How do I know the saddle will fit?

C

carrotsareyum

New User
Joined
6 October 2015
Messages
6
Visit site
I've never bought a saddle before and know basics of them, just not about buying them!
My horse currently has a 17.5/17" (not sure which) wintec saddle and i'm looking to buy a leather one. My question is, when buying a saddle online, how do I know that when I put it on my horse it will fit? Do most online sellers (like on preloved) do trials? I will be getting a saddle fitter so would it be easier to buy/trial a saddle before or just try and buy one from the saddle fitter when they come? I would prefer to buy one online because then I cna get it for the best price and the brand I want. Thanks!:)
 
get a saddler out

tell them the brand you are going to be buying and they should be able to tell you EXACTLY the size you need. Then get them out to fit the saddle you have purchased

No chance of wasted saddles purchased or horse in pain
 
Last edited:
Dont buy on line, you will just set yourself up for trouble. You need to find a reputable saddle fitter in your area. Make sure any promises they give you are in writing as some will let you down - I have recent experience of this!
 
The 17.5/17" isn't a saddle fitting size, it's the size of the seat for the rider. You need to know the horse's width N, NM, M, MW, W etc and back conformation. Please don't just buy a leather saddle that is 17.5" or whatever as it is very unlikely to fit your horse. Buy from a master saddle fitter who has hands on experience of your horse.
 
Buying a saddle, like clothes or shoes for us, should be done with time, choice and a degree of expertise.
It is not a case of one size fits everytime. I'm a soes size 6 but it does not mean that when I buy a pair online that they will fit me. Yet my friend who is also a size 6 will find the shoes fit *her* perfectly!

If you get a saddler out (I prefer the ones with plenty of second hand stock!), you will get to try several leather saddles and find one that BOTH fits your horse and you find comfortable to ride in. One does not guarantee the other!

I would never buy online unless I had previously tried the exact make/model/size saddle on my horse and even then, I would not expect the one I buy to provide a matching fit.

It's too expensive to cock up and can be hard shifting the wrong saddle on - for the reasons I've already said above.
 
Hello. A lot of saddlers stock second hand saddles so if you call them, they will bring a selection, take a template of your horse back, see which fits best on the horse then take it away to adjust to your horse. Different brands suit different horses dependant on whether they are high withered, flat backed etc
 
Goldenstar said:
You can't tell a saddle fits until it's on the horse and you are sitting in it .
Click to expand...

It's the only way! If you buy a saddle online there is no guarantee the buyer will take it back if it doesn't fit and the return postage could take up any savings you may make. If you have a particular make in mind, why not ask your saddler if he can source one for you, but be aware that the make you like might not suit your horse. SaddlesDirect is an excellent website for 2nd hand saddles, not the cheapest but you can send for up to three saddles and they will allow you time to have them fitted before you decide whether or not to buy.

Put your horse's comfort first, and remember you get what you pay for.
 
You sound far too inexperienced to buy online, you may find something cheaper but if it doesn't fit then you may lose money when you have to resell, it is not as simple as you choosing one you like and getting a fitter to make it suitable, the tree needs to be the correct width, yes some have changeable gullets but that is no guarantee the shape will suit your horse, riding in it to try it could damage the horse or possibly you if it takes a dislike and bucks you off.
Get a decent saddler who stocks a good selection of secondhand saddles to come out, it may be they will not have one but they will have years of experience and may be able to suggest the correct type to go for, you can then search online for something and get the saddler back to check. A saddle is not something to cut corners with or try and save money, getting the wrong one can prove very expensive.
 
Ask the saddler to come to you now, and to bring a range of saddles to try, often they have saddles in on commission which work out the same or perhaps slightly more than buying blind off the internet but you also have their expertise to fit the saddle to your horse and you! Alternatively they can check the fit of your current saddle and then give you an idea of what brands may/may not fit. They would then need to come back to do any fine tuning with regards to flocking etc once you buy one yourself.

I think Wintecs/Thorowgoods are the synthetic versions of Bates/Kent & Masters but can't remember which way round!
 
Last edited:
I had the local saddle fitter out recently after my boy started planting and reversing out on hacks, turns out his saddle was a little too narrow, so I told him my budget and he suggested a make to fit, I then bought a brand new one on-line and he came once saddle arrived to fit and see me sat in it and also ride in it, he will also come back if I have any problems and adjust it accordingly.
ditto what has been said, just because it is a changeable gullet doesn't mean it will fit anything I originally had a wintec with adjustable gullet but they didn't go wide enough with the style that I had and he suggested the Wintec wide which comes with the gullet to suit the pony :)
 
The reason why it's cheaper to buy a saddle privately rather than through a saddler is because when buying privately you're taking a chance on fit and there's usually no trial or opportunity to return it if it doesn't fit. There's nothing to stop you buying a saddle privately online then asking a saddler if it fits or if the flocking can be adjusted to make it fit, but if it doesn't fit you'll have to sell it on again so if you keep getting it wrong it could end up more expensive than buying from a saddler in the first place. I guess it depends on whether you're willing to take a risk or not. I buy online but I also have some idea of what I need other than the seat size (which some sellers will measure inaccurately too). I don't need to sell one saddle before I buy the next either, which could see you without a saddle for quite some time if you kept buying ones that didn't fit. It's always quicker to buy than to sell! For me it's a way of ending up with the best value for money, not because I couldn't afford a saddle through a saddler if I wanted to. If you're thinking of doing it just because you're skint I'd advise you save up and possibly go through a saddler instead if you can find recommendations for a good one.
 
applecart14 said:
Dont buy on line, you will just set yourself up for trouble. You need to find a reputable saddle fitter in your area. Make sure any promises they give you are in writing as some will let you down - I have recent experience of this!
Click to expand...

Ditto this. OP, without wishing to offend you, you are obviously a novice and, bless you, for someone in your position, it just ain't a good idea to go for "cheap and cheerful" and buy something on-line and then just HOPE that it fits. If you do this, you may end up putting something on your horse's back that he/she is very unhappy with, which may then lead on to behavioural problems such as napping and/or bucking, or worse still your horse may be in so much pain that they will just tank with you. Also you could be causing untold damage to your horse's back and musculo-skeletal system, which would set you back a HUGE vets bill plus physio & remedial work.

I've been there dunnit, as have a lot of us on here, and it just isn't worth it.

Firstly, PLEASE I beg of you, in your situation of obvious (no offence intended) inexperience, do NOT buy on-line.

The cheapest option is not always going to save you in the long run: you don't really want to put your horse in pain, do you? Or create a situation where you've got a behavioural issue and your horse suddenly turns into a monster because they're in pain?? Or create a long-term veterinary/back problem??

Your safest course of action is to go onto the Society of Master Saddlers website and ask for one of their qualified saddle fitters. Place yourself into the hands of a properly qualified expert, and go from there.

You will need your horse's saddle checked at least twice a year and a good saddle fitter will schedule this into his/her programme for you.

The other thing you can do is to ask around your horsey friends and contacts locally, and see what local saddle fitters they recommend - it is just as important to take note of the ones that everyone says to avoid!!!

If you DO have a saddle fitter out, then it is a good thing to have a horsey friend or instructor around at the same time. Some people have an "eye" for a good saddle fit and I always like to have a very good - and VERY honest - friend; who has "the eye", around at the same time if I'm having a saddle fitting! A good honest friend or instructor, or fellow livery, will also be a good counterbalance if you are in the unfortunate position of getting a "saddle fitter" like I've had on my yard, who was only interested in flogging a new saddle at hugely inflated price and not providing the support afterwards.

Yes unfortunately do be aware as well that there are saddle fitters out there who are unfortunately only interested in selling you an expensive saddle and their after-sales service is non-existent. So this is why it is important to ask around and/or do your research properly.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top