Western saddle sizing PLEASE HELP! :)

[kitimo1]

<font color="red">Hi!

I am about to invest in a western saddle for my pony but have no experience with this type of saddle and would like some advice first.

He is a very chunky and broad 13.2hh cob with extra wide shoulders/belly.

Before we had him he had been ridden in western saddles daily.

When we got his english saddle fitted the saddler found it very hard to find the correct size for him because of his fully rounded shape, so we have been recommended western saddles instead as apparently they are better...

What western saddle size do you think would be appropriate?

Thankyou!

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[Cahill]

i`m by no means an expert but this is what i have found out...
the tree thingy comes in 3 sizes,semi-quarter horse bars,quarter horse bars and full quarter horse.(fqhb being the widest)
the seat size for the rider is measured in ins but you need a smaller size than you would in english.
its often thought that a western saddle fits anything but this is deff not true.
the bottom of the skirt should be parallel to the ground and you should be able to fit your fingers in by the withers like english.
the other thing to look out for is bridging,the whole lengh of the saddle should sit on the horse with no presure points and should not be too long.

just a rough idea of what to look out for.
hope this helps and would be interested to read more if anyone else has knowledge.

 

[MillionDollar]

Ditto CAHILL. Think you'll want Full Quarter Bars.

Also wanted to say have you ridden in a Western saddle? Its just I bought one from the US, gorgeous saddle, but only used it 2/3 times.....I didn't like it at all TBTH. I don't know whether it might have been my horse (wide cob) but I didn't feel secure and I hated the stirrups/leathers. Didn't matter too much as I sold it on eBay and made a decent profit

Oh yes, make sure you get a decent one, not one of the cheap things you can buy on eBay. Mine was TexTan which is a good make, it was gorgeous. Think another good make is Circle-Y.

PM HHO user Tia, I'm sure she won't mind and she gives fab advice

 

[Tia]

QR -

Aww thanks Claire

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Webbsy; this site may help you http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/howshoulifit.html

Don't forget that western saddles are usually 2" smaller than the sizing you would have for an English saddle. So if you ride in a 17" English, you will need a 15" western.

I'm not sure I would go for an "off the shelf" Full QH bars saddle though - they tend to be very long in the back and you may find that this length will smother your little 13.2hh. It's always best to take the horse along to the store selling the tack, or have them come out to you to fit, but often this is not possible so you may need to do the measuring yourself; double check those measurements though.

When you get your saddle, make sure you take the time to set your fenders (stirrup leathers) otherwise you will find it incredibly uncomfortable to ride in. I generally leave my saddles setting for about 3 days when I first get the saddle and then about once a year I re-set them. To do this, you need to oil the outer side of the fender and rub the inner side with water; get a couple of breeze-blocks and fold the fenders on the diagonal and then leave them for a few days.

Take time to figure out which type of seat you want; there are dozens of different types of seats, so find one which suits the type of riding you are planning on doing.

As Claire says, please don't buy one of those dreadful Mexican saddles; make sure you go for a good make, even if you have to buy it second hand.

Good luck. There are a few of us western riders on here so if you need help I'm sure one of us will be happy to give any advice we can.

 

[appyjude]

contact this lady, who is a whizz and will help.......don't just assume you will need fqhb - as tia says, they can be long - you may need rounded skirts, there are different types of trees all of which affect the weight of the saddle - an important point. Phone Maria...she does home visits and I am sure could assist you.

http://www.western-saddler.co.uk/

Jude

 

[ironhorse]

As a guide on seat sizes, you're looking for 1-2in shorter than an english saddle - ours is 16in which fits my OH well but is on the large side for me. It is a good fit length wise on our long backed QH mare.
"short and wide" or round skirted saddles can be a good option for cobs. A synthetic saddle is also worth considering - there are some good ones a about and they're lighter in weight.
Like Claire said, western saddles can take some getting used to and it's worth having a couple of lessons even if you're not planning to compete (but beware, you get hooked!)
It's easier if you can persuade your horse to do the steady jog trot, as although you can rise to the trot, the saddle is really designed for sitting in. Also you need to be quite relaxed at the canter - if you try and hold yourself still as you would in an english saddle, you'll bounce!
The saddles are quite a bit wider in the seat, but even tho I've got arthritis in my hips, I now find it very comfortable.