How to Measure a Bob Marshall Treeless Saddle

While traditional saddles use a fiberglass or wooden tree to distribute the weight of the rider across the horse's back, many riders prefer to use a treeless saddle. A treeless saddle is designed to conform to the shape of the horse's back, and they can be a good choice for animals that are hard to fit, or for horses who have back issues. The Bob Marshall brand makes one of the most popular types of treeless saddles, but when making a purchase it is important to measure the saddle correctly.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle stand
  • Bob Marshall treeless saddle
  • Measuring tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the Bob Marshall treeless saddle on a sturdy saddle stand. It is easier to measure the saddle on a solid surface.

    • 2

      Locate the cantle (back of the saddle) and the pommel (front of the saddle). Measure the distance between the pommel and the cantle at the point where the two are closest together.

    • 3

      Add 6 inches to the measurement you took in Step 2. For instance, if the distance from the pommel to the cantle is 9 inches, the actual seat size would be 15 inches. This is different than the method used to measure a treed saddle, which involves measuring from the back of the saddle horn to the back of the seat. Adding 6 inches to the shortest point from pommel to cantle provides the perfect measurement of the actual seat size on treeless saddles, since those saddles are designed much differently than saddles with a tree.