what is the difference between gaited saddles and regular

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=gabz;3602554]
Specialized gaits and riding styles will need specialized saddles and tack. [/QUOTE]

Styles and disciplines, yes; gaits, if you’re talking about the soft, intermediate gait, no. The range of ways of going is SO broad that the phrase “gaited horse saddle” has no effective meaning.

G.

[CowboysRMyWeakness]

I thought that one of the other differences is that gaited trees have more “rock.” The concept of rock is not clear to me but I think they are somehow different then semi-QH bars.

I have a narrow, flatter sidded, high withered QH - I would guess that his build is closer to a TB cross or maybe even some TWH then the low withered really wide quarter horses.

So, some of these descriptions are “marketing terms” but it puts saddles into catagories. It would probably suit some of us more analytical types if every saddle was clearly marked as to it’s specific attributes (width, gullet height, rock, bar angle, etc etc) to help us shop. As it is, it seems that every manufacturer defines it’s marketing bucket differently… I know for a fact that not every semi QH saddle is the same width nor has the same bar angle!

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=CowboysRMyWeakness;3603203]
As it is, it seems that every manufacturer defines it’s marketing bucket differently… I know for a fact that not every semi QH saddle is the same width nor has the same bar angle![/QUOTE]

Ain’t it the truth?!?!?!?!?!

Fitting a saddle to horse and rider is often a challenge because there are no identifiable national standards. So “QH Bars” to Circle Y does not, necessarily, mean the same as it might to Steele or Big Horn.

Even “16 inch seat” can mean different things to different makers (nevermind the difference between “English 16” seat" and “Western 16” seat."

This does not mean we abandon all attempts at categorization, only that we realize that some attempts at creation of a category are driven more by a Mad Ave. “create/fill a need” reasoning than any sort of functional, conformational, or historical reasoning.

G.

[citydog]

An earlier thread on this whole subject: http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=103618

[gabz]

@CowboysRMyWeakness;3603203

I thought that one of the other differences is that gaited trees have more “rock.” The concept of rock is not clear to me but I think they are somehow different then semi-QH bars.

Rock is the curve, from front to back, of the saddle tree.

The bars (lengthwise portion) of western saddles are intended to rest on the muscles on either side of the spine. If the “rock” is not sufficient, then the front of the saddle - gullet - will rest on or behind the shoulders supporting the front of the saddle - which is not correct.

here’s a link that might be helpful as it has images, although I don’t agree with their definition of twist… My training tells me the twist is the width of the seat, like an English saddle, or distance between the bars. A wider twist CAN make a flatter saddle to suit drafts or similar builds.

http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/saddle-tree.html

[GallopingGrape]

Gabz, I like the link but I totally disagree with this statement on that site:

Now where are we? Is your head spinning from information overload? Well, here’s the good news. Saddle makers estimate that over 80% of today’s horses have conformation that will comfortably fit them in either a standard semi-quarter horse or full-quarter horse tree. For most buyers, fit won’t be an issue. The bigger challenge will be making sure you choose a saddle with a high quality tree. You should now be armed with enough information to ask the right questions. And when all else fails, price will be a very good indication of quality.

I would say that close to 40% of the saddles out there are not fitting the horse. I would also say that semi-quarter bars (on most brands) do not even come close to fitting the horse… And when they say “for most buyers, fit won’t be an issue…” I’m floored by that statement. I bet most of our customers try on AT LEAST 5 - 10 saddles before they find the right fit and that’s after whither tracings, etc.

Saddle fitting is an art and I hope every horse owner finds a tack shop that will allow them to try out all saddles before purchasing. I sadly think there are many more “stoic” horses out there, wearing ill fitted saddles…

Kim

[gabz]

I didn’t say it was a good site. I said there were images there that were helpful.

I agree with you about trying multiple saddles. I’ve hauled my horse and others to tack stores to try saddles and bare trees. I’ve worked with an excellent saddle fitter/sales person. She sells what will suit the customer. She encourages people to bring their horses to her shop. Sometimes they drive 10 hours or more.

The typical horse person has very little knowledge of saddle fit. Any marketing labels that help an average horseperson find something closer to what fits their horse is okay with me. It’s very hard to argue and try to convince someone that their $200 leather saddle is a piece of crap and that’s why their horse is acting like it is. They look for stronger bits or thicker pads or draw reins and everything else under the tack store roof.