Western saddle fitting?????

Fii

Fii

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Could i have a little advice on fitting a western saddle please.:)

If for example my pony has a 17" x wide english gp, what size western should i be looking for?
Also how would you check that the saddle did fit well, what do you look for?
Would be good to hear your pro's and cons for a western as well, as i am not overly sure about having one. :) or which type.
Thanks in advance.. :)
 
Hi,I was asking a Western saddle related question recently, I am sure some kind folk will be along soon to help you!
In the end, having tried an albeit synthetic western saddle, I have decided not to go for the whole hog, reasons being weight, cost, and a funny feeling as have always ridden in normal saddles.
My trainer reckons I can do the basics without spend on a saddle that to be honest, may give me a bad back just lifting it!
You may be planning to do much more western than me though, I did find several good websites, with useful info for the beginner that I am !
Good luck, whatever you decide.Maybe you could have a lesson in one or hire for a while?
 
Thanks JC, i am looking for a comfortable saddle to hack in, i am not planning to "do" western as such. :) Just throwing a few idea's about, but would like to get clued up a bit first. :)
 
Hi
I must state I am a complete novice at this, but as far as I am aware it seems to be one size fits all, I prefer my western saddle to my GP one, only because I am a novice rider and if needed have the large pommel to hold onto, my lad is keen to go at times, I use a polypad under the western and the deeper seat suits me, I practice rising trot in it but usually slop along in the western knowing I won't fall off being in the older age group, I do intend to have lessons in western riding, but for now my boy is very obliging and is happy in western or GP saddles but I feel in the GP i should be riding "properly", but whatever we use we do have fun and that's what's it's all about
 
flirtygerty said:
Hi
I must state I am a complete novice at this, but as far as I am aware it seems to be one size fits all, I prefer my western saddle to my GP one, only because I am a novice rider and if needed have the large pommel to hold onto, my lad is keen to go at times, I use a polypad under the western and the deeper seat suits me, I practice rising trot in it but usually slop along in the western knowing I won't fall off being in the older age group, I do intend to have lessons in western riding, but for now my boy is very obliging and is happy in western or GP saddles but I feel in the GP i should be riding "properly", but whatever we use we do have fun and that's what's it's all about
Click to expand...

Sorry, this is absolutely not true. Western saddles are not one size fits all any more than English saddles are one size fits all. It is difficult to get a saddler to fit a western saddle to your horse but that doesn't mean you don't have to. In the end I got one that fitted my horse length-wise and was slightly too wide for her and then bought a theraflex pad with shims to go underneath so that it could be adjusted to fit. I then had my saddler out to look at my saddles - obviously western can't be reflocked the way that English can but with the theraflex pad he was able to arrange the shims so that the saddle was balanced on my horse with no pressure points and meet the other points that saddlers look for that I am not sure of.

My horse's English saddles are a medium width fitting (I think) but she has the wider tree (which I think is full QH bars, I bought my tack a very long time ago!!!) in order to allow space for the pad and shims. My Society of Master Saddlers Qualified Saddler is happy with this arrangement. Here is an example of the pad I use: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Parelli-Western-Theraflex-Air-Pad-/170670697120#ht_500wt_1038. A similar pad that would do the same job would be Korrector. Alternatively, when I was in the States, we used to use pads like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WESTERN-S...&ps=63&clkid=2203320675159859451#ht_830wt_789
or this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professio...ps=63&clkid=2203331620617456218#ht_500wt_1038 which would be more comfortable for the horse with a western saddle than a polypad. Some people use a thin woollen blanket and I have seen these sold as bargain deals with western saddles but they look dreadful for the horse's back and I don't see how you would get them to lie flat.

I think the rough guide to get the length of a western saddle is subtract 2" from the size of an English saddle that fits you - so if your English saddle is 17", you would want a 15" western saddle. I might be wrong though.

I hope this helps, and good luck with western riding. It is great fun!
 
unbalanced said:
Sorry, this is absolutely not true. Western saddles are not one size fits all any more than English saddles are one size fits all. It is difficult to get a saddler to fit a western saddle to your horse but that doesn't mean you don't have to. In the end I got one that fitted my horse length-wise and was slightly too wide for her and then bought a theraflex pad with shims to go underneath so that it could be adjusted to fit. I then had my saddler out to look at my saddles - obviously western can't be reflocked the way that English can but with the theraflex pad he was able to arrange the shims so that the saddle was balanced on my horse with no pressure points and meet the other points that saddlers look for that I am not sure of.

My horse's English saddles are a medium width fitting (I think) but she has the wider tree (which I think is full QH bars, I bought my tack a very long time ago!!!) in order to allow space for the pad and shims. My Society of Master Saddlers Qualified Saddler is happy with this arrangement. Here is an example of the pad I use: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Parelli-Western-Theraflex-Air-Pad-/170670697120#ht_500wt_1038. A similar pad that would do the same job would be Korrector. Alternatively, when I was in the States, we used to use pads like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WESTERN-S...&ps=63&clkid=2203320675159859451#ht_830wt_789
or this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professio...ps=63&clkid=2203331620617456218#ht_500wt_1038 which would be more comfortable for the horse with a western saddle than a polypad. Some people use a thin woollen blanket and I have seen these sold as bargain deals with western saddles but they look dreadful for the horse's back and I don't see how you would get them to lie flat.

I think the rough guide to get the length of a western saddle is subtract 2" from the size of an English saddle that fits you - so if your English saddle is 17", you would want a 15" western saddle. I might be wrong though.

I hope this helps, and good luck with western riding. It is great fun!
Click to expand...



I agree with all of this, I use a theraflex pad with shims on a full quarterhorse bars saddle.

The horse is a QH as well.
 
I was trying to edit my last post to add this and it timed out on me. So here is what I was trying to add:

I didn't get a synthetic saddle simply because when I had a wintec English saddle I didn't get on with it at all. Lots of people have them and get on with them fine so it's probably just me but I was lucky that something nice came up second-hand to suit my horse at the right time. I guess as for the style, that depends what discipline you intend on doing. Mine is more GP because we use it mostly for hacking and schooling (if you could even call it that). If you want to compete in, say, reining then l would probably take advice because by the sound of it you are starting out. I am guessing you won't be working with cattle because we're in England (although I'd love to try! It looks like great fun!) There are western saddleries and if there is one near you I would try to go there and have a look around and have a sit on some saddles and see how things feel. There is quite a big difference between say a cutting saddle and a roping saddle so there is a lot of choice. It also depends on your budget. I was really lucky to get my saddle second- hand because new it would have cost about £1,200 and been completely out of my price range.

Oh, and don't buy the cheapo deal on ebay that gets you a saddle, cinch, wool blanket and bridle all made out of Indian leather for a hundred quid or something ridiculous. I have seen it and that saddle is NOT the shape of a horse. Bad mistake. Been there, done that. At least I have a wool blanket to lie on when I want to sunbathe in the field. Most expensive wool blanket I own, in fact. :(
 
Sorry I am in the south-east. I just got my regular English saddle fitter to look at it. He doesn't normally do much work with western saddles but the points for saddle fitting are the same and he was happy to look at it and adjust my pad for me.
 
Thanks guys. :)
Just looking in to it at the moment, but any more in put would be great thanks.
RE Working with cattle..... well i have said after pulling a muscle in my calf chasing cattle on foot, next time mr farmer wants my help, i will be on horseback! so you never know. ;)
 
I could never lift a western saddle(and hated the overtooled overpriced ones I've seen) so I have a Bob Marshal endurance which seems to work on my lad :)
MalagaatJames016-2.jpg

There is a Western forum if you want to ask any questions
http://westernforum.proboards.com/index.cgi
 
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