What Are Bars on a Saddle?

Bars, which are built into the underside of a western saddle, help distribute the combined weight of the saddle and rider evenly across the back area of a horse. These bars run the length of the saddle, from the fork in the front to the cantle in the back, and are located on both sides. A saddle with the correct type of bars will not sit on the horse's spine or hinder the animal's movements.

  1. How the Bars Work

    • The bars, tree and gullet of a properly fitting western saddle will work together to keep the combined weight of the rider and saddle off of a horse's sensitive spine and withers. The gullet on a western saddle's tree should clear the horse's withers by about two inches and not rest on the withers. A horse's body type, wither height and back length will help determine the type of bars you should look for in a saddle. For example, a stocky quarter horse with low withers will do well in a saddle with wide FQHB (full quarter horse bars), but will feel like his back is being pinched in a saddle that has narrow Arabian bars.

    Types of Bars

    • The western saddle bars are named for the specific breeds for which they are mainly designed to fit. For example, the Arabian bars are designed to fit the narrow body type and slightly high withers of this breed. Bars for quarter horses come in three different types: the quarter horse, semi-quarter and FQHB. The first fits the typical, slightly stocky quarter horse. The semi-quarter is designed to fit a more lightly built quarter horses that may have Arabian or thoroughbred blood, and the FQHB is made for the very stocky, bulldog quarter horses that were popular on working ranches. Saddlemakers also make bars to fit the high-withered gaited horses and the large, stocky draft and Haflinger horses. If you have a horse that does not belong to one of these breeds, pick a saddle for the breed that your mount most closely resembles.

    How to Tell if Your Bars are the Correct Size

    • When you are first trying a saddle on a horse, place it on its back without a blanket. Make sure that the gullet, the area right under the horn of the saddle, clears the horse's withers by two inches. Look down the gullet and see if the saddle clears the horse's spine for its entire length. Next, view the saddle from the side and make sure that the saddle is not bucking up in the back. Lead the horse around and watch the saddle to see if it remains in place instead of bouncing around on your horse's back. In addition, look for any signs of discomfort that the horse may express.

    Problems that Occur with Ill-Fitting Bars

    • A saddle with bars that do not fit a horse can cause the animal great discomfort. Some horses will show their displeasure by bucking. Other horses may end up with sore backs and appear lame after a long ride with a poorly fitted saddle. The development of white hairs or saddle sores on your horse's back may also indicate that the bars are pinching the horse's back. Another sign that the bars are not distributing weight evenly are irregular sweat stains under the saddle blanket at the end of a ride. If a saddle is not fitting properly, the horse's back may be dry in some locations where the saddle is not keeping contact with the back, but be very wet in an area where it may be pinching the horse.