How to figure out what size western saddle to get for my horse

[Linda]

My gelding is half TB and half warmblood. He has more of a TB build with tall withers (and he’s 17’2). Ive been riding him English for the past couple of yrs since he was started. I have been trail riding him a lot in my cross country jumping saddle and Id like to get a western saddle for him because it just seems like it would be more secure for me. We ride up and down a lot of big hills and in my cross country saddle, I feel like Im going to slide right off the back of him.

I don’t know anything about western saddle sizing. My cross country saddle is a medium tree. He has more of a TB build and in the past, his tall withers have made it tricky to fit an English saddle to him. I ride him in my 20 yr old Berney Bros cross country jumping saddle which has a somewhat deeper seat than most English saddles. But I really don’t feel secure in that saddle. We have 50 miles of trails in the mountains where we live and in my cross country saddle, its just a matter of time before I come out of it! Can someone give me a western saddle fitting tutorial?

[ezduzit]

Do you think a deep Aussie saddle might work? Lots of trail riders use those.

Aside from calling dealers to try and zero in one a few makes/models that might fit, maybe a saddle fitter would be the best place to start.

[Linda]

I actually have an Australian saddle. Have had it fitted to him a few times and have been having trouble keeping the fit consistent The issue (as I see it) is that the Australian saddle really needs to fit him well in order to work (which is why Ive had it refitted several times). He just doesn’t seem that comfortable in it - not sore but not totally happy. I could be wrong, but western saddles don’t appear to need to be as “exact” in the way they fit the horses back as the Australian saddle does - which is why I thought that could work better. I went through a number of fittings with my cross country saddle and it fits him well now. I just wish it had a deeper seat. Going up and down some of the sides of these mountains makes me feel like If he even slightly trips, I don’t have a chance staying on.

[ezduzit]

I’m sure not an expert. I just had to get a new western saddle for my horse. My vet told me the old one was pinching his shoulder and causing him to bulge out on the other shoulder to try and move the first shoulder away from the pinch. That bulge then, pinched on the other side. It was a lose-lose situation.

I bought him a Dale Chavez saddle because on my horse it sits behind his shoulder and the skirt flares out OVER the shoulder without really touching it. I have a Morgan horse, fairly typical build for the western Morgan…a bit on the stocky side, 15+ hands.

I’m wondering if anybody makes a saddle for taller withers…most stock horses are rounded. You may have to consider a custom saddle which would be worth the money if it gives you the secure ride you’re looking for.

[ezduzit]

Maybe a cross post in the endurance and trail riding forum would get some better answers for you.

[gaitedincali]

This book-
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Horses-Pain-Free-Back-Saddle-Fit/dp/1570763895/

Is well worth the $20.

Normally though, it comes down to trying a bunch of saddles to find what works. You can have 6 semi-QH tree saddles from 3 companies and all 6 saddles can fit different.

[imaginique]

horsesaddleshop.com has templates that you can download and try on your horse to see what size saddle will fit him. There is all kinds of info there that you might find useful. You can also email or post on the forums with questions and photos and they will help you find a perfectly fitting saddle.

I hate saddle shopping but the templates and help from the saddle shop made it so much easier. Happy shopping!

[GaitedGloryRider]

Have you considered looking at plantation saddles? Many of them have nice deep seats, are super comfortable and can accommodate a higher-withered horse.

I recently got an Ortho-Flex Patriot that fits my mare and gelding, both of whom have massive withers and cannot wear most western saddles as a result. Dixieland makes fabulous custom saddles at a reasonable price, they did three for me and had no problem fitting any of my horses. They offer western, endurance and plantation models. Hillcrest Saddlery also has some gorgeous saddles.

If you want used you could try hunting down an Eli Miller. Not the prettiest saddles out there but they are super comfy and the ones I’ve owned worked well on horses with high withers (the Buena Vista models, not sure about his western saddles as I’ve never used one). Old Minihans are usually pretty high in the front but can also get pricey if they’ve been restored, old Buena Vista saddles are another option and are easier to come by.

Here is the Hillcrest website, it will give you a pretty good idea of what the plantation saddles look like: http://www.hillcrestsaddlery.com/saddles.php

Dixieland Saddles, their western saddles are gorgeous and their plantation saddles a bit more modern looking. Prices are reasonable for custom saddles and I’m very happy with the work they did for me: http://dixielandgaitedsaddles.com/PLANTATION.html

[muleygirl]

You may also want to look at saddles with a gaited tree, they tend to have plenty of flare in the front for the shoulder, and more clearance under the pommel for bigger withers.

[LadyGalahad]

[QUOTE=Linda;7035854]
My gelding is half TB and half warmblood. He has more of a TB build with tall withers (and he’s 17’2). Ive been riding him English for the past couple of yrs since he was started. I have been trail riding him a lot in my cross country jumping saddle and Id like to get a western saddle for him because it just seems like it would be more secure for me. We ride up and down a lot of big hills and in my cross country saddle, I feel like Im going to slide right off the back of him.

I don’t know anything about western saddle sizing. My cross country saddle is a medium tree. He has more of a TB build and in the past, his tall withers have made it tricky to fit an English saddle to him. I ride him in my 20 yr old Berney Bros cross country jumping saddle which has a somewhat deeper seat than most English saddles. But I really don’t feel secure in that saddle. We have 50 miles of trails in the mountains where we live and in my cross country saddle, its just a matter of time before I come out of it! Can someone give me a western saddle fitting tutorial?[/QUOTE]

I have a paint gelding with really tall withers… He’s also built more like a TB and not a normal stock horse… Even the semi QH bars were too wide and the gullet was falling to his withers. I had to use a neoprene/felt pad under a built up cut-back to get the saddle off him! I just recently tried a flex-tree saddle and it made all the difference! Do your research! The flex tree I bought is not a name brand but made in the USA by a company called Hilason. I’ve heard and seen mixed reviews but I was out of options. The model I got is a barrel racing saddle and the gullet seems to be a bit taller than my reining saddle was. It is definitely off his withers now! It says the gullet will fit between 6-8 inches. See if you can find a flex tree to try out. If that doesn’t work, you can always go treeless! I had one while I was in 4-H made by Bob Marshall/Circle-Y. Oh how I wish I could still fit in it! It was like riding on a couch! Depending on how your horse is built, it flexes around your horse’s shape to fit that individual horse. On my high-withered standardbred, it made for a nice deep seat. I just sold it to a co-worker who is smaller than I am for her warmblood and mule. I do suggest using a felt or gel pad under it or one of those skito pads made specifically for it.

[SouthernYankee]

Not saying this will work for you but I have a Billy cook with full QH bars and it’s fit on everything I’ve ever put it on. I’ve got a ‘well rounded’ QH and it does not pinch him, we just bought a project/rescue horse and she’s lacking a minimum of 150# to even get her up to ‘fit’ so she’s bony everywhere. I put it on her and it fits her too. Billy Cooks aren’t the greatest thing out there but I think they’re worth the money. (if you look at one make sure it was made in Greenville tx, the ones made in OK were assembly line made and aren’t the quality)

I think the saddle pad has a lot to do with western saddle fitting. I use really thick foam pads and that helps make an ok fitting saddle fit perfectly (classic equine makes an amazing pad). English and Aussie saddles are typically thin pads so saddle fit becomes a major issue.

[Foxtrot_s]

I know I just couldn’t get a western saddle on a horse that high