How Do I Know What Size Saddle My Horse Needs?

Check the front of the saddle, where the saddle slightly goes over the withers. Make sure you can fit 2-3 fingers in between the horse’s withers and the front of the saddle. If you can fit less than 2 fingers between the saddle and the withers, the saddle is probably too wide for your horse.

How do I know what size saddle fits my horse?

Slide the saddle into place, and then slip your fingers between the gullet and the horse’s withers. A good fit — Two to three fingers’ width is just about right. Too narrow — If you can fit your whole hand in between the withers and saddle gullet, the tree is too narrow.

How do I know what inch saddle I need?

The following will give you a very general idea of saddle sizes:

1. Youth: 12 to 13 inches.
2. Small adult: 14 inches.
3. Average adult: 15 inches.
4. Large adult: 16 inches.
5. Extra-large adult: 17 inches.

Can a saddle be too big for a horse?

A horse ridden in a saddle that is too long will often tighten his lower back muscles; in some cases, you can actually see the horse hollow and drop his back in an attempt to get away from the pressure of the saddle. He may even buck in extreme cases, in an effort to get the weight off his lumbar area.

What does the 17.5 inch saddle mean?

A leg/seat measurement of 21.5-23 inches equals a 17.5-inch saddle. •A leg/seat measurement larger than 23 inches will fit an 18-inch or 19-inch saddle.

How do you tell if your saddle doesn’t fit your horse?

15 signs your saddle doesn’t fit – negative behaviour in your…

1. Avoidance behaviours – trying to walk away when being tacked up.
2. Ears back/head shaking when saddle comes close by.
3. Excessive tail swishing both in the stable and when ridden.
4. Pawing the ground.
5. Threatening to bite you when you come close with the saddle.

Should a saddle fit the rider or horse?

Important is always that the saddle fit the rider first – because if it doesn’t then no matter how well the saddle fits the horse, the rider’s discomfort due to poor rider saddle fit will always translate down to the horse. This limits both the horse and rider in attaining optimum performance.

How do I know if my saddle is too small?

While you don’t generally see many people riding in saddles that are too large, it’s common to see riders in saddles that are too small. As a rule of thumb, you should be able to fit at least a four-finger width between the end of your seat and the cantle. Any less than that and the saddle is too small.

What happens if your saddle is too big for you?

A saddle that is too big will cause the rider to move around too much in the saddle, making you insecure and ineffective, as well as encouraging a chair seat as your seat bones slide back towards the centre of the saddle and your knees forward to the blocks, Poppy cautions.

What happens if a saddle is too wide?

Most of the evaluations I’ve conducted reveal saddles that fit too wide for the horse. Over time, a wide-fitting saddle will create atrophy in the trapezius muscles (or wither) and create shoulder holes, which then cause the saddle to fall forward and down, further hampering shoulder movement and forward momentum.

Does wider saddle better?

Saddle shape
Wider saddles tend to be more comfortable so are good for long rides or leisurely riders where extra weight from more materials isn’t an issue. Thinner saddles tend to be better for short efforts – such as racing – where comfort isn’t dispensed with entirely but is compromised in favour of other factors.

What type of saddle is most comfortable for the horse?

Article Quick Links show

• Acerugs All-Natural Cowhide Saddle.
• EquiRoyal Comfort Trail Saddle.
• King Series Classic Distance Rider.
• Hilason Flextree Trail Saddle.
• Acerugs Cordura Synthetic Saddle.
• Royal King Roughout Training Saddle.
• Wintec Pro HART Endurance Saddle.

How much wider should saddle be than sit bones?

two cm
For this reason, width of the saddle (or the part of the saddle the sit bones are leaned on) should be at least two cm (one cm to each side) greater than the width of the part of the sit bones that are leaned on it.

What can poor saddle fit cause?

Muscle atrophy can occur when an unbalanced saddle puts too much pressure on a particular area. The horse tries to avoid the pressure, goes into “defensive mode” by contracting the particular muscle and surrounding muscles, and can even alter his gaits.

What happens if the saddle is too far back horse?

A saddle positioned too far back tends to sit on the “floating ribs”. This is the “bucking reflex point” – pressure on these unsupported ribs causes considerable discomfort, which can lead to bucking as the horse tries to alleviate the pressure.

How do I know if my horse saddle is too wide?

Look at the angle of the point of the saddle, and look at the angle of the horses shoulder. You should be able to see if the point is following the shape of the horse, or if it is sticking inwards (too narrow), or if it is sticking outwards (too wide). You should be looking at the angle of the POINT, not the panel.

Does a high saddle cause back pain?

A high saddle can also cause back pain and can be observed by the pelvis rocking or sliding side to side as the rider attempts to reach the bottom of the pedal stroke.

How long can you leave a saddle on a horse?

There’s not really a definite answer, but in general I would say, don’t leave the saddle on longer than needed to get the job done. Left on too long the saddle and girth can cause rub marks and sores. Even in cool weather the horse is going to sweat under the saddle and girth just for lack of air movement.

How do you tell if a saddle is narrow medium or wide?

If there’s 1/2″ to 3/4″ of space on either side of your fist, the saddle is approximately a medium tree. If there’s 0″ to 1/2″ then the tree is narrow; and if there’s more than 1″ of space on either side of your fist, the tree is wide or extra wide.

What happens if a saddle is too big for the rider?

A saddle that is too big will cause the rider to move around too much in the saddle, making you insecure and ineffective, as well as encouraging a chair seat as your seat bones slide back towards the centre of the saddle and your knees forward to the blocks, Poppy cautions.

What happens if a saddle is to big for rider?

If the saddle is too big for the rider, the rider will not be secure enough. This may cause too much movement from the rider. Causing the horse to be unbalanced. Similarly, if your saddle is too small for you, this will double the weight on the horses back.