Part 2 Part 2 of 2: Fitting a Saddle to Your Horse Download Article
- Position the saddle. Place the prospective saddle on your horse’s back without a saddle pad or blanket.
- Check the gullet. The gullet is the long empty space that runs length-wise along the spine of the horse, and fitting this properly is crucial for preventing nerve pain ...
- Inspect the bar slope. ...
Full Answer
How can I tell if my saddle fits correctly?
You know you have the proper saddle fit when:
- Your horse is relaxed and willing to obey commands easily
- You spend far more pleasurable hours in your saddle – as opposed to fighting with your horse to comply with your commands
- Your saddle feels comfortable and fits like a worn glove
How to properly fit a saddle on your horse?
Part 2 Part 2 of 2: Fitting a Saddle to Your Horse Download Article
- Position the saddle. Place the prospective saddle on your horse’s back without a saddle pad or blanket.
- Check the gullet. The gullet is the long empty space that runs length-wise along the spine of the horse, and fitting this properly is crucial for preventing nerve pain ...
- Inspect the bar slope. ...
How to tell if a saddle fits?
“The best thing to check saddle fit at the tack store is to measure your horse with a flexible wire,” Seidel advises. “Shape the wire over the withers 3-to-4 inches behind the scapula, which is where the fit needs to be most correct. Do saddles fit all horses? A properly fitted saddle fits both horse and rider.
How can I tell if my saddle fits my horse?
- a. You should feel comfortable and well-balanced at all gaits. If not, you will need to determine whether the seat size is too large or small, whether the leathers or ...
- b. Is your horse comfortable with you in the saddle? Is he moving freely in both directions?
- c. Ride in the saddle at least a couple of times prior to making a decision. ...
How do you know if a stock saddle fits?
0:505:10How to fit your saddle - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you're going to look right down the midline of the horse keeping their head centered. And youMoreAnd you're going to look right down the midline of the horse keeping their head centered. And you can look over the top-line. And physically see which shoulder muscle is the larger muscle.
How do you size a stock saddle?
Comparison Chart(A) Saddle Length(B) Saddle Size(C) Seat Size22″ (55.9cm)14″ (35.5cm)11.5″ (29.0cm)23″ (58.4cm)15″ (38.0cm)12.5″ (31.5cm)24″ (61.0cm)16″ (40.5cm)13.5″ (34.0cm)25″ (63.5cm)17″ (43.0cm)14.5″ (36.5cm)1 more row•Nov 6, 2018
Where should a stock saddle sit on a horse?
The centre of the seat should be centred over the lowest point on the horse's back, and the saddle should sit squarely in the centre of the back. The tree should fit parallel to the withers and be behind the shoulder blade. The fit of the saddle tree to the horse across the withers.
How should a saddle properly fit?
Your saddle fits just right if it sits level on your horse's back and the bars of the tree do not pinch. The front of your saddle should be positioned behind your horse's shoulder blade, allowing him freedom of movement. Your saddle is too narrow if the front of the saddle sits high.
How do I know what size saddle fits me?
If you know your seat size in an English saddle, a good rule of thumb is to choose a Western saddle with a seat size two inches smaller than your typical English saddle size. Sit in the Western saddle. There should be about four inches between your body and the swell of the saddle.
What size saddle do I need for a 15 hand horse?
English Saddle Size ChartYour MeasurementSaddle Size<16.5”15” saddle16.5” to 18.5”16” saddle18.5” to 20”16.5” saddle20” to 21.5”17” saddle2 more rows•Sep 24, 2019
How do you tell if your saddle doesn't fit your horse?
15 signs your saddle doesn't fit – negative behaviour in your...Avoidance behaviours – trying to walk away when being tacked up.Ears back/head shaking when saddle comes close by.Excessive tail swishing both in the stable and when ridden.Pawing the ground.Threatening to bite you when you come close with the saddle.More items...•
How far back should a horse saddle be?
The saddle needs to be in the right position on the horse's back in order to judge its fit, and to allow the horse correct movement. The saddle needs to sit 2-3 fingers behind the shoulderblade and its muscles (see picture below).
What happens if a saddle is too wide?
When a saddle is too wide in the front, it can sink down over the withers. This takes the saddle out of balance by making the pommel lower than the cantle, which in turn carries more pressure over the front of the tree (at the withers/shoulders) than a saddle with a properly sized tree.
How to measure for a saddle?
To measure for both Western and English saddles, evaluate your horse’s conformation. Cross-tie your horse or have a helper stand him square outside. Take a step back and scan your horse from the side, back and front. Does your horse have high withers or normal withers? A long or short back? A swap, dip or another anatomical difference that needs compensation?
What is the importance of fitting a saddle?
Learning to fit a saddle is one of the most important skills a horse owner can learn. A properly fitted saddle is comfortable for both you and your horse. If the saddle does not fit right, your horse can develop sores or even lameness. The basics of saddle fitting are the same no matter what discipline you ride.
What is a saddle made of?
Saddles are constructed around a wooden or plastic tree. The tree forms a skeleton around which sheets of leather or manmade fabric are placed, shaped and molded to form the saddle itself. The tree is shaped like the letter “T” with the bars of the tree fitting over the horse’s withers, or shoulders, and the long stem of the T running down along either side of the horse’s spine.
Why do saddles hurt?
Because the saddle panels sit on either side of the horse’s spine and on the muscles, proper fit is essential. If you have ever walked around in poorly fitting shoes, you know how painful it can be. The toes pinch, the heel slips, and before you know it, you’ve got a blister and aching feet. Think of how much worse it is for your horse if the saddle is too small, pinching along his shoulder muscles and back. A saddle that’s too big will slip around, causing painful back sores.
Why do you need a saddle when riding?
When the saddle fits properly, it conveys subtle signals of weight change to the horse through his back muscles and nerves. These signals help him understand and anticipate his rider’s commands.
How to know if a horse's saddle is balanced?
Walk around your horse and note if the saddle looks even on both sides. It should appear balanced and centered on the horse’s back.
Why is saddle fitting so complicated?
Saddle fitting is complicated because you have not one, but two living beings to fit: a horse and rider. So far, we have discussed fitting the saddle to the horse. Let’s take a look at saddle fit for the rider. You determine correct rider saddle fit by the saddle’s seat size and flap length.
Where should a saddle be placed in front of a horse?
Proper saddle placement in the front for riding and to check the saddle length: You want the front of the tree bar right behind the shoulder blade for the rest of the saddle tree bars shape to fit a horse correctly. It is fine for the leather of the saddle to go beyond this point. Saddle Length:
Why does my saddle sit down hill?
Many saddle makers in an attempt to correct this have made the gullet width wider but leaving the angle the same which just puts the pressure point lower down on the withers , causes the saddle to want to sit “down hill”and then you also can have a problem with not having enough clearence/gullet height.
Why do horses dip their top line?
We see this often also due to horses dipping/dropping their top line in an attempt to get away from the pain of an ill fitting saddle. This can be corrected up to a point with our remuda saddle fitting pad. In this case if it is the only problem you would put shims in the middle only the same thickness as your gap.
What is a saddle tree rocker?
Rocker = The shape/curve of the back from the scapula to the flank/cowlick area. Saddle tree bars have different rocker shapes, some straighter/flatter, some more arched/curved. You bump the wire right behind the shoulder blade in that “sweet spot” 4” down parallel to the spine/center of back.
What is the most important part of a horse?
Here again you can see how where we are taking the tracing relates to the saddle tree bars which is the most important part for the horse. All of your weight is distributed on these bars and you want as close to 100% in contact as possible, otherwise you get excess pressure points that are painful.
How much of the tree bar should be in contact with the horse back?
Ideally you want 100% of the whole surface of the tree bars in contact with the horse back so the weight and pressure is evenly distributed over a large surface for maximum comfort, fit and stability on the horses back.
How to measure thigh?
Thigh Measurement: sit in a saddle, on a horse, with your legs out of the stirrups, with your upper legs and knees as straight down as possible. Very important is your heels need to be in line with your shoulder! To help get in that position, over stretch your upper leg way back then relax.
How many steps to fit a saddle?
How To Fit A Saddle. According to dressage rider, Julia Field, there are only 3 steps you need to know when fitting a saddle. If this is true then that is simply amazing!
Where is the arrow on a horse saddle?
The arrow on the horses mid section is pointing to the back of the shoulder. If you run your hand over your horses shoulder from front to back you should "fall off" the back of the shoulder. The front of your saddle panel should sit just behind the shoulder blade not on the shoulder. I found this to be a bit tricky.
Can you put saddle panels on horses back?
Your saddle panels should not sit on your horses back beyond this point. Don't be tempted to move your saddle onto the shoulder to make it look like it fits. If your saddle panel goes past the 18th rib then it could potentially do damage to your horses back. This was easy to find, as it should be on most horses.
What happens if a horse's saddle doesn't fit?
If the saddle does not fit correctly, the horse is constrained in its movements and may develop painful pressure marks.
How many fingers are needed for a saddle?
The pommel of the saddle is positioned approximately one finger’s width behind the scapula. After girthing, it should be possible to fit two to three stacked fingers between the withers and the saddle.#N#Saddle center of gravity
How to change saddle bolts?
1. Unscrew the clamp bolts on the bottom of the saddle. Locate the 1 or 2 hex bolts connected to the metal clamp directly underneath your saddle. Fit a hex wrench into the bolt and turn it counterclockwise by 2–3 rotations.
How to remove saddle from a saddle?
Lift and turn the top clamp to remove the saddle. Look for the thin metal rails that run down from the saddle and go underneath the metal clamp on the seat post. Grab the top piece of the clamp and lift it up so it isn’t touching the saddle rails. Once you move the clamp out of the way, lift your old saddle straight up to remove it.
How to reposition saddle clamp?
Reposition the top clamp so it fits over the rails. Hold your new saddle in place with your non-dominant hand. Use your dominant hand to grab the top half of the clamp. Turn the clamp so it wraps around the saddle rails and presses down against the bottom half.
What to grease saddle rails with?
Grease the bolts and new saddle rails with bike lube. [5]
How big are bike hex bolts?
Loosen the bolts just enough so you can move the metal clamp around. Typically, bike hex bolts are 5 mm, but it may vary depending on your model. Variation: If you don’t see any bolts on the bottom of the saddle, it may be attached directly to the seat post.
What happens if you set the saddle back too far forward?
If you set the angle too far forward, you’ll slide forward while you ride and put more pressure on your arms. If the saddle tilts back, your legs won’t be in a good position to pedal.
How to measure inseam?
Ask a helper to measure from the floor to the top of the level to find your inseam measurement. Write down the number so you don’t forget it. If you don’t have a helper, stand next to a wall and mark the top of the level with a pencil. Then, measure from the floor to the mark.
How many fingers of clearance do you need for a saddle?
A good rule of thumb is that you need to have four fingers of clearance at the front of the saddle and certain clearance on each side of the wither. If you don’t have enough clearance between the top of the withers and the saddle, the front of the saddle is obviously sitting too low on the horse; this is diagnosed in illustration "B" above.
What is the girth of an Australian saddle?
This puts the rider’s center of gravity and weight in a more forward position rather than the middle of the spine. The girth should be 1" to 3" behind the horse’s front legs.
Why is the saddle tree narrow?
The saddletree is too narrow for the horse, and you need a wider saddle. The narrower the saddletree, the higher the front of the saddle will sit. The Front of the saddle is too low - The back (cantle) of this saddle is sitting too high. This will result in the majority of the rider’s weight being transferred to the front half of the saddle ...
Why is my horse's saddle sore?
It’s a simple principle of weight running downhill. This is uncomfortable for the rider and the horse; within a short period of time the horse will develop white hair, then visible saddle soreness. The saddletree is too narrow for the horse, and you need a wider saddle. The narrower the saddletree, the higher the front of the saddle will sit.
How to ride an Australian?
Riding Position - Adjust the stirrup leather length so when you’re sitting in the saddle your thigh runs parallel with the kneepad. You’ll ride longer in the stirrup with your feet forward and heels down. You should place 25% of your weight in each stirrup and the balance in the seat of the saddle;
How far should a horse's girth be?
The girth should be 1" to 3" behind the horse’s front legs. This position is unquestionably far more comfortable for most horses and greatly enhances horse performance. Before undertaking a long ride with your new saddle, we suggest many shorter rides allowing the padding to conform and adjust to your horse.
Is a saddle tree wide?
The wider the saddletree, the lower the front of the saddle will sit. Ideal Fit - The front and back of this saddle is level, distributing the rider’s weight evenly over the horse’s back. Don’t just consider the front and back of ...
What is the saddle on a horse?
Take note the next time you are at the race track. The saddle on a race horse is made in such a way as to be up on the horses shoulder.
What size leather is used on Australian stock saddles?
Australian Stock Saddles have traditionally had a stirrup leather 1 1/4″ wide. It has been mounted on a steel hook bar, which is a huge safety factor. If the rider falls and is being dragged, there is a good chance the stirrup leather would pull off the stirrup bar, thus releasing the rider being dragged. The narrow 1 1/4″ leathers were very flexible and allowed the rider great freedom of movement. The downside is that the leathers sometimes pinched and the buckles could rub on the inner leg. A wider 2″ leather became popular and did solve some of these problems. They were also stronger. It became apparent that the wider the leather, the more comfort and security was provided for the rider and the American style fender was introduced to the Australian Stock Saddle design. This proved to be a huge success. The fender when mounted on the stirrup bar still comes off if the rider falls and with the protection provided by the extra width of the fender you can virtually ride in shorts if you want to. The downside of the fender was that its width and wider 2 1/2″ straps made it very stiff and it would not move freely like the old style stirrup leather. Trevor James recognised this problem and designed a stirrup bar which is mounted on a steel roller bearing. The result is that the fender can now move freely to suit any rider style or unexpected situation. With this adaptation the fender is strong, provides rider protection and is absolutely friction free. It has been so successful that orders received by Trevor James these days are for fender saddles with the rotating stirrup bar. For more information on the rotating stirrup bar, click here.
What is the rigging dee on an Australian saddle?
This means that when girthed up the saddle is in a more forward position and the rider weight is more over the horses shoulders.
What is the American Western saddle?
The American Western saddle in its many forms all derive from the original concept of a saddle you can rope cattle with. Because of this they all have a horn for roping. The rigging dees on western saddles are for the most part, set at the front with a flank girth at the rear.
What happens when a steer hits the end of a rope?
When the steer hits the end of the rope the force exerted along the rope tends to pull the horse off its feet. When this doesnt happen the saddle takes the brunt of the force and the fact that the front and rear girth are set far apart prevents this from happening.
Which saddle is best for roping?
The comparison shows the American western saddle is the best roping saddle. If you are not roping, but want a light weight, balanced saddle that distributes the rider weight to minimise damage to your horse and at the same time giving the rider maximum comfort and the best security for the rider, the Australian Stock Saddle is for you.
What happens when a horse is in full gallop?
When the horse is in full gallop and heading for the finish line, the jockeys stand in the stirrups and lean forward along the horses neck. They know that by taking their weight off the horses back, the horse can use its full strength and athletic ability to propell itself forward rather than supporting the rider weight.
