Think i've made a mistake - help!

[Paint Me Proud]

I have just got my spare saddle out of it's storage bag to have a good look at it (havent used it for months) and check the sizing etc stamped on the panel (couldnt recall if it as 17" or 17.5").

However I thought it was a MW gullet but when checking that i found that there is only a W stamped on it with what looks like another letter worn away.

Now i thought it was a MW, which would mean the M was worn away but when i measured it d-d ring it has come up as 10.5 inches!

Could it be possible that the letter that has worn away is in fact a W and the saddle is an XW (which would actually explain why if fit my old horse - i was always surprised she was in a MW and was such a table top!)

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I'm not a fan of the measuring D to D to identify the width of a saddle. I havn't found it to be very accurate.

Does the saddle have a serial number? Some have them on the buckle/girth guards. If you can find a serial number, phone the saddle company and ask them for the details.

 

[Wagtail]

That saddle is certainly not a wide or extra wide. Looks medium wide to me. Measuring D to D is very inaccurate as eery saddle model is different. I don't understand why people do it.

 

[Paint Me Proud]

i've just given it a good soap and balm and it's come up shining and it is slightly easier to see the letter which i now think is an M.
However, and dont know why i didnt think of this first, another livery at the yard works for Albion (we are in Walsall!) so i will take it and ask her to look at it

 

[Meowy Catkin]

another livery at the yard works for Albion

Perfect!

If you are putting it on ebay, people will expect the D to D measurement to be on your listing.

 

[unicornleather]

Measuring D to D as others has said is totally inaccurate and has no bearing at all on the width of the tree, as the style of the tree can vary so much. What might be a Medium fit in one style and 8 inches between the dees is a Wide in another style also with 8 inches between the dees/fall down staples, why people measure here I don't know!
Your saddle look medium, I agree with Wagtail, Oz

 

[Penny Less]

Where is the best place to measure from UL?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I personally like to know the angle (in degrees) between the panels.

 

[unicornleather]

We only measure the length of the saddle, the width we use judgement of eye (and sometimes still get it wrong I might add!)
I trained 23 years ago, then there were only 3 tree makers, now you have loads, they all have their own ideas of narrow,medium,wide etc where as I learnt there was 3 fittings possibly 4 narrow,medium, wide and x wide, now there's narrow, medium/wide the list goes on, it's enough to make your hair drop out so trying to measure from dee to dee is not a good idea!
You have to judge it by eye and get a wither gauge underneath the points at the front if you can to give you some idea of the width measurement. Failing that template the horse and make a cardboard copy, offer that up under the saddle, see if it is a near fit. No written measurements involved with the last method but it is a good way of seeing if it might fit the horse!
Hope this helps, Oz

 

[Persephone]

I have an Albion K2 wide on my bannister if you want measurements?

 

[Paint Me Proud]

I have an Albion K2 wide on my bannister if you want measurements?

yes that'd be great thanks!

p.s. mine lives on the bannister too!

 

[Persephone]

OK! looking at it dead straight on from the top curve of D to D is 10"

Need any more?

 

[Paint Me Proud]

hmm, still not sure. I think i will just take it to the lady at the yard. Thanks for your help though

 

[Ranyhyn]

My saddler (who came out last week to see if either of the two saddles I bought fitted Clover) said that the measurement means next to nothing, especially if saddles have been altered. I had a Martin Wilkinson, stamped medium - but once it was on you could see it'd been altered to fit a TB and was more a medium narrow.

So it may be wide D-D but the parts that actually touch the horse might be far narrower.

 

[Persephone]

True enough Kitty

The parts that touch the horse are significantly narrower.

I bought my K2 brand new as a W so I know it has never been adjusted in the tree, but obviously the flocking was adjusted to my horse. I think that is the point of measuring the D's.

Unless you are unlucky enough to come across a saddle that has had it tree messed about with by those horrid machines!

 

[Ranyhyn]

He was telling me you could trust an Albion, which is hopefully what I'm getting now.

Such a minefield for those of us who like to nab a second hand bargain online though - you are never sure til a saddler gets his hands on it!!

 

[Persephone]

Hopefully you will get one I sold a cracking K2 for £550 on E bay as it was too narrow.

It was more cost effective to sell it like that than trade in!