Buying a western style horse saddle that is not right for your horse can be a mistake that can cost you a lot. An improper saddle can injure your horse's back or make your riding experience unpleasant. Determining the right size for a western style saddle can provide you and your horse with the right equipment so that riding is comfortable for both.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preparing the Horse
Step 1. Place the saddle on the horse's back
This layer will prevent the saddle from rubbing against the horse's back. Make sure the front is near the highest end of the horse's back.
Step 2. Place the saddle on the horse's back
Make sure that your horse is secure from the rope that runs across and that someone is not holding it in during this process. Place the saddle directly on the horse's back without the padding, and make sure that the saddle doesn't block the front shoulders or extend beyond the rearmost ribs.
Step 3. Check the gullet gap
The gullet is an empty cavity along the horse's spine. If you're behind the horse, you can see the gullet gap/cavities and extend into the horse's mane. On the front side of the saddle, you should be able to insert 2-3 fingers at a time vertically into the gullet gap.
- If you can only fit one finger or have no success in getting your finger through the gullet pants, the saddle hook is too narrow.
- If you can fit more than three fingers into the gullet gap, the saddle hook may be too loose.
Step 4. Check the curve of the horse's upper body
Horses generally have a slightly elevated upper body arch between the neck and back and the buttocks, and there is a slight curve in between. Two main problems arise when the horse includes a very curved back (“swayback”) that has a marked curve between the neck and back and the rump, or a straight back (has little or no arch). The saddle used must match the angle of the curvature of the horse's back.
- Problems will arise if the saddle is placed improperly between the part between the neck and back and the horse's butt. Pay close attention to whether this problem occurs with your horse, as this will cause pain in the part of his body that is being saddled. In this case, it means that your horse needs a saddle with a larger arch.
- If your horse is a straight-backed breed (this is generally the case with mixed horses and donkeys), the saddle will slide back and forth on the horse's back. You can overcome this by purchasing a special saddle that has a completely straight saddle shape.
Step 5. Also check the flared saddle plate
The saddle has a section of two parallel plates that extend slightly outward on the front side. A common problem with slab fitting and causing pain is that the slab is not wide enough, which makes the horse's shoulder movement tight and painful. Make sure that the saddle is in a slightly forward position, so that the horse can move freely.
Step 6. Watch your horse as it goes through the adjustment process
If you're not sure which saddle to use, keep an eye on your horse. His body language will indicate whether the saddle is uncomfortable or painful, or whether it fits his body shape.
Part 2 of 2: Preparing the Riders
Step 1. Check the distance between your sitting position and the front end of the saddle
Sit relaxed in the saddle, and notice how far it is from the front of your seat to the bulge at the front end of the saddle (the part where you attach the “horn”). A good, well-fitting saddle should be approximately 10.16 cm between the rider's sitting position and the protrusion of the saddle.
Step 2. Check your seat position and the back of the saddle
The back of the saddle is the part that protrudes upward, such as the back of a chair, that sits behind the seat in the saddle. If the saddle fits snugly, your sitting position will be right under the backrest. If the saddle is too large, there will be a gap of two or more fingers between the back of your body and the backrest. If the saddle is too small, you sit on the backrest (sitting position is on the backrest).
Step 3. Place your feet on the footrest
When measuring a western-style horse saddle, you should be able to stand on a footrest and there should be about 5-10 cm between the rider's butt and the sitting position in the saddle. This footrest can be adjusted in height, but don't let the rope hang over the length.
Tips
- Some of the signs that indicate an ill-fitting saddle are white hair or soreness on the horse's body in the area around the saddle, dry stains when you take off the saddle after a long journey, the saddle shifting back and forth when you ride, or the horse's strange behavior when the body is saddled..
- When saddling a horse, choose a saddle with rounded edges for a horse with a short back.
- Western-style saddles generally consist of small, normal, and large sizes, and the sitting position ranges from 33-43 cm in length.
- If you have to, it's better to choose a saddle with a sitting position length that is too large than one that is too small.
