saddlefit

There seems to be much confusion on the fitting of horse and saddle. One article you read tells you that even the least amount of wrong fit will permanently ruin your horse''s spine. They recommend an elaborate computerized measuring system, to be used only by a technologically trained expert, in the field, to recognize all possible pressure points on the back of the horse. The Feed Store employee tells you that the saddles on their racks should fit any horse. Where is the answer?

semi- quarter horse bars - 6 1/2 gullet is by far the most common tree. it is for the medium back, decent wither and often mixed blood descent (1/2 arab, Appendix or other mixes)

full quarter horse bars- (7" gullet) is often used for blocky low withered quarter horses or horses with broad backs.

quarter bars - 6 3/4 gullet often works for the horses that are hard- to fit. they are between semi- quarter horse and full quarter horse bars saddles.

Over the past few years, in an effort to be more specialized, many production saddle makers are offering some saddles in the quarter horse bars'' angle on a 7" gullet width. This they call "full" quarter horse bars.

It is designed to fit wide backed horses, those who tend to have a problem with saddles slipping sideways due to flat withers conditions or large bone structure. The saddle widens over the center back of the horse then has angles that hold the topsides.

If, on the other hand, your horse has a high withers, you will not have problems with slipping sideways. Your problems will be rubbing on the top of the withers or poor fit on the sides of those high withers. Go to the semi-quarter horse bars.

semi- quarter horse bars - 6 1/2 gullet is by far the most common tree. it is for the medium back, decent wither and often mixed blood descent (1/2 arab, Appendix or other mixes)

full quarter horse bars- (7" gullet) is often used for blocky low withered quarter horses or horses with broad backs.

quarter bars - 6 3/4 gullet often works for the horses that are hard- to fit. they are between semi- quarter horse and full quarter horse bars saddles.

The sad truth is that there is no true industry standards of measurements in tree widths or angles of English or Western saddlery. Often, in order to market to the masses, production saddlers will call the semi-quarter horse tree a "quarter horse" tree so you will better assume it will fit your Quarter Horse. Modern skirting techniques allow more general fitting than older styling. In today''s Western saddles, you simply assume that the saddle you order will fit 90% of horses.

Now that I have seemingly made everything sound hopelessly complicated, let me simplify in summation. Remember that the standard trees in most Western saddles will fit most horses..

If you have a budget for one saddle that you need to fit yourself, but must use with all your horses, get a saddle built upon a medium tree, semi-quarter horse bars. Or if all your horses are wider backed draft breeds, or narrow backed gaited horses, buy accordingly. There are some wonderful pads made to adjust saddle fitting to an art.

If you have several varieties of bone structure with which to deal, use a cutback, built-up pad for the high narrow withered animals. Use a thin non-slip type of neoprene pad for those wider backed, flat-withered guys. There are also various wedge pads, pads with holes drilled for spine relief, contoured pads for the backs that seem to have more curvature, and gel pads that absorb the shock of hard work or a "not quite fitting" situation.

Trees are the skeleton of the saddle and the saddle is built up from the tree. Trees can easily vary in price $100 or more at the manufacturers cost-dependent on the materials and labor used in construction. Trees are available in three types of construction:

These are the oldest and most traditional trees. They are also reported to be the strongest. They are generally made from laminated yellow pine and covered in wet hide that is laced on by hand and allowed to dry to a hard finish - something like a dog chew toy. Without the hide on the tree it ill dry out, warp, and crack. This is the most expensive way to make a tree.

This is essentially the same method used above, however the fiberglass is easier to apply and a less costly material. They are reported to be as strong as bullhide covered trees and are guaranteed by the manufacturer. However, most riders in a sport that is hard on a saddle, such as roping, still prefer the hide covered trees.

Ralide is a brand name of the Ralide Company. This is a polyethylene tree that has been used in western saddles for over 30 years. In actual fact, most western saddles sold in the USA are built on Ralide trees. They are durable for almost all types of use, are available in a wide variety of styles and sizes and are much less expensive that other types of trees.



	General Saddle Facts - Fitting Your Horse to the Saddle There seems to be much confusion on the fitting of horse and saddle. One article you read tells you that even the least amount of wrong fit will permanently ruin your horse''s spine. They recommend an elaborate computerized measuring system, to be used only by a technologically trained expert, in the field, to recognize all possible pressure points on the back of the horse. The Feed Store employee tells you that the saddles on their racks should fit any horse. Where is the answer? semi- quarter horse bars - 6 1/2 gullet is by far the most common tree. it is for the medium back, decent wither and often mixed blood descent (1/2 arab, Appendix or other mixes) full quarter horse bars- (7" gullet) is often used for blocky low withered quarter horses or horses with broad backs. quarter bars - 6 3/4 gullet often works for the horses that are hard- to fit. they are between semi- quarter horse and full quarter horse bars saddles. Over the past few years, in an effort to be more specialized, many production saddle makers are offering some saddles in the quarter horse bars'' angle on a 7" gullet width. This they call "full" quarter horse bars. It is designed to fit wide backed horses, those who tend to have a problem with saddles slipping sideways due to flat withers conditions or large bone structure. The saddle widens over the center back of the horse then has angles that hold the topsides. If, on the other hand, your horse has a high withers, you will not have problems with slipping sideways. Your problems will be rubbing on the top of the withers or poor fit on the sides of those high withers. Go to the semi-quarter horse bars. semi- quarter horse bars - 6 1/2 gullet is by far the most common tree. it is for the medium back, decent wither and often mixed blood descent (1/2 arab, Appendix or other mixes) full quarter horse bars- (7" gullet) is often used for blocky low withered quarter horses or horses with broad backs. quarter bars - 6 3/4 gullet often works for the horses that are hard- to fit. they are between semi- quarter horse and full quarter horse bars saddles. The sad truth is that there is no true industry standards of measurements in tree widths or angles of English or Western saddlery. Often, in order to market to the masses, production saddlers will call the semi-quarter horse tree a "quarter horse" tree so you will better assume it will fit your Quarter Horse. Modern skirting techniques allow more general fitting than older styling. In today''s Western saddles, you simply assume that the saddle you order will fit 90% of horses. Now that I have seemingly made everything sound hopelessly complicated, let me simplify in summation. Remember that the standard trees in most Western saddles will fit most horses.. If you have a budget for one saddle that you need to fit yourself, but must use with all your horses, get a saddle built upon a medium tree, semi-quarter horse bars. Or if all your horses are wider backed draft breeds, or narrow backed gaited horses, buy accordingly. There are some wonderful pads made to adjust saddle fitting to an art. If you have several varieties of bone structure with which to deal, use a cutback, built-up pad for the high narrow withered animals. Use a thin non-slip type of neoprene pad for those wider backed, flat-withered guys. There are also various wedge pads, pads with holes drilled for spine relief, contoured pads for the backs that seem to have more curvature, and gel pads that absorb the shock of hard work or a "not quite fitting" situation. Below is a general chart to go by, but remember your comfort is the correct measurement. Rider's Height Weight Saddle Size 5-5"6 100-130 12"-13" 5'4"-5'6" 120-135 13"-14" 5'6"-5'10" 135-165 14"-15" 5'8"-5'10" 150-200 15"-16" 5'10"-6' 0" 170-200 16"-16.5" 5'10"-6'6" 200-250 16"-18" Types of uses of Western Trees: Trees are the skeleton of the saddle and the saddle is built up from the tree. Trees can easily vary in price $100 or more at the manufacturers cost-dependent on the materials and labor used in construction. Trees are available in three types of construction: . Wood trees covered in bullhide, rawhide, or splithide. These are the oldest and most traditional trees. They are also reported to be the strongest. They are generally made from laminated yellow pine and covered in wet hide that is laced on by hand and allowed to dry to a hard finish - something like a dog chew toy. Without the hide on the tree it ill dry out, warp, and crack. This is the most expensive way to make a tree. . Wood trees covered in fiberglass. This is essentially the same method used above, however the fiberglass is easier to apply and a less costly material. They are reported to be as strong as bullhide covered trees and are guaranteed by the manufacturer. However, most riders in a sport that is hard on a saddle, such as roping, still prefer the hide covered trees. . Ralide trees Ralide is a brand name of the Ralide Company. This is a polyethylene tree that has been used in western saddles for over 30 years. In actual fact, most western saddles sold in the USA are built on Ralide trees. They are durable for almost all types of use, are available in a wide variety of styles and sizes and are much less expensive that other types of trees.