Saddle size?

baleofhay

baleofhay

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Just been told I should be looking for a nine inch saddle for my new horse? ( I will obviously get it fitted but need a rough idea of what i am looking for second hand) Do they mean nine inches between the D rings ?? If so do you measure at the top of the D or the bottom or in the middle? Does that sound quite wide?? Will a Bates go as wide as that??? Grateful for any advice
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9" would generally be regarded as wide, I think. Bates will go there with the extra wide (white I think) gullet plate.
The D rings are an inaccurate guide because they can be in different places on each type of saddle
 
If it is any help, i tried getting a second hand saddle for my mare, thought i would outsmart the fitters and get a bates caprilli (interchangeable gullet and cair so thought it would fit anything) The saddle fitter came out to check it... and said it doesnt fit! The widest gullet wasnt wide enough even though she is only a wide. Typical. I ended up buying a second hand saddle from the saddlers anyway and selling the other on e-bay. May be worth seeing if there are any saddlers that sell second hand saddles near to you, save any grief.
 
IS your horse a cob ? I cannot afford new saddle just trying to work out whats best?? As she is very young i expect she will change shape dramatically and thought a bates may be able to change with her?? Thanks for info
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Indeed my horse is a cob. Flat withered, flat backed, the norm... The synthetic wintec saddles mentioned by the-watcher (ps. such a scary name!) designed for cobs seems a good option though
 
My cob has a Wintec wide, he can vary by three tree sizes between summer and winter (good doer, cheap to keep!) and I think it is a good saddle which suits his body type. The flaps are fairly straight, so don't cover his shoulder, and the four girth straps do give you a good girthing choice - living in a very hilly area I always use 1st and 4th, but the saddler always advises to use 2nd and 4th is possible. There has been discussion on the forum as to whether the Wintecs are better with our with Cair - I have one with and one without, and would probably pick without through choice.

The attached isn't a great pic, but does show you how the saddle sits. The horse (the one on the left!) is 14.3 and the saddle is 17" and the tree is XXXW.

Good luck!
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