Fitting a Custom Saddle to your horse Part 1

Ensuring a proper fit for a western saddle is essential for your horse’s comfort, performance, and overall well-being. Here’s a helpful overview:

  1. Check the Tree Fit:
  • The saddle tree (the frame) should match the width of your horse’s withers and shoulders.
  • It shouldn’t pinch or press hard on the withers or across the shoulders.
  • A saddle that fits well at the tree will distribute weight evenly.
  1. Verify the Gullet Width and Clearance:
  • The gullet (the space between the pommel and the bars) should allow at least 2-3 fingers’ width (about 2-3 inches) between the horse’s withers and the underside of the saddle.
  • This prevents pressure points and allows free movement.
  1. Check with the Horse Standing Naturally:
  • Place the saddle on the horse’s back without a pad.
  • Observe if it sits evenly side to side.
  • Confirm that it doesn’t rock or tilt.
  1. Use Proper Padding:
  • The right saddle pad can help improve fit and distribute pressure.
  • Ensure the pad doesn’t create gaps or bunch up.
  1. Observe Your Horse’s Response:
  • Signs of discomfort include pinning ears, tail swatting, shifting, or reluctance to move forward.
  • Regularly check for rubs, hair loss, or sore spots after riding.
  1. Perform a Saddle Fit Test:
  • Ride briefly and then check for pressure points or soreness.

Proper fit ensures your horse remains comfortable, healthy, and responsive. Let me know if you’d like tips on fitting specific saddle to your horse!

The Dennis Lane Saddle Fitting System

While the afore mentioned tips are fine for many horses, a true custom fit is what I offer as a service for my customers. I use the Dennis Lane Saddle fitting System. The simple truth about horses and their physical characteristics vary not only from horse to horse, they vary by region! If you really care about having a saddle built to fit your particular horse, this is the system to make sure your new Custom saddle will fit great, right out of the box!

I will go into the Dennis Lane System in depth and how I can help you fit a custom saddle to your horse’s individual conformation in my upcoming post, “Fitting a Custom Saddle to your horse Part 2”