Western Saddle Fit

[nfrancoeur]

I got a new horse a couple weeks ago. He is a 3yr old Quarter horse. He is very narrow so I needed to get a new saddle for him as my old saddle was FQHB with a 7" gullet and was waaayyy too wide for him. I am a little concerned with the fit of the new saddle because the back of the saddle tips up, maybe an inch, when the cinch is tightened. Once my weight is in the seat it down not tip up. The saddle fit hasn’t seemed to impact his performance at all, there are not dry spots after riding, and he doesn’t seem to have a sore back after. I have only ridden in it a handful of times. I don’t want to continue to use it if it isn’t fitting him properly. What do y’all think?
If I knew how to attach photos I would… I just can’t seem to figure out how to do it

[Flash44]

It’s not unusual for the back of a western saddle to tip up.

[SouthernTrailsGA]

Without pics of the Saddle (without a pad) on your Horse it is hard to say…

But, I will say it would be very, very unusual for a 3 YO QH to use a Full-QH Bar.

With a good natured Horse evidence of a bad fit is not always evident on the 1st half dozen rides, but will eventually do permanent damage…

.

[js]

You could use shims in the front to level the saddle. There are some barrel racers that use saddles that are a bit too wide in front to get the correct width for the rest of the horses back. They shim the front to make the saddle fit correctly. If your horse is 3 he may still have some growing to do so what doesn’t fit now might later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4iVhzeegyk She explains using shims.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=nfrancoeur;8124222]
I am a little concerned with the fit of the new saddle because the back of the saddle tips up, maybe an inch, when the cinch is tightened. Once my weight is in the seat it down not tip up. [/QUOTE]

Seeing photos would be best. Just depends how off the saddle fit is.

What I do, is upload my photos for free to photobucket.com and then use the little “link” icon to copy/paste the link into a post.

Some saddles you can “get by” for a while, while the youngster continues to grow and fill out. If you get a thicker pad (like a 1") that can sometimes help a little bit while they are growing. Just kinda depends how far off it is, or if it is pretty close.

@Flash44;8124311

It’s not unusual for the back of a western saddle to tip up.

I really don’t know why people think it is “normal” for a western saddle to tip up in the back. If the back of an English saddle tipped up, you’d be scolded for poor saddle fit, but somehow it’s “acceptable” in a Western saddle?

If the back of the saddle is tipping up, then most of the weight of the saddle is being applied to the front of the tree, around the horse’s shoulders/withers. The rider sitting in the saddle forcing it into position does not change where most the pressure of the tree is being applied.

@SouthernTrailsGA;8124887

But, I will say it would be very, very unusual for a 3 YO QH to use a Full-QH Bar.

I agree it is unusual, but not impossible.

When my Shotgun was 2 years old and I was training him for the first time, my saddle that is full QH bars was a tad wide for him, but really not bad at all. Last year, it fit him great. This year, as a 4-year-old, it’s too SMALL. Just ordered him an extra-wide saddle which I hope is here soon! And of course, he’s not even done filling out yet. I just hope he doesn’t grow out of the extra-wide saddle! He is definately a big-boned quarter horse.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=js;8124911]
You could use shims in the front to level the saddle. There are some barrel racers that use saddles that are a bit too wide in front to get the correct width for the rest of the horses back. They shim the front to make the saddle fit correctly. If your horse is 3 he may still have some growing to do so what doesn’t fit now might later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4iVhzeegyk She explains using shims.[/QUOTE]

Martin Saddles aren’t only for barrel racers. They make several other types of saddles including roping saddles.

Martin Saddle kind of have their own different fitting philosophy. I’ve tried them and I personally am not a fan, but I know many people who swear by them. They are good quality made saddles, that’s for sure.

The shims you can get from Classic Equine. I’ve got a set myself and I’ve never used them! Would rather just use a thicker pad for the time being, while a youngster grows up. (Provided the saddle fit is close, already.)

[PeanutButterPony]

it’s not unusual, but neither is texting and driving- both are wrong

It’s tipping b/c the gullet is too wide so it’s tumping down onto his withers.

Shims may do enough to offset it.

pictures of him (profile, saddle on, no pad, not girthed up) please.

[nfrancoeur]

Thanks for all the input, I will work on getting photos uploaded now. To clarify, the new saddle is semi quarter horse bars with 6" gullet.

[nfrancoeur]

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Alright, I have attached photos. One profile with the saddle, no pad, not cinhed. (I know the breast collar is hanging low, I didn’t fit it because I was taking the picture.

The second is a profile with pad, cinched, with my son on him.

[PeanutButterPony]

Cute little baby horse- he’s weedy but he’ll fill out later

With that said…that saddle is not fitting him well at all - it is too wide and doesn’t seem to have enough rock to it either- but at the very least- it’s too wide and dumping all of the saddle’s (and rider’s) weight onto his shoulders.

[candyappy]

Please , please, please don’t put your son on him without having a lead rope attached and someone holding the horse in case he would spook. Even the calmest of horses do .

That saddle looks just plain big and dwarfs the horse from front to back. Might not be the correct way to phrase it. I would look for one with a rounded skirt, and narrower gullet width. Semi QHB.

You might be able to find a nice used saddle for fairly cheap. Hold on to the other one, he may need it later. He looks like a nice quiet youngster.

[nfrancoeur]

Thanks for all your input. I appreciate it. Off to find a saddle that fits him

[nfrancoeur]

Alr![](ght, I went up and picked up the saddle from the ranch today. While I was there I took a few more photos… maybe in hopes that it would magically fit better.

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[PeanutButterPony]

I’m sorry- your saddle does not fit that horse.

[nfrancoeur]

Yeah, I figured as much. like I said, just being hopeful. I’ve already taken it home and listed it for sale. Off to find one that better suites him.

Thanks again for your input! I appreciate it!

[beau159]

It’s not an atrocious fit (I’ve seen worse) but I think you could find something a little better. Being he’s only 3, it is going to take him a few years to actually fill out. Someday it may fit him, but not yet.

I also worry that that particular saddle would be too long for him. How far back does the tree actually extend? I’ve got a feeling that it extends farther back than it should on him.

Of course, what makes it worse is that your youngster is also built downhill right now, so that just make the downhill of the saddle worse.

You probably could make it work with a built up saddle pad, but if you’ve got the means, the BEST option would be to find something that better suits him for this point in time.