Racing Saddle Help Please!

3Beasties

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I have listed a racing/exercise saddle on ebay on behalf of someone else. I haven't a clue about racing saddles so have just done a brief description with the colour, size etc.

I already have a question about it and have no idea about what they want to know!

So how do you tell if it has a full or half tree?

and how do you measure the width of it?


I could post a link to the listing if that would help you answer but would that be seen as advertising?


Thanks in advance :)
 
Half tree is basically just a little bit of tree at the front,
http://www.saddlery.biz/racing-equi...-saddle-with-leather-points-smooth-2-9kg.html

While a full tree ismore like a normal saddle-
http://www.saddlery.biz/racing-equi...ng-saddles/old-mill-race-exercise-saddle.html

As for width, normally is the riders saddle, not the horses, and are not fitted like normal saddles, and width depnds on brand- i find the zilco ones narrow, mine is quite wide.
I would get you would measure the width the same you would measure a normal saddle.

p.s could you PM a link to the advert please? :)
 
Racing saddles are always half trees (basically just to hold the stirrups) and you don't usually measure them for the 'seat size' as the real tiny ones like 1lb in weight are seriously no bigger than a 'ladies feminine product (without wings lol)'

There are two different types

An exercise racing saddle-these tend to be bigger around 16 inches long which is required for pony racing (the only time a measurement is required)

Anything smaller is a racing saddle!

Racing saddles start from around £50 and can go to around £250 (thats the prices in newmarket anyways for new and specialised)

Good luck
 
You have a full tree and a half tree exercise saddle. Basically a 1/2 tree you can bend in a half and a full tree you cannot. It will be rigid like a normal saddle. We don't use them width wise - what's comfortable goes and stick another pad underneath if need be. I am not sure how much luck you'll have on E-Bay but worth calling Gibsons in Newmarket as they sell 2nd hand. If it's a race saddle the chances are it's treeless and they are sold according to their weight as to their size! PM details on it - I often have friends looking for saddles.
Just noticed in my little pic - my cat is sitting on a half tree exercise saddle on one of my horses if that's any help?
 
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Hummm, well I think I may have measured it wrong then as I measured it as 18", I did it from one of the studs at the front to the middle of what would be the Cantle on the back.

I think it is more likely to be an exercise saddle then a racing saddle. Will have to try the folding in half trick later when I go to the yard.

Will PM those of you who have asked the link, if you can notice anything wrong (or something I could add) with the listing please let me know, like I said I am clueless about them :eek:
 
Can I just warn against using these for backing etc as some people do, the half trees are worse, but they are so seldom suitable for the job, they can stay put on the very wide ones which is why people sometimes use them but they are a shocking fit and are a really bad idea here. They are for very light riders mostly riding up out of the stirrups and even then, TBs tend to come out of racing with pretty bad backs in terms of saddle damage.
 
Can I just warn against using these for backing etc as some people do, the half trees are worse, but they are so seldom suitable for the job, they can stay put on the very wide ones which is why people sometimes use them but they are a shocking fit and are a really bad idea here. They are for very light riders mostly riding up out of the stirrups and even then, TBs tend to come out of racing with pretty bad backs in terms of saddle damage.
Thank you don’t worry I’d be using it on my girl 1-3 times a week for short ish gallops and using her jumping one the rest of the time ? I’m at racing college rn and fallen in love with the speed, horses, and style of riding in general ?
 
Thank you don’t worry I’d be using it on my girl 1-3 times a week for short ish gallops and using her jumping one the rest of the time ? I’m at racing college rn and fallen in love with the speed, horses, and style of riding in general ?
And yes I fit under the light rider category so not to worry there either ?
 
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