Saddle widths and d-ring measurements

[Flame_]

I'm on the lookout to upgrade my saddle just because its very old and discoloured. I've seen a few of the saddles I'm after, not necessarily in the right seat length just for comparison, but the right make and tree. So three of them claim to be wide but the d-ring measurement is an inch or even two inches less than mine. Which is accurate? The wide stamp or the d-ring measurement. I daren't buy one because they appear narrower than mine is in the photos, but even photos are deceptive. Are the d-rings sometimes set at different points on saddles made by the same company in different years, or is there a standard distance which denotes the width fitting?

Sorry if that didn't make sense

 

[Wheels]

The D ring measurement is completely useless!

Saddlers put them on in totally different places.

Different saddle brands width fittings are also different, one brands wide might be another brands medium or medium wide.

Can you not get a fitter out to try a few different ones on?

 

[Flame_]

No, I'm done with saddle fitters! I'll just hold off until I see one that seems closest to mine. I don't want to buy new either.

 

[Pinkvboots]

You cant go on d ring measurements it has no bearing the true width, different brands will also vary in width so just because a wide Albion will fit doesn't anything else will.

What brand of saddles are you looking at buying?

 

[doodle]

Don’t go on d widths! I was selling a saddle and got totally fed up of that question then “oh no it won’t fit”

 

[Flame_]

Lovatt and Ricketts. Preferably a dressage saddle but GP or endurance would be OK.

 

[Tihamandturkey]

Might be worth considering a Jeffries Falcon - they are more or less VSD very comfortable & tend to fit a variety of types - I got a great bargain on ebay ?

 

[splashgirl45]

my saddler said the d ring measurements are useless, he also said that a barnsby wide is like an albion med/wide so may be worth ringing a good saddler to find out which makes are properly wide..

 

[Flame_]

Thanks for replies!

I'm really looking to figure out if there's a discrepency in the widths within the same make on the same, or at least very similar trees.

I have a wide L & R GP, but there will be a "wide" L & R GP on ebay which has a different d-ring measurement. I'm just wondering if I can trust that the widths will, in reality, be the same, just the d-rings put on differently, or, if what denotes a "wide" varies in different years and models.

 

[Wheels]

It will vary between models, tree styles and sometimes even within models if they have had a change in tree manufacturer or similar but it shouldn't be vastly different otherwise.

Also if you're looking at an older one then it may have been adjusted over the years

 

[Flame_]

Hmmmm, I wonder if mine's actually been widened or stretched and I should be after an extra wide.

 

[DabDab]

Some do seem to stretch a bit, as well as the flocking moulding to the horse, which can be quite deceptive. And also the way they are flocked, with some having prominent front gussets, and others much more low profile at the front. The flocking at the front makes a massive difference to the fit on one of my horses - a saddle that is technically the right width can look really perched and unbalanced with too much front padding.

I think there's a lot to be said for a saddle looking right to an owner who is very used to the shape of their horse and current saddle. I've definitely developed an eye for a saddle that will sit right on mine (and what won't) from pictures. I appreciate that sounds a bit woo, but the things our brains pick up subconsciously can often be pretty useful even if it isn't the scientific answer.

 

[sootysue]

I'm on the lookout to upgrade my saddle just because its very old and discoloured. I've seen a few of the saddles I'm after, not necessarily in the right seat length just for comparison, but the right make and tree. So three of them claim to be wide but the d-ring measurement is an inch or even two inches less than mine. Which is accurate? The wide stamp or the d-ring measurement. I daren't buy one because they appear narrower than mine is in the photos, but even photos are deceptive. Are the d-rings sometimes set at different points on saddles made by the same company in different years, or is there a standard distance which denotes the width fitting?

Sorry if that didn't make sense

I'm also struggling with this d to d measurement. People show a picture of them holding the tape measure on the saddle. Some seem to measure internally ,others externally and saddles advertised as wide have the same d ring measurement as those described as narrow. It really is a minefield trying to buy a saddle. The one I have literally perches on my new horse, I would never dream of even fastening the girth on it. Yet people are advertising saddles as x wide which have the same d ring measurement as this one. Consequently still haven't mounted my new horse of 6 weeks?Now looking at a D-flex saddle made to my own template. I don't want to become a collector of unsuitable saddles. Any thoughts?

 

[sbloom]

D to D MIGHT be reliable-ish on one model but even then only if definitely the same tree and ideally made by the very same individual, the hand made nature of a good bench made saddle means any measurements are inexact. Any other scenario and they are completely useless. A photo taken properly from the front is the best indicator, the bars being stamped is nonsense because most wooden trees can be adjusted, flap stamps can wear off, you can only go on what you can see.

There is a British standard for tree widths but it's really not that useful for real hands on fittings, as pommel shape, tree shape, amount of flocking etc also have an influence.

Sootysue I answered your other post, you cannot make a good/safe leather saddle for that price, in Europe (whatever they say, did you know only a tiny% of finishing needs to be done for a saddle to be labelled British, I'm sure it's the same for Germany) please see the close up of the stirrup bars, no BS stamp. If it seems too good to be true, it is. Go used leather or synthetic.

 

[Wizpop]

Also, good to remember that a used saddle will possibly have moulded to its previous horse so may need a refit even if the overall size is right.

 

[sbloom]

Also, good to remember that a used saddle will possibly have moulded to its previous horse so may need a refit even if the overall size is right.

Virtually all flocked saddles should have the flock adjusted when fitted to a new horse, ALL should be checked as the flocking always moulds to a horse, the only thing that reduces that is if it was used with a thicker pad.

 

[cremedemonthe]

As Sbloom and others have said, not the way to measure a saddle.
The shape and style of the tree's head and the gullet plate as well as the style of panel, amount of wear, the depth and amount of flocking in the panel can be so different from saddle to saddle (even same brand/model) therefore measuring saddles by measuring dee ring (or fall down staples) to dee ring really has no bearing on the width or the fitting and I don't know why people do it.
Many times I have seen people buy a saddle online using this method then have to sell the saddle on when it doesn't fit.
Oz