The right saddle fit for your horse is essential for keeping both horses and riders comfortable during any adventure. From show days to jobs on the farm, different tack and saddlery can accommodate various tasks, and finding a good fit allows you to ride safely and minimize distractions for your horse. Tractor Supply is here to make shopping for horse saddles easier, offering expert tips and tricks to ensure they fit as they should.
Starting with the Basics: What Are English vs. Western Saddles?
Horseback riding is a favorite hobby amongst many equine enthusiasts, offering a unique workout and allowing you to build special connections with animals and nature. But if you’re a beginner, you may not know that you can ride horses in one of two styles – English and Western.
English riding is your traditional, show-day riding style, mostly used for dressage, show jumping and riding and eventing. Western styles, on the other hand, are designed for more heavy-duty work, such as roping, ranching or farming. Stemming from the old Western times of cowboy hats and chaps, this Western riding requires durability in the saddle.
Because English and Western riding differ so greatly, the horseback saddle you choose will need to hold up for whatever comes its way. For instance, English saddles are designed to be more lightweight, making it easy and comfortable for horses to jump and prance around in the show ring, and they often feature decorative details to make your horse the talk of the show. On the other hand, Western saddles come with heavier, more durable constructions to ensure stability on your horse while working.
You can also find saddle options for pleasure riding in both English and Western styles. This means that if you are trained in one or the other, you can have a general-purpose saddle that fits whatever riding style you feel most comfortable with.
General Rules for Fitting a Saddle
The first aspect to consider before buying a saddle is the shape of your horse’s back. Do they have a higher haunch? Maybe they have a swayback. Whatever the case, you may need additional accessories, such as English/Western saddle pads or mule bars, to ensure a comfortable, even fit. Additionally, you should think about the following:
Horse Condition and Age
You also want to think about your horse’s age and condition. For example, if they lose or gain weight, saddles will fit unusually, meaning you’ll have to adjust them or purchase a new one. Additionally, young horses will naturally grow out of their saddles, so you must size up with your horse as they get older.
Rider Comfort
When picking out a saddle, we want them to be comfortable for not only our horses, but also ourselves. This means you should measure yourself before buying a saddle to achieve a secure and cozy fit. Start by sitting in a chair with your feet on the ground, measuring from your knees to the end of your buttocks. This gives you the length of your thigh bone, which should be similar to your saddle size.
For instance, if your thigh bone measure less than 16.5 inches, you want a 15-inch English saddle. For thigh bones measuring longer than 23 inches, you need an 18-inch English saddle. Western saddles use the same process to find the correct measurement. However, because they’re designed to be larger than English options, you must add about two inches to English saddle measurements to determine your Western saddle size.
Saddle Manufacturer Size
Remember that sizing can vary for each saddle manufacturer, meaning your horse may be one size for one brand, but a totally different size for another. This makes it increasingly important to fit your saddle to your horse before riding.
Fitting a Western Saddle for Your Horse
As stated before, Western saddles are made for heavy-duty work, meaning they’re durable and comfortable enough for long riding. Their construction allows you to evenly distribute your weight across your horse’s back, often featuring heavier and wider designs than English options. This keeps you stable through roping and ranching jobs and allows you to ride over many different terrains with comfort in mind.
Cinches
Western saddles come with two cinch parts – the front cinch and flank cinch. You should avoid making front cinches too tight, which can put excess pressure on your horse and lead to discomfort. This differs from the flank cinch, which should fit snugly on your horse to ensure saddle stability.
You should be able to fit at least two fingers between the apex of your horse’s stomach and the flank cinch. You must also connect the flank and front cinches with connecting straps, keeping saddle parts where they need to be while riding.
Gullet Clearance
Gullet clearance is how much space lies between the gullet and your horse’s wither, which is the highest point of your horse’s back, usually located at the base of their neck. When placing saddles on your horse as they stand, you should be able to fit the width of two or three fingers between these parts. If the gullet sits low, this can indicate it’s too wide. If you notice a lot of clearance between the gullet and wither, this means your gullet is too narrow.
Bar Location
Saddle bars must have even contact across your horse’s back, preventing rocking and excess movements, which can place much pressure on your horse’s spine. Doing so also prevents you from hitting their pressure points on their back. The front of your saddle’s tree bar must lay behind your horse’s shoulder blade, giving them freedom of movement.
Saddle Balance
Western saddles should remain parallel with the ground to ensure stability and security while riding. You can move saddles around your horse, pushing forward or back, to make them level. It can help to observe the saddle fit on your horse from a small distance away, allowing you to identify leaning and other issues with ease.
How to Fit an English Saddle
English saddles are designed to sit comfortably on your horse, resting lower on their back to allow for freer back and shoulder movements. They’re also smaller and lighter than Western options, giving you closer contact and better communication with your horse.
When fitting your horse for an English saddle, you want to make sure it’s not too tight over their shoulders, as this could restrict their movements and cause discomfort. You should also ensure it’s well-balanced, allowing you to stay put on your horse while riding. After placing saddles on your horse, the seat should be flat, with no forward or backward tilt.
You should keep in mind that not all body parts on your horse are symmetrical, meaning you may have to make specialized adjustments to their saddle. If you find that one of their shoulders is larger than the other – don’t panic! This just means you’ll have to fix their saddle a little differently.
Other considerations include:
Saddle Length
Saddles that are too long can interfere with your horse’s movements and impact their comfort, meaning you must check yours to see how long it is before purchasing. Its length should not go past the last rib on your horse, ensuring your weight stays central to the lumbar vertebrae as you ride.
Panel Fit
When it comes to panel fit, you want to avoid having any gaps between the material and your horse’s back, allowing for constant contact, and distributing weight more evenly across a larger area. They also shouldn’t fall low on your horse’s ribs, as this can rub against sensitive areas and cause distractions and discomfort.
Wither Tightness
Your horse’s wither should have some space between the pommel, both on and off the saddle. As a general rule, you should be able to fit the width of two or three fingers between the higher portion of your horse’s back and the pommel.
Billet Placement
Correct billet placement is essential for knowing where to put the girth, which should be at least five inches behind your horse’s elbow. Billets should fall straight down, with crooked components indicating an off-balance seat.
Channel Location
To keep your horse calm and happy while you ride, you must ensure saddles don’t rest on their spine or ligaments surrounding it. This is because doing so can put pressure on these areas, leading to an uncomfortable ride for both you and your horse. Channels must be wide to keep these areas clear and promote safe riding.
Browse Our Saddle Options at Tractor Supply
Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just looking to get started in the sport, we carry abundant options for both English and Western saddles. For those needing easy saddle storing solutions, we offer those, too, including saddle racks, tack bags and carry alls. This means you can find everything you need right in one location, making it easy to get started or back on the trails. To learn more about our selection of saddles, visit your local Tractor Supply today or browse online.