Proper Western Saddle Fitting

Western saddles are the type of saddle used in western riding, which is what most people think of as "American riding." Western saddles are larger than traditional English saddles and many people find them more luxurious and comfortable. However, like all saddles, a western saddle that does not fit your horse correctly can cause pinching and can be very uncomfortable for the horse. This discomfort can lead to serious problems for your horse, so it's important to make sure your western saddle fits your horse correctly before you ride.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle pad
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the saddle on the horse. Tighten the cinch just until it's snug. If the cinch is not long enough, you can always replace it with a larger one.

    • 2

      Sit in the saddle. Put your feet in the stirrups.

    • 3

      Slide your fingers under the pommel, which is the very front part of the saddle, where the horn is located. It sits on your horse's withers. You should be able to comfortably slide three fingers between the pommel arch and the withers of the horse.

    • 4

      Examine the shape of your horse's back and shoulders. Compare this shape to the saddle's width. A horse with a wide back needs a wide saddle tree, which is the middle section of the saddle. A horse with a narrow back needs a narrow tree.

    • 5

      Turn your hand so that it's flat and slip it under the pommel and saddle, so that it rests between the saddle and the top of your horse's shoulders. If the fit is so tight that you can't slide your hand in, the saddle tree is too wide for your horse. If it's very loose and easy to slide your hand in, the saddle tree is probably too narrow for your horse.

    • 6

      Choose a saddle with a different size tree if the tree is too wide or narrow for your horse's back. No saddle will fit a horse perfectly, and you can make small adjustments with the help of saddle pads. However, for problems such as a big difference between the width of the saddle tree and the width of the horse's shoulders, it's usually best to choose a different saddle.

    • 7

      Use a saddle pad with the saddle, placing it between the horse and saddle in order to perfect the fit. There are several types of saddle pads you can use. One-inch thick pads usually work well. Choose a saddle pad that pads specific areas where the saddle does not fit quite perfectly. Saddle pads make everything a little bit more comfortable for the horse.