FOUR WINDS SADDLE TACK STORE

For Information Call 1-800-498-0767 or use email link fourwinds@fourwinds.net

Over $99.00 Free ground shipping in continental U.S.

Fitting a Western Saddle

Western Saddle Catalog Main Tack Store Catalog Equestrian Center | Cart & Checkout


Fitting a Western Saddle Tree Front - Side	Fitting a Western Saddle Tree Rear - Side

The front of the saddle should be placed behind the shoulder blades and the bars of the tree should be resting along the back of the horse with little or no room or gap as shown. This is harder to see with fleece and rigging. Lift the stirrup and fender and place over the saddle. Slide your hand up under the skirt to feel for a gap under the center of seat. There should be no large gap (more than 1/4"). If there is, generally the gullet of the saddle is to narrow. This will cause pinching at the withers and with the riders weight the rear of the bars to dig into the back of the horse. Exception to this, is a horse with a sway back. The saddle may fit correctly in front and back. A sway back pad will fix this. Next check the back of the saddle to insure a flat fit. If the back of the saddle is raised off the back (more than a 1/3") the gullet of the saddle is too wide, causing the saddle to tip foward with the rider. a Builtup pad in front may fix this. Gullet height is important only if the gullet is to low. The bars should be resting evenly on the front and back top to bottom, if too narrow the top will be off the horse, if too wide the bottom will be off the horse. Generally the saddle should set level front to back, depending on the comformation of the horse.

Western Tree Measurments

Rigging Positions

The Gullet width of the saddle is measured between the bars at the base of the swell or pommel. Semi-quarter measure 6.5", Full quarter 7", Draft 8", Walker saddles 6.75". Seat lenght measured from the back of the horn to the front of the cantle. the angle of the bars will depend on the tree type.On most semi-quarter trees the bars are 45%.. The Mule and gaited bars are flaired to allow better movement

Tree materials. The orginal trees were made of wood covered with rawhide or bull hide which is stitched around the wood parts. The Tuff coated tree is made with wood and sprayed with a special coating of tuff coat polyurethane. The added bonus is the tree is protected fromm water. It is extremely strong , durable and lighter. The Equifit or fiberglass tree is constructed of wood covered with fiberglass making a light and strong tree. Molded or Ralide trees are made with a rugged type of polyethylene. These have more flexibilty and are not recomended for roping

A common problem to fitting a saddle is the rigging position.There are three basic types of rigging positions When the rigging is to far foward for the horse the cincha or girth when tightned will be directly behind the front legs or the cincha will be angled back to get behind the legs. When ridden the saddle will slide back to correct this. This is usually caused by having the saddle to far foward when placed on the horse. The full double rigging is used mostly for roping and riding young horses. The 7/8 rigging moves the cincha back from thre front legs into the cinch sweet spot. Good for everyday riding and light roping. The 3/4 position allows more leg freedom and is great for gaited horses. Many of the older ranch saddles were rigged this way to allow the horse to cover greated distances.