charlie55
Well-Known Member
Ok, sorry if im being really thick but what are gusseted panels on a saddle? Has anyone got a pic? Do they suit a certain shaped horse more than another?
Never heard of it before...
Never heard of it before...
Gusseted panels??
- Thread starter charlie55
- Start date
toomanyhorses26
Well-Known Member
I think I am right in saying that a large gusset is more suited to a tb shape - it what my saddler has always told me to look for. Its the bit under the cantle that sits either side of the spine at the back of the saddle.
charlie55
Well-Known Member
Thankyou, so then what are non gusseted panels?
Only asking as a saddle i am looking at stated that it has gusseted panels, when normally nothing about the panels are mentioned, so i thought it was something different, obviously not... x
Only asking as a saddle i am looking at stated that it has gusseted panels, when normally nothing about the panels are mentioned, so i thought it was something different, obviously not... x
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
My saddle has wither gussets - it's like a padded insert each side at the front.
In terms of fit if like me you have a tb with big shoulders but high withers it fills in that gap.
Sorry not explaining it very well - I'll see if I can find pictures.
In terms of fit if like me you have a tb with big shoulders but high withers it fills in that gap.
Sorry not explaining it very well - I'll see if I can find pictures.
kerilli
Well-Known Member
yes, it's to fit TB types. umm, it's part of the panels underneath, but not at the back near the cantle, it's near the front part where the 'legs' come down towards the front legs, the top of that part (under where your thigh lies) is wider and fatter as it joins the lowest bit of the parts that sit either side of the spine. hard to explain! i don't think i have a pic but can post 1 tomorrow as my Ideals were made with gussets for my TB.
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
Sorry not in english but good picture, this is the sort of wither gussets I have on my saddle.
If you scroll down and look at the front on picture of the saddle you can see like a semi circle of stitching on each side. That's where they've put a gusset in to add extra flocking on each side of the withers.
http://www.sadelmagasinet.se/product.asp?product=537
If you scroll down and look at the front on picture of the saddle you can see like a semi circle of stitching on each side. That's where they've put a gusset in to add extra flocking on each side of the withers.
http://www.sadelmagasinet.se/product.asp?product=537
TarrSteps
Well-Known Member
Just to confuse things, 
two articles with competing points of view re gussets:
http://www.showhorsepromotions.com/saddlefitting.htm
http://www.advancedsaddlefit.com/saddle-fitting.html
Basically, if you look at the saddle from the back and there's a line of stitching which makes the shape of the panel somewhat "pointy" with a relatively flat bearing surface, that's a gusset. If the panel is one, smooth piece of leather, then it doesn't have a gusset - this type tends to have a more rounded profile.
The trend has been (particularly in the UK it seems) towards gussets being the default in order to broaden the load bearing surface of the panel. However not everyone agrees this is universally the best thing for every horse and if the panel does not follow the profile of the horse's back the gussets may in fact form a line or ridge of pressure. Many custom saddles have gussets just because it gives more latitude in fitting, although the panels may still be relatively narrow.
two articles with competing points of view re gussets:http://www.showhorsepromotions.com/saddlefitting.htm
http://www.advancedsaddlefit.com/saddle-fitting.html
Basically, if you look at the saddle from the back and there's a line of stitching which makes the shape of the panel somewhat "pointy" with a relatively flat bearing surface, that's a gusset. If the panel is one, smooth piece of leather, then it doesn't have a gusset - this type tends to have a more rounded profile.
The trend has been (particularly in the UK it seems) towards gussets being the default in order to broaden the load bearing surface of the panel. However not everyone agrees this is universally the best thing for every horse and if the panel does not follow the profile of the horse's back the gussets may in fact form a line or ridge of pressure. Many custom saddles have gussets just because it gives more latitude in fitting, although the panels may still be relatively narrow.
charlie55
Well-Known Member
Thats very confusing lol, its a prestige dressage saddle im looking at if that makes it any easier...
CBAnglo
Well-Known Member
Criso is referring to a drop panel - these are used where the horse has a decent wither, to enable the pommel to have a good clearance. Obviously, if the rear of the panel was still exactly the same, the saddle would be tipping back, therefore you need a gusset panel to raise the back of the saddle and balance it.
Gussets are normally used for TB types as they normally have a more curved spine and high wither requiring a drop panel. For flatter back native types, they usually just need flat wide panels - having a gusset at the back would tip the saddle forwards. For average horses, they do well with just a standard saddle without gussets, you just need to flock accordingly. Hope that helps.
Gussets are normally used for TB types as they normally have a more curved spine and high wither requiring a drop panel. For flatter back native types, they usually just need flat wide panels - having a gusset at the back would tip the saddle forwards. For average horses, they do well with just a standard saddle without gussets, you just need to flock accordingly. Hope that helps.
charlie55
Well-Known Member
No sure i should buy it then.... It will be for my wide wb.
CBAnglo
Well-Known Member
You really need to have an idea of what the horse looks like and which saddle you are referring to - its not just about the panels, you need to have the fundamentally right tree for the horse.
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
Thanks CBAnglo - I'll have to see if I have any gussets at the back as well. The saddle fitter just drew my attention to the ones as the front.
It may not as he has quite a straight back rather than curved but he does have TB conformation in terms of sharks fin style withers and then big shoulders.
I'm lucky in that I have a good saddle fitter that has had reasonably priced secondhand saddles.
It may not as he has quite a straight back rather than curved but he does have TB conformation in terms of sharks fin style withers and then big shoulders.
I'm lucky in that I have a good saddle fitter that has had reasonably priced secondhand saddles.
CBAnglo
Well-Known Member
Yes, you can have a drop without a deep gusset panel - it really does depend on the horse (flattish back, high wither - this stops the saddle sitting too low across the wither although some saddlers will just fit a narrower saddle which is when you get the muscles wastage).
I didnt go into all of the combinations! I should clarify by saying it is most common to see a gusset on a TB type, and that usually comes with a drop.
I didnt go into all of the combinations! I should clarify by saying it is most common to see a gusset on a TB type, and that usually comes with a drop.