What Size Gullet Does A High Withered Horse Need?

8 1/2".
Gaited horse saddles feature a higher gullet, usually 8 1/2″, to accommodate higher withers.

What type of saddle is best for a high withered horse?

Front Gussets
This is great for horses with high withers, as it can be flocked to lift up the front, eliminating pressure on the withers.

Where should saddle sit on high withered horse?

Place the saddle on the horse’s bare back (no pad). There should be two to three fingers space between the top of the wither and the gullet of the saddle. If you can fit your whole hand (vertically) between the bottom of the gullet and the wither, the tree is probably too narrow.

What size gullet does my horse need?

Place your hand into the space between the saddle and your horse’s wither, using your fingers to measure the vertical space. The gap should fit no more than two fingers to two and a half fingers. If three or more fingers fit, the gullet is too narrow. If fewer than two fingers fit, the gullet is too wide.

What do you do if your horse has high withers?

For tack, a high-withered horse will need a saddle that has good clearance, such as a saddle with a high pommel design. This will offer more room for the shoulder and the withers to move around while reducing the chance of friction.

How much wither clearance should a saddle have?

2-3 fingers clearance
Ideally, we should be able to get 2-3 fingers clearance on both the top and the sides of the withers. To determine adequate clearance on the sides of the withers, we measure from the point just above where the stuffing of the saddle starts.

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.

Are treeless saddles good for high withered horses?

One of the main reasons for needing to use a treeless pad under a bareback pad, is to relieve pressure for high withered horses. Horses with a high wither or under developed topline may benefit from the extra foam inserts either side of the backbone that provide a channel.

What is the average gullet size for a quarter horse?

6 3/4"
Semi-Quarter horse bars usually have a 6 1/4″ gullet, and Quarter Horse Bars usually have a 6 1/2″ to 6 3/4″ gullet. Designed to fit the average horse, one of these two widths will fit approximately 80% of horses comfortably. Full-Quarter horse bars usually have a 7″ gullet.

What causes wither pain in horses?

Fistulous withers, also known as ‘saddle sore” is a painful condition that is caused when open wounds along the spine are infected.

What is the most common gullet size?

Gullet Size
A standard gullet measures 7 inches and is the most common measurement found in saddles described as having “full quarter horse bars”. Any gullet that measures larger than 7 inches is considered to be wide.

How do I know if my horse needs full or semi quarter horse bars?

A saddle with full quarter horse bars is designed to fit a horse with a wide, fairly flat back. A saddle with semi-quarter horse bars is designed to fit a horse with a medium-sized back. The primary difference between the two sizes is in the angle at which the bars are positioned and the width of the gullet.

What size gullet is 6 inches?

An English saddle is a bit different from Western saddles, so it’s important to know the proper way to measure and fit one.
Gullet Size Chart.

Is a 17 inch saddle too big?

Seat sizes 15 to 17 inches — Best for junior riders or smaller adults. Seat sizes 17 and 17.5 inches — Most popular size for average height and weight adults. Seat sizes 18 and 19 inches — Best for larger adult riders or tall riders.

How should a saddle sit at the withers?

To properly position the saddle on the horse’s back, place it slightly forward over the withers, then slide the saddle back until it seems to stop in a natural resting spot. In this position, the saddle bars or panels should rest 2 1/2-3 inches behind the horse’s shoulder blades.

How wide should the gullet be on a saddle?

The average horse should be between 1.5″ to 2.5″ in width so that means your gullet width on your saddle should be at the very least 2″ in width but preferably greater than 3″.

Is it better for a saddle to be too big or too small?

In general, it’s better to have a saddle a smidgen too big than a smidgen too small. (A smaller saddle may cause uncomfortable chafing.)

Can a saddle be too heavy for a horse?

It recommends that the rider and gear weigh no more than 20 percent of the horse’s weight. The mention of gear is important. A western saddle can add another 30 pounds or more to a horse’s back, easily pushing the total burden past that 20-percent point.

How do you tell if a saddle is too big for you?

Two fingers should fit between the swells of the saddle and your leg. If you can fit your whole hand, the saddle is too big and you could flop around instead of being secure. If you can’t even squeeze a finger, the saddle is too tight, and will be very uncomfortable.

Does gullet size matter on a treeless saddle?

The gullet bridges the horse’s spine so it is an important part of the saddle design. If the gullet is narrow, it can pinch the muscles on either side of the spine which ultimately will make your horse’s back stiff or sore.

What are the disadvantages of a treeless saddle?

Treeless saddles can be bad for some horses because they don’t distribute a rider’s weight evenly which can cause spine injuries, muscle soreness, and saddle sores, especially when riding over long distances.