This is probably a stupid set of questions, but do you all have saddle fitters similar to English saddle fitters? As in, comes to the barn with a van full of saddles to try on your horse? How do you find them? Do any of them carry used saddles? What’s the price range usually? Thanks for any help!
Not for western saddles, a designated western saddle fitter would be a new, rare bird around here.
Trainers generally help clients look for a suitable saddle for the discipline and the rider.
Custom made saddles, the saddler will help with a tree and make a saddle on it that fits the horses and riders.
You alter English saddles by flocking, you can’t do that with western saddles.
Traditional western saddles very much are what they are, little to alter there.
I’ve gotten saddle fitting help from the somewhat local tack store. However, saddle did not end up fitting. I paid $75 to go to a fitter. It’s $125 if she comes to you, depending on travel time. She fits English and Western. She has English saddles to try, but for Western she fits whatever you bring, and she has the Steele forms. My friend met her at a tack store once and then ended up buying something there. I have a barrel of a half-Arab. She told me the Steele AW tree fit. I then had to figure it out on my own, which kind of sucked. I ordered a Dakota with that tree from horsesaddleshop.com.
I found her when she came to do a talk at the 4H tack swap. I don’t think she regularly carries used saddles, but I’ve never asked. She has a couple for sale on her website, but I don’t know if it’s been updated or not. I know she deals with certain English saddle makers, as my friend ordered one through her, but she never had mentioned anything like that in dealing with another friend and I who ride Western.
It sounds like what I’m looking for doesn’t really exist. Basically, my SO wants to start riding more regularly, but wants to go western (I’m DQ). I don’t even know where to start with getting a decent western saddle to fit the mare he is going to be riding. I can take wither tracings to figure out the tree width, but I’m hesitant to order a saddle online. Our only local tack store is strictly English. How do you all suggest I start? I’d love to be able to try the saddle on to make sure it fits both of them.
You could go to an AQHA bigger show near you, where there are many vendors.
They always carry a good selection of new and used saddles.
You can try them on a saddle rack.
There pick their brains, see what they tell you.
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Great idea. Thanks!
There are differences in fitting a western saddle compared to an English one. Here’s a video that helps explain what you are looking for in a good fitting Western saddle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWoORDN8_R8
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Horsesaddleshop.com has a lot of good info on their website, plus they will help you find something that has a better chance of fitting if you send photos. You can return the saddle if it doesn’t fit, which will cost you, but if you don’t have a Western tack store nearby you don’t have much choice other than to risk losing on shipping.
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