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A saddle that doesn't fit your horse properly can give rise to all sorts of training and health problems. A saddle that doesn't fit you properly will be uncomfortable to ride in and will throw you out of position.


The main feature of the saddle which dictates whether it will fit your horse or not is the width of the gullet. All horses' backs are not created equal, ranging from the prominent withers of the Thoroughbred to the rounded, mutton withers often seen in Arabians and Quarter Horses. If the saddle you choose has a gullet that is too wide, the saddle will press down on the withers. If the gullet is too narrow, the saddle will pinch.


Other points to consider are the balance of the saddle when it is on the horse, are the pommel and cantle level, or does the saddle tip backward or forward. A saddle that doesn't sit level will create uncomfortable pressure for your horse, as well as making it difficult for you to maintain your position.


As well as fitting the horse, it's important that the saddle fit the rider. A saddle that is too small will cause discomfort as you bump against the pommel at every stride (believe me, I've been there) A saddle that is too large will have you swimming around trying to maintain your position. Ideally you should be able to place your flat hand between you and the cantle when seated in the lowest part of the seat.


How To Fit The Rider
Measure from the base of the horn straight back to the top middle edge of the cantle.

You should feel comfortable in the saddle, having adequate clearance for your legs and stomach. You should not feel jammed into the seat. You should have about 4 inches in between the front of your body and the pommel/fork. Your seat needs to rest against the base of the cantle but not be squashed against the rise of the cantle. The fender length should allow your leg to rest comfortably in the stirrup. 


How To Fit Your Horse
1) Stand your horse on flat, even ground.

2) Place the saddle on his clean dry back without a pad or girth. Make sure you set the saddle on his back starting at the withers then slide the saddle down towards his back, letting the saddle settle where it wants. A properly fitted saddle should rest nicely into your horse's back.

3) Check the skirt. Does the skirt follow the shape of your horses back? The skirt should conform to the shape of the horse's back. The skirt should not stick out away from the horse's back. The skirt should not be too long. If the skirt juts into the horse's hip it may cause your horse discomfort and may impede his movement.

4) Check for balance. Step back several feet to view the saddle from the side of your horse. The billets should follow the contour of your horse's girth area and the flat area of the seat should be parallel to ground. Note: The pommel should not be higher than the cantle, however the cantle maybe higher than the pommel depending on style of saddle.

5) Check pommel/fork clearance. You should be able to place four stacked fingers between the horse's withers and the pommel/fork. On a new saddle if you can fit more then four fingers, it's too narrow, less then three it's too wide. The clearance will shrink to 2 1/2 stacked fingers after the saddle breaks in.

6) Check for gullet clearance. From the same position in step five, look down the gullet of the saddle making sure there is clearance the entire run of the back.

7) Look at the horse's shoulders. Make sure the saddle flaps follow the contour of the horse's shoulder and is not pinching anywhere.

8) With a new saddle it is always recommend to try the saddle. Remember to research the saddle trial/return policy at the store you are shopping before adding stirrups and a girth to the saddle. When you test ride the saddle go through your regular routine. Paying close attention to where the saddle places your leg and your body. Making sure you can rise out of the saddle at the trot without hitting the pommel. Can you get out of the saddle in order to jump? Does your horse feel like he can extend as he normally does or is the saddle pinching the shoulder hindering his forward movement? These are just a few good things to look for when trying a new saddle.

9) After the test ride, check the pattern of your horses sweat marks after you remove the saddle. The area under the saddle should show consistent sweat marks, you should not see any dry areas or areas that are excessively wet compared to others. If you do, the saddle does not fit your horse properly. The saddle is sitting or pinching certain areas of the horses back unevenly.


Western Saddles Consist of These Different Bar Widths For Proper Saddle Fitting:

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