it has a significant depression between the withers and the rump) or has a straight back (it has little or no depression between the withers and the rump). The saddle should match the angle of the upper backline.
- The bridge effect occurs if the saddle rests on the rump and on the withers without touching the space between the two. Make the necessary checks on your horse, if this happens it will cause sores where the saddle touches. The horse will need a saddle with a wider shaft curvature.
- If the horse has a straight back (this is very common in mules), then the saddle will swing back and forth on its back. You can correct this by purchasing a special mule saddle with a particularly straight stem.
Step 5. Check the bell mouth of the bars
The bars (two parallel bars that run the full length of the saddle, giving it support) flare slightly across the front of the saddle. The most common problem with poorly fitting bars is that there is not enough bell mouth, which compresses the movement of the shoulder and can cause sores. Check that the saddle is slightly flared at the front, to allow for greater freedom of movement.
Step 6. Pay attention to your horse throughout the process
If you have any doubts that the saddle you are trying on is not suitable for the horse, look at it for clues. His body language will show you if the saddle is uncomfortable or painful, or if it's right and fits its shape well.
Part 2 of 2: Preparing the Horseman
Step 1. Check the space between the seat and the arch of the tree
Sit relaxed in the saddle in the seat, and check how much space there is between the seat and the arch of the saddle tree (the part to which the knob is attached). In a properly sized saddle, you should have approximately 10cm between the front of your body and the saddle knob.
Step 2. Check your seat and headstock
The paddle is the raised part, similar to the back of a chair, placed behind the seat of the saddle. If the saddle fits you, you should be sitting just below the riser of the headstock. If the saddle is too large, there will be more than two fingers of space between your rear and the headstock. If the saddle is too small, you will sit directly on the headstock itself.
Step 3. Put your feet in the stirrups
When measuring a western saddle, you should be able to stand on the stirrups and have between 5 and 10 cm between your butt and saddle seat. The stirrups can be adjusted, but it is not advisable to have too much leather dangling.
Advice
- Better to have a seat that is too large than too small.
- Signs of a saddle that doesn't fit are white hairs or sores on the horse in the saddle area, dry areas when taking off the saddle after a long ride, a saddle swinging and dancing while riding, or a grumpy horse under the saddle.
- Western saddles generally come in the following sizes: narrow, normal and wide-angled stem, and seats vary from 33 to 43cm
- When trying out a saddle, consider getting one with a round skirt (or second quarter) for a short-backed horse.
