Do you buy a saddle to fit the horse or the rider?

As well as fitting the horse, it’s important that the saddle fit the rider. A saddle that is too small will cause discomfort as you bump against the pommel at every stride (believe me, I’ve been there) A saddle that is too large will have you swimming around trying to maintain your position.

How do I choose the right saddle?

How do you know what size saddle you need?

5 tips for finding the perfect saddle
  1. Find the saddle with the right shape. No two people are the same.
  2. Take account of your flexibility and your position on the bike. Test your flexibility.
  3. Measure the width of your sit bones. Saddles come in different widths.
  4. Set the saddle to the right height.
  5. Saddle position.

How do you shop for a saddle?

How much should I spend on a saddle?

There should be about four inches between your body and the swell of the saddle. Anything less than that may mean a too-small saddle, and a bigger gap means the saddle may be on the large size. Larger may be more comfortable for you. Western riders with longer legs should choose a larger-size saddle.

How do you know if a saddle is good quality?

How do you fit a saddle to a rider?

When you are looking to purchase a saddle you can usually expect to get what you pay for. The average cost of a horse saddle is around $500. However, the price range for different saddles varies greatly, from $100 for a cheap saddle to $8000 or more for a high end or custom made saddle.

Where should a saddle sit on a horse?

Check the quality of leather that the saddle is made from. Look for good-quality leather that is thick and pliable when you touch it and bend it. Avoid saddles that have thin, flimsy leather or have texture similar to cardboard or paper, which is common with cheap saddles.

How do I know what size English saddle I need?

How do you tell if a saddle fits the rider?

Saddle positioning

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).

How do I know if a saddle fits my horse?

You should have approximately a hand’s width of room both in front and in the back of your seat for the English saddle to be properly fitted.

English Saddle Size Chart.

Your Measurement Saddle Size
<16.5” 15” saddle
16.5” to 18.5” 16” saddle
18.5” to 20” 16.5” saddle
20” to 21.5” 17” saddle
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Sep 24, 2019

Can any saddle fit any horse?

What happens if your saddle is too big?

So how do you know if a saddle fits the rider? There used to be the “one hand” rule: if the saddle was correct for the rider, the rider should be able to put one hand across the saddle seat between the back of their butt and the end of the cantle.

How do I know if my saddle is too big for riders?

How long should your saddle flap be?

#1 – Balance: When on the horse’s back, the center of the saddle (seat area) should be parallel to the ground. #2 – Wither Clearance: Clearance at the withers should be the width of two to three fingers for normal withers; mutton withers will have more clearance while high withers will have less clearance.

What to do if your saddle doesn’t fit your horse?

Any good saddle company will be able to accommodate most if not all the many shapes of horses‘ backs with their panel options. A bad fit for your body will affect your ride and work against you and your horse.” If you address the saddle and not the actual cause, you’ll only get so far with saddle fitting.

Is a treeless saddle better?

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.

Is my saddle too narrow?

Why does my saddle slip sideways?

If you find that your legs come so far forward on the flaps that they hang off the front, or if your seat moves up or off the back of the saddle, then you’re riding in a saddle that’s too small for you.

Do you need a special pad for treeless saddle?

Flap length: Flaps should be long enough so that you don’t catch the bottom of the flap with your boot top and short enough to allow plenty of lower leg contact. This is usually about 3” below the crease behind your knee. 1. Profile photos of you mounted on the demo saddle are helpful.

Are treeless saddles bad?

“If the saddle doesn’t fit the horse properly at the withers and the shoulders, every time the shoulder comes back, it will hitch against the tree point and push the saddle forward.” Solution: The saddle needs to be properly adjusted at the gullet plate (if possible); otherwise, a different saddle would be the answer.

Can you jump in a treeless saddle?

What saddle pad should I use with a treeless saddle?

Conventional saddles were much more effective in distributing pressure evenly over the horse’s back. Treeless saddles are often said to be more “natural,” more comfortable for riders and/or horses, or more universally fitting for all equine back shapes and rider seats.