What Is the Gullet on an English Saddle?

The gullet is an important part of the English saddle design, as it directly affects the horse̵7;s spine. Gullets must be properly fit to both a horse and rider for a pleasant riding experience.

  1. The Facts

    • The gullet is the channel that runs down the center of the underside of an English saddle, between the two panels. Gullets need to be wide enough to evenly distribute the weight of the rider on the horse's muscles, and not impede the horses spine.

    Features

    • Gullets come in a range of wide and narrow widths. People often confuse tree size with gullet width, although these are completely different measurements. Gullets are described as narrow, medium, medium-wide and wide.

    Measurement

    • The ̶0;three finger" rule is a standby for measuring a gullet. The gullet should be able to accommodate a minimum of three fingers placed side by side inside the gullet. If three fingers do not fit comfortably, the gullet is most likely too narrow for a standard-sized horse.

    Clearance

    • The gullet sits directly over the horse's spine and must not apply pressure to this very sensitive area. When the saddle sits on the horse's back, the line of sight should be clear from the front of the saddle to the back. If there is not a clear channel of vision, the gullet is sitting too low and will apply pressure to the horse's back.

    Considerations

    • The gullet is only one component of measuring a saddle for a horse. A properly fitted saddle should not impede the horse̵7;s movement, and it should provide sufficient clearance of the horse's spine. The saddle should sit evenly and comfortable just behind the horse̵7;s shoulder blades and in front of the horse̵7;s last rib.