I have a Wintec saddle that I want to sell but I’m having a hard time answering sizing questions about it…specifically as to whether it has full or semi bars. I’ve tried looking up how to measure but I’m getting conflicting answers. I can’t find a serial number and although I did email Wintec with the model number I have not heard back. Anyone have any recommendations?
There is no standard measures in western saddle trees, each manufacturer uses different ones and tree makers also do so, plus many saddle trees are not exactly the same after they are made, even if they started with close to the same measures.
A good guess is semi quarter horse bars can measure around 6 1/2" in the gullet, full quarter horse around 7".
Then generally semi- have less flare, full more, to fit broader backs.
It is so hard to measure once the saddle is finished, you can’t really access the tree points to measure.
Best when you are selling a western saddle is to show a tape on the front of the saddle, at the base of the gullet, then let the buyer decide if they think that measure is what they think will fit their horse.
Also measure from the base of the horn to the cantle stitching, that gives you an idea of the saddle seat size, then the buyer can see how much any padding takes off it, like a 16 1/2" seat padded to a 16", or a 15 1/2" if it may be double padded.
Since measurements are not standard, to send buyers pictures measuring the saddle itself will help the buyer, that may not measure just like you may.
If there is no serial number, you probably will not find an answer to your question. Model number usually does not include information about the tree.
You CANNOT MEASURE if a saddle is full or semi bars. You cannot measure this because there is no standard in the Western Industry. What wintec calls a “full” bar might be what Circle Y calls a “semi” bar, for example. Each brand and each tree has their own definition.
Even trying to measure gullet is inaccurate because the REAL measurement is done on the bare tree. You can’t measure the bare tree once the saddle is finished. Sure, you can get close. But it’s not 100% accurate.
Doing a quick Google search on Wintec western saddles, it appears that they market their saddle as having FULL quarter horse bars, so that is your most likely answer.
I would Google the model number and see what your search comes up with.
??? I disagree, to some.
Yes semi will often have less flare, but that’s so it fits a more NARROW horse; not one that has a broader back (which is why you would want more flare for a broader horse).
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I’ve got a Wintec with full QH bars. It measures 12 inches across the front from D ring to D ring. Maybe you can get an idea what yours is by comparing to that.
And the Wintec does, or at least used to, come in both Semi and FQH bars.
You know, that is what I was saying also, re-read what I wrote, “full more (that is more flare), to fit broader backs”.
I think somewhere our wires got crossed, maybe?
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I had to reread it twice too, lol. I added some words to clarify how I read it!
"then generally semi- have less flare, full- have more flair (to fit broader backs).
Sorry, some times I get my words mixed around, thanks for the correction.
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