Between gullet sizes (Bates)

[Elno]

I have a youngster (coldblood trotter from Norway) who was deemed to slow and lazy for trotting so was sold on as a riding horse instead. Lovely little chap- very pleased with him and have high hopes for him turning out to be an awesome all rounder.

Now to the problem; Since he's barely four years old and pretty much lacking in the muscle department I decided to buy him a Bates GP saddle. I've had a saddle fitter out and we tried on several saddles and the Bates fits and he's happy and I'm happy. The issue: he is exactly between gullet sizes!! I've measured him on several occasions with the Wintec/Bates gullet gauge and have also done wither tracings and it's ALWAYS the bloody same- 88 degrees and smack between a black (medium) and blue (medium wide) gullet. When I lay them on him the black fits snuggly and the blue wobbles just a few millimetres. It's starting to drive me insane!

The breed he is is a smaller draft type of a horse and although they come in different sizes (mine is pretty slim as well as his parents) I wouldn't be surprised if he goes up to a wide or bigger when he matures.

But which gullet do I choose!? Do I go with the black or do I go with the blue and pad it up a tiny bit infront? When I've ridden him in the saddle with the different gullets I feel fine and balanced when the black gullet bar is installed and the saddle doesn't slip, but when it has the blue gullet bar installed I feel a tiny bit tipped forward and the saddle slips a tiny fraction to the right.

The picture provided is his sire, and my little goblin is very similar in build.

Please help me before I go complety insane ??

 

[HelenBack]

I used to have a Bates saddle and had exactly the same problem. I can't remember which now but either the saddler told me or I read on their website that if your horse is between sizes you should go for the narrower one. That's what I did and it worked for me. In your case it sounds like in practice the black one is the better fit so that's what I would do.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't go narrower especially on a young under muscled horse you want that muscle to build not be squashed by a tight gullet.

Use a shim numnah and probably in a few months time you won't need it as he will have filled out.

 

[ponynutz]

I don't have bates but I have a thoroughgood and mine has always been the same. I've found between seasons and exercise circumstances she gets closer to one or the other of gullet sizes and so I just check the fit of her saddle everytime I ride to double check and use more or less padding with numnahs etc dependant on which gullet she has in to make up the difference. I probably change her gullet once every few months.

Edited to add: I asked my saddler how I could check whether it was fitting around the gullet I don't just guess.

Not a perfect solution but she's never had any problems with her back (I also ask the vet to have a quick check for pain spots whenever they happen to be to see her) and is cheaper than getting a custom fit saddle!

 

[Elno]

I don't have bates but I have a thoroughgood and mine has always been the same. I've found between seasons and exercise circumstances she gets closer to one or the other of gullet sizes and so I just check the fit of her saddle everytime I ride to double check and use more or less padding with numnahs etc dependant on which gullet she has in to make up the difference. I probably change her gullet once every few months.

Edited to add: I asked my saddler how I could check whether it was fitting around the gullet I don't just guess.

Not a perfect solution but she's never had any problems with her back (I also ask the vet to have a quick check for pain spots whenever they happen to be to see her) and is cheaper than getting a custom fit saddle!

I've had a Thorowgood T8 jump for him until just recently and it was fitted with a MW gullet and was fine. Had to change it to a Bates though because the Thorowgood as such was a bad fit for him.

 

[Elno]

I wouldn't go narrower especially on a young under muscled horse you want that muscle to build not be squashed by a tight gullet.

Use a shim numnah and probably in a few months time you won't need it as he will have filled out.

Yes probably, will go and dig out my Mattes correction pad I guess...

 

[Elno]

I used to have a Bates saddle and had exactly the same problem. I can't remember which now but either the saddler told me or I read on their website that if your horse is between sizes you should go for the narrower one. That's what I did and it worked for me. In your case it sounds like in practice the black one is the better fit so that's what I would do.

Maybe it was your saddler because I've read everything on the Bates, Wintec and the easy change solution bla bla bla website and searched Youtube without finding anything ? Will call my saddler and ask!

 

[ihatework]

Always go a fraction wide and pad to balance

 

[Elno]

Always go a fraction wide and pad to balance

I sent and email with pics to the fitter (who among other brands is licensed to fit Bates and who fitted my saddle) and she recommended the wider gullet bar and a pair of front risers ??

 

[poiuytrewq]

I wouldn't go narrower especially on a young under muscled horse you want that muscle to build not be squashed by a tight gullet.

Use a shim numnah and probably in a few months time you won't need it as he will have filled out.

This is what I’d do.