gullet bars..................difference in widths

[hollyandivy123]

hi just wondered if anyone has compared the difference in widths between the brands, ie XXW kent and masters is the same width as XXW GFS or monarch or wintec bar..................or if anyone know where i can find out the differences?
fat free virtual brownie for all participants

 

[Casey76]

There is apparently an industry standard in the UK for saddle widths based upon the angle of the head plate. It was on a random FB post I read yesterday, so I’m not sure if I can relocate it.

 

[sbloom]

Casy76 is right though it's not something fitters tend to rely on so I have no idea where to find it online. Saddlefitter.blogspot might have an article on it. However, of course, there are so many others factors to fit, and even with the headplate the shape of the head, whether it has a kink in it or not (Bates, Wintec, Collegiate does) and the length of the points, will feed into any decision on the width a horse needs, as well as all the other factors such as tree and panel shape.

 

[hollyandivy123]

Casy76 is right though it's not something fitters tend to rely on so I have no idea where to find it online. Saddlefitter.blogspot might have an article on it. However, of course, there are so many others factors to fit, and even with the headplate the shape of the head, whether it has a kink in it or not (Bates, Wintec, Collegiate does) and the length of the points, will feed into any decision on the width a horse needs, as well as all the other factors such as tree and panel shape.

hi thanks for this, thinking of trying a saddle from one of the one line second hand sites, i know what the horse uses if with a wintec and K&M in a couple of different shapes, but the naming of GFS was difficult to gage for..i was going to borrow a couple of gullets either side of what came in the saddle

use to be in a T4 cob (i hated it), wintec wide wrong shape tree............horse in question has a relatively flat back and a wither, but needs a wide head for the wither/gullet, is round and short coupled and big shoulders and a forward girth groove......i think i have now described a hippo!

I have a feeling sbloom you will be receiving an email from me soon, i ride treeless most of the time, but new kid is a bit sharper and has a good hand break turn and i am thinking of a treed saddle for hacking........bloody pheasants!

 

[sbloom]

Changeable headplate trees are so often the wrong shape for very wide backs, then add in that most are also very V shaped in the actual headplate. They also tend to have panels and seats that are the opposite of a more close contact fit, meaning they can tend to perch the rider up high, meaning the saddles are more likely to roll. They can work for some, of course, see how you get on

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

One of my Arabs sounds a similar shape to yours and is an x wide in most saddles and the few changeable gullet saddles I tried where no good, my fitter also told me to steer clear of them and said there just all wrong for him.

I have used black country on him my Lavinia Mitchell GP fits but the dressage doesn't, my Herritage show saddle works the best and he really feels like he can move in it, I wanted a dressage saddle for him so I have an Ideal Jessica to try on him but fitter can't get her for a few weeks.

I have sat on 1 Kent and masters and hated it was awful I felt a mile away from the horses back.

I know ideal do a adjustable saddle now and with different tree and heads that would be about the only one I would consider but then it would have to be a new one.