Western Saddle Blog » Saddle Fit

Quarter Horse Bars?

Saddle Sense — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:30:35 +0000

The tree is the foundation of the saddle and it’s job is to distribute the rider’s weight over the horse’s back, making it more efficient and comfortable for the horse. A tree consists of five basic parts – the two bars that run parallel, the fork that holds the bars together at the front, the [...]

Quarter Horse Bars? is a post from: Western Saddle Blog

Saddle Fit Quiz

Saddle Sense — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:08:28 +0000

The folks over at Horses.About.com have posted a Saddle Fit Quiz that is a good test of your saddle savvy. I took the test and was quite relieved to have gotten all the questions correct. It sure would have been embarrassing to have the editor of the Western Saddle Guide flunk the test or get [...]

Saddle Fit Quiz is a post from: Western Saddle Blog

Saddle Fit And Horse Anatomy

Saddle Sense — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:14:46 +0000

There are four critical points of the horse’s anatomy that impact saddle fit. Withers Shoulders Spine/Back Point of Hip/Loins Withers. Ideally, the withers of the horse are level with, or a little above, the highest point of the rump (or croup). Withers that are higher or lower than this would need special consideration when choosing [...]

Saddle Fit And Horse Anatomy is a post from: Western Saddle Blog

The Western Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle Fit Book

Saddle Sense — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:40:04 +0000

Veterinarian, Joyce Harman’s much-delayed book on saddle fit for the western horse was officially released today, July 2nd. The Western Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book Dr. Harman’s earlier books and DVDs have clearly established her as the preeminent expert in saddle fit, but, more importantly, as someone who can make the subject understandable and [...]

The Western Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle Fit Book is a post from: Western Saddle Blog

The Impact of Saddle Position on Saddle Fit

Saddle Sense — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 13:01:30 +0000

Some saddle fit problems aren’t caused by a poorly fitting saddle, but rather by a saddle positioned poorly. Saddles are designed to match the horse’s anatomy when in their proper position. If the saddle is positioned in front of, or behind this position, it can cause physical problems for both the horse and rider. Proper [...]

The Impact of Saddle Position on Saddle Fit is a post from: Western Saddle Blog

The Very Best Resource for Western Saddle Fit

Saddle Sense — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 13:10:41 +0000

I would estimate that well over half of the emails and questions I receive are about saddle fit. So, while I believe it’s not as complicated as some folks make it out to be, it’s obvious people are looking for answers. There’s quite a bit of saddle fit information on the Western Saddle Guide site, [...]

The Very Best Resource for Western Saddle Fit is a post from: Western Saddle Blog

Saddle Fit Isn’t Really That Difficult

Saddle Sense — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:48:49 +0000

I’m one of those people who believes that the issue of saddle fit is often made much more difficult than it needs to be. Don’t get me wrong, I think good saddle fit is extremely important. I just believe that with the majority of horses (probaly as much as 80 or 90% of horses) you [...]

Saddle Fit Isn’t Really That Difficult is a post from: Western Saddle Blog

Saddles With Structural Defects Won’t Fit Any Horse

Saddle Sense — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 23:37:11 +0000

When we talk about saddle fit, we’re usually referring to whether a particular type and size (i.e. gullet height and width) of saddle fits the dimensions of a particular horse. But some saddles will cause problems for any horse, regardless of their conformation. These are saddles with structural defects. Read how unsoundness and asymmetry will [...]

Saddles With Structural Defects Won’t Fit Any Horse is a post from: Western Saddle Blog