| The internet is chock full of information, but sometimes | | | | have successfully fit thousands of "hard to fit" horses |
| it can be frustrating not knowing what is true and what | | | | simply by using our downloadable templates and |
| is not. Myths abound in the area of saddle fitting, and | | | | discussing the horse's particular needs with a saddle |
| we sort through these myths with our customers on a | | | | expert. We've dealt with all sorts of conformations, |
| daily basis. These myths can cause frustration as well | | | | from sway backed to high withered, and unless your |
| as cost you money, so beware of the following: | | | | horse has multiple unique issues, there's no reason to |
| Myth #1: One size fits all. | | | | think you can't make a great choice online and save |
| Quite a few times per week we find ourselves | | | | money over your local tack shop. |
| explaining that one size saddle does not fit all horses. | | | | Myth #7: I have to be an expert to tell if my saddle fits |
| This seems like basic information, but for a first-time | | | | properly. |
| horse owner, it can be baffling to find that not only do | | | | With all the helpful articles on saddle fitting on the web |
| saddles come with different seat sizes for you, but | | | | today, it can feel like you have to know a textbook full |
| they also come with different tree sizes for your | | | | of information to be able to select a well-fitting saddle. |
| horse. We tried to make a simple way for customers | | | | Many customers call feeling exasperated wondering, |
| to measure their horses to find out what size bar they | | | | "Is it really THAT hard?" No, it isn't. All you have to be |
| need and came up with our handy, printable gullet | | | | sure of is your horse and your saddle needs---no one |
| templates. Regardless of how much your horse | | | | can be an expert on those two areas but you! We |
| weighs or how wide you think his back is, measuring | | | | have several tips regarding this frustration. First, if |
| just to make sure can save you the headache of | | | | you're having a specific problem, like white hairs on |
| returning an ill-fitting saddle. | | | | your horse or saddle slippage, troubleshoot those |
| Myth #2: I'll be able to buy a saddle that fits two | | | | areas first. Secondly, if you know your horse's build |
| different horses. | | | | and figure out what size tree will fit, half of your work |
| There is a rare exception to this myth, and that's if you | | | | is done. Most saddle fitting problems arise from a |
| have two horses that are extremely similar in weight, | | | | saddle that...doesn't fit! Review our checklist on how to |
| back width, back length, and wither shape. But a mere | | | | tell if you have a good saddle fit here. |
| 25 pounds in the wrong spot, a 3 inch shorter back, or | | | | Myth #8: You have to spend a lot of money or get a |
| a slightly higher wither can mean a saddle fitting one | | | | custom-made saddle to find one that fits properly. |
| horse and hurting another. If you're shopping for two | | | | If you went to Wal-Mart and were unable to find any |
| horses, we recommend focusing on one horse at a | | | | clothes that fit, would you walk out convinced that you |
| time instead of trying to come up with a compromise | | | | should pay exuberant prices for custom-made |
| between the two. Compromising saddle fit is, quite | | | | designer clothes? Probably not. It's the same with your |
| frankly, compromising your horse's comfort and | | | | horse. If you have a hard-to-fit horse and are having |
| therefore, his behavior as well. | | | | trouble finding a saddle that fit, it doesn't mean you |
| Myth #3: A good saddle pad will solve my saddle fitting | | | | need to dish out more money. Have you thoroughly |
| problems. | | | | researched your horse's specific needs? If you know |
| Many horse owners think that putting a good saddle | | | | exactly what you need but haven't found it yet, give us |
| pad under an ill-fitting saddle will alleviate pinching, | | | | a call. Not only do we have extensive experience |
| slipping, or uneven pressure. Good saddle pads can | | | | fitting horses, but we also have the ability to tell you |
| cause the saddle to fit better. There is much | | | | what can and can't be done and at what price. We're |
| technology in the pad industry to help a saddle fit | | | | proud to be partnered with Dakota saddelry, a quality |
| better and you should take advantage of that | | | | company that does custom work for our shop. Dakota |
| technology. Padding-up to help eliminate sores from a | | | | has always been willing to work with our customers |
| poor fitting saddle is not a good choice. For example, if | | | | and fit their specific needs at a low price. |
| a saddle is too narrow, padding up to buffer the | | | | Myth #9: Flex trees can warp or cave in after you use |
| pressure will make the horse wider which will cause | | | | them. |
| more pressure. | | | | We don't know where this myth came from, but quite |
| Myth #4: All saddles that claim to be semi-quarter | | | | frankly, it's preposterous. Flex trees are relatively new |
| horse have the same gullet width. | | | | to the equine industry (in comparison with the age old |
| There are many variations to this myth. The truth is | | | | wooden tree), and we suppose that if someone only |
| that the saddle industry uses terms loosely. | | | | heard the term "flexible tree" without knowing what it |
| Semi-quarter horse bars are often referred to as | | | | is, this myth would be easily spawned. Many people |
| quarter horse bars, but others use the term quarter | | | | hear the term and assume that a flex tree is bendable |
| horse bars to describe wide bars, so the same saddle | | | | like a piece of plastic or rubber. In reality, flex trees only |
| can be given different terms. This is very confusing to | | | | "flex" about a centimeter in either direction, and only |
| someone buying their first saddle. We've tried to | | | | under pounds of pressure. You would probably find it |
| wrestle this myth to the ground in our shop by | | | | hard to even see a flex tree "flexing." This centimeter |
| standardizing our terms. We apply the term regular to | | | | of movement, however, is what makes the flex tree |
| narrow, semi-quarter horse bars and the term full to | | | | more comfortable for the horse and allows the saddle |
| wide, full quarter horse bars. | | | | to conform better to his movement. We're not going to |
| Myth #5: There are standard measurements in the | | | | recommend flex trees for roping or ranch work, but |
| saddle industry. | | | | we're willing to say that under trail and pleasure |
| It's surprising to find out that manufacturers do not | | | | conditions, there's no way a flex tree is going to warp |
| have a standardized way to measure gullet width. Billy | | | | or cave in. |
| Cook may do it differently than Crates, so that if each | | | | Myth #10: I can get a close contact, narrow twist |
| company were to measure the same gullet, a different | | | | saddle for a very wide horse. |
| number might be the result. At the shop we built our | | | | Can you get a high-fashion, well-fitting, sportcoat for a |
| own little tool to measure gullets. We measure each | | | | very wide man? Nope. In the same way, a very wide |
| saddle by hand so that a standard of comparison | | | | horse is going to have to unfortunately admit he's in |
| between our saddles is achieved, no matter what | | | | the minority. Extra wide saddles are not impossible to |
| manufacturer produced it. Most online saddle shops | | | | come by, but you have a much more narrow selection. |
| simply use the statistics that the manufacturers | | | | We recommend checking out Tucker trail saddles if |
| provide with each saddle, leaving you to guess how | | | | you need an extra wide tree. The terms close contact |
| the numbers actually stack up. | | | | and narrow twist refer to how you feel on the saddle. |
| Myth #6: I can't order a saddle online because I need | | | | A close contact saddle with a narrow twist has less |
| to try it on first. | | | | bulk and won't spread the rider's legs far apart. But a |
| There's no denying that the best way to see if a | | | | horse that is extra wide is not going to allow a close |
| saddle will fit is to try it on your horse. Yet thankfully | | | | contact feel because of his broad back. |
| saddle fitting is not rocket science, and our customers | | | | |