New Rider With Saddle Fit Problem

[beginner_elle]

I am a new rider and it has become apparent that my horse is hard-to-fit a saddle on. We have tried eight saddles on her ranging from FQHB to Extra Wide and they’re all too snug up front.

She is a Quarter Horse with lowish withers, broad shoulders, short back. Very muscular. The saddle that came with her does.not.fit.her! The main issue is the front of the saddle sitting too tight at her shoulder. I was told she should have a saddle with a swell of 13.5" but cannot find anything locally to try on her. The best I can find is a 13". She also needs a skirt that doesn’t interfere with her hips.

So, is there anything I can do with a saddle pad to reduce the tightness at her shoulder? I have a saddle at my disposal that fits me but like all the other saddles, it sits snug on the horse. Really would appreciate help with this. Thank you.

[cloudy18]

You can’t make a tight saddle fit, period. If you don’t have any local saddle fitters I would try horsesaddleshop.com.

[beginner_elle]

Yes, cloudy18, I understand. The problem is I cannot just keep ordering saddles online only to have them not fit and lose money. What am I to do?? I want my horse comfortable but don’t know what to do.

[Bluey]

@beginner elle

I am a new rider and it has become apparent that my horse is hard-to-fit a saddle on. We have tried eight saddles on her ranging from FQHB to Extra Wide and they’re all too snug up front.

She is a Quarter Horse with lowish withers, broad shoulders, short back. Very muscular. The saddle that came with her does.not.fit.her! The main issue is the front of the saddle sitting too tight at her shoulder. I was told she should have a saddle with a swell of 13.5" but cannot find anything locally to try on her. The best I can find is a 13". She also needs a skirt that doesn’t interfere with her hips.

So, is there anything I can do with a saddle pad to reduce the tightness at her shoulder? I have a saddle at my disposal that fits me but like all the other saddles, it sits snug on the horse. Really would appreciate help with this. Thank you.

Where are you located, not the city, the area, so we can see if someone around there can help.

What kind of riding are you doing, that may make a difference.
Swell size don’t fit horses, but riders?
That measure should not mean anything to how it fits your horse.
Swells can be A framed or standard and those may be from 12" to 14" or more if cut back under, low moose style.
That all only impacts the rider, not the horse.

Maybe find out what size gullet your horse needs.
Then, that alone won’t do it, the shape of the bars will also need to be considered.

For what you describe, I would talk to Bob at Bob’s custom saddles and see what he tells you.
He has been in business decades and fit all kinds of horses and riders and at least he can tell you where to go next with your problem.

Just off my head, I would see if their light training saddles may fit:

http://bobssaddles.com/saddle-detail.php?target=1016

If you have not tried those yet, is one more that seems to fit practically most horses.

[beginner_elle]

Thank you, bluey. Yes, I have since been told about the swell. I was just repeating what someone told me. I am learning as I go. I am a small, old lady who simply wants to ride some local trails. I am located in Southern Oregon in the Rogue Valley. I will go check out the website you mentioned. Thank you for taking the time to reply and try to help me.

[cloudy18]

You asked if there was anything you could do with a saddle pad to reduce tightness. Let me alter my statement a bit. If it’s truly too narrow or the wrong angle, no. If it’s sitting too low and pinching bc it’s too wide, possibly, although I gathered from your post that it is actually too tight.

​​​​​​Horsesaddleshop.com can offer you assistance, it’s not just a place to buy saddles. I get the frustration with ordering online and returning, I’ve had my own saddle fit issues. They have templates you can print out to help give you an idea of what your horse might need, and you can also send in pictures of your horse. There are also other fitters who can fit using photos. Besides the link Bluey provided, you could try contacting Allegany saddles. It’s just one place I can think of off the top of my head that can help with fitting and ordering a saddle

[beau159]

@beginner elle

So, is there anything I can do with a saddle pad to reduce the tightness at her shoulder?

If the angle of the bars or the gullet is indeed too narrow for your horse, NO, there is nothing you can do with padding.

Just like there would be no way you can make a pair of shoes fit your feet if they were too small, by altering your socks.

However, is the saddle truly “too narrow” or is it actually too wide and therefore “dumping” on the shoulders? (It will make it look like it’s tight on the shoulders.)

I went through saddle fitting with my 6-yr-old this past year. Just about every saddle either “dumped” on his front end or had too much rock in the tree (and the back came up). Here is an example of a saddle that is TOO WIDE and thus creating a tight spot on the shoulder. I even tried the exact same saddle in the more narrow tree and there was still a tight spot on the shoulder. Tried at least 10 saddles until I found this one that fits like a glove. And it’s full quarter horse bars.

Are you able to post pictures of your horse and any saddles you’ve tried? Again, just want to make sure they are indeed too narrow … and not actually too wide and dumping on the shoulders, creating a tight spot.

@beginner elle

She is a Quarter Horse with lowish withers, broad shoulders, short back. Very muscular.

I have a similar-shaped horse, by your description. For him, the Circle Y Flex2 WIDE saddle fits him absolutely perfect. I barrel race, so I have the Lisa Lockhart version but I know that saddle is available in other disciplines (including trail). So, maybe something to try.

@beginner elle

I was told she should have a saddle with a swell of 13.5" but cannot find anything locally to try on her. The best I can find is a 13".

I’ve never heard of anyone searching by the swell for saddle fit. Usually that’s more for the riders sake and not anything to do with the fit for the horse.

Here’s one website and also another that have great info on saddle fit.

@beginner elle

The problem is I cannot just keep ordering saddles online only to have them not fit and lose money. What am I to do??

Yeah, saddle searching stinks. Your best bet is to find a tack shop that you can haul your horse to, and try saddles on. If you have nothing in your area (like me!!) then you are stuck with ordering saddles online. You just won’t know if they fit until you try them on.

[beginner_elle]

Very helpful information everyone, thank you. I am trying to find someone to take some pictures and I have been in touch with someone at the Horse Saddle Shop. Hopefully, between all your help and some work on my end, I will find something that works for my horse.

[beginner_elle]

One item that I’m wondering about…when a saddle sits on my horse, it looks like the saddle is higher in the back than towards the front. We were looking at the very bottom part of the skirt and as you follow that line, it goes up as you look toward the hip. This was the case with both a FQHB and a wide saddle so I’m wondering if that is a clue to anyone. Hoping to get some photos.

[beau159]

@beginner elle

One item that I’m wondering about…when a saddle sits on my horse, it looks like the saddle is higher in the back than towards the front. We were looking at the very bottom part of the skirt and as you follow that line, it goes up as you look toward the hip. This was the case with both a FQHB and a wide saddle so I’m wondering if that is a clue to anyone. Hoping to get some photos.

Yup, then I am guessing that you are incorrectly thinking your saddle is too narrow. If it is sitting downhill like you describe, then you’ve actually been trying saddles that are too wide and “dump” on the shoulders.

The bar angle may not necessarily be too wide, but if the gullet is too wide, it will appear to “pinch” the shoulders because the saddle puts more pressure on the front end when it sits downhill.

[beau159]

Yes - gullet is definately TOO WIDE in the pictures you posted. It is sitting downhill too.

The bar angle doesn’t look too bad so sometimes you can “make do” with a shim in front. Of course, ideally it would be best to find a saddle that just fits correctly from the get go.

[beginner_elle]

I am being told by the Horse Saddle Shop (who received all my photos) their recommendation is a https://www.horsesaddleshop.com/circley-salt-river-trail-saddle-cl.html or a https://www.horsesaddleshop.com/circley-trail-birdseye-saddle-cl.html.

Can anyone comment on these or give me any suggestions of what I should ask before buying?

[beginner_elle]

Thank you, beau159, for your assessment after reviewing the four photos. Would you have any opinions on either of the two saddles recommended? I want to do as you say and have a saddle that fits correctly from the get go…it’s hard to know if it fits when I am on my own for the most part.

[beau159]

@beginner elle

Thank you, beau159, for your assessment after reviewing the four photos. Would you have any opinions on either of the two saddles recommended?

Both of those saddles should have very similar trees and fit similar, so it’s just a matter of which one you preferred. I too would suggest the regular tree on the Flex2. I think the wide tree would be much too wide for your guy; judging by your photos. In general, I’ve found the Flex2 saddles to have a pretty low profile – meaning they won’t have much gullet clearance. But of course, as long as they fit, that doesn’t really matter.

It’s worth a try. You just never know until you place it on the horse’s back. HorseSaddleShop is very helpful and has good customer service. There is a restocking fee if you need to return a saddle, although it is reasonable. They also will give you a pretty good deal on return shipping, but I would ask for all details just so you are aware before ordering.

I will say that the quality of the Circle Y saddles is not what it used to be. But with that said, I do have a Flex2 myself and I do really like it. This is my other horse and he actually does fit the WIDE flex2. (Lisa Lockhart barrel racing saddle) But he’s a beefy guy.

[beginner_elle]

I spoke at length with them about how they operate and went ahead and placed an order. I may pop back in here once that saddle has arrived to see what you guys think. As I’ve mentioned, I am a beginner and don’t always have another person available to ask questions to. I really have appreciated all the responses and am going to continue to read about saddle fit.

[China_Doll]

@beginner elle

Here are some pictures…well, I kept getting messages about resizing and I don’t know how to do that. I will try to get some to work. SO frustrating…the pictures that we got showing the area won’t load. This is what will.
ETA: I was able to email all the photos easily, so if someone wants to have me email all the photos I can do that.
One thing we did was change the saddle pad to one with cut outs at the shoulder area. This seemed to let the saddle sit somewhat better but those photos won’t load here.

I think you should get a local saddle fitter to help you. You will get too many opinions on the internet.

[beginner_elle]

Yes, China Doll, I would absolutely do that but I have not been able to locate a single one. I am doing the best I can with what I have access to.

[cloudy18]

You can also try contacting Horsey Habit in WI. They might be able to help you via photos and email. Cordia Pearson also might be able to help. She’s not always easy to get in contact with, and I don’t know how much she will tell you from photos, but maybe you can get pictures of the new saddle and send to either of the two.

http://saddlefitter.com

https://www.horseyhabit.com

Saddle fitting links provided by other posters are a good way to arm yourself with some information so that when your saddle comes you have some idea of what to look and feel for. But just when I think I have it figured out, I end up questioning myself when I actually have a saddle to check fit on. It’s a pain, for sure.

[beau159]

@beginner elle

Yes, China Doll, I would absolutely do that but I have not been able to locate a single one. I am doing the best I can with what I have access to.

“Saddle Fitters” don’t really exist in my neck of the woods either, so I understand.

[KBC]

Not sure how big or small you are OP, but both those links were for 14 or 141/2" saddles, maybe a bit tight for you even if they fit your horse!!