Saddle Measurements

[The_Red_Mare]

Ok, I have been saddle shopping and this has finally up enough for me to look for outside answers.

One lady selling the one of the saddles I was looking at measured from the back edge of the button and it measured 17.25" and she said it was a 17" seat. I measured it from the center of the button and it measured a easy 17.5".

On another saddle the person selling had one advertised as a 18". The picture looked like they were measuring from the center and it measured 17.75". I suspect if you chose to measure from the front or back it would measure as a 17.5" or 18".

How do you guys measure, front of the button, center, or back? These were the same brand but different models. I have seen some brands use big button heads and that could make even more of a difference. I have also run into this problem when I have been selling saddles, folks say I am measuring wrong, misrepresenting the saddle, etc.

On a side note, I really wish saddlers would just mark their sizing on the saddles that they make and not on the bullet guards that are easily removed. I mean really how hard could that be.

[Bluey]

Saddle trees are measured bare, before adding the covering, from middle of the button to edge of the cantle.

That is why, when you have the finished saddle there, it is harder to find the edge of the cantle to be sure what size it really is.

Yes, saddles could also be stamped with that size somewhere else.

We have to recognize that English saddles are not made on a rigid wood tree, like western ones and they will change shape a bit with use, some more than others.

An older English saddle may have “stretched” a bit and be now 1/2" longer in the seat and even the gullet may change.
I have an old Stubben mw that really measures full w now, after many years of use.
I have a Passier that is exactly what is stamped.
They probably had different uses on different horses over the decades, so one changed more than the other.

Every saddle has to be taken as it is, measures given may not be what you have in front of you any more, but they do help to narrow what we need.