Full quarter horse bars are 6 1/4 to 6 1/2 inches apart This size fits horses who are wider in the front shoulders than a semi-quarter horse bar size with extra muscle or fat. As horses age, they may gain weight and need a
larger bar saddle
or they may become leaner, lose weight and require a smaller bar saddle.
What size gullet is full quarter horse bars?
Full-Quarter horse bars usually have a 7″ gullet. They are designed for mutton-withered horses with broader backs.
arab saddles
, usually with 6 1/2″ to 6 3/4″ gullets, are for Arabians. They have a shorter gullet.
How do I know if my horse needs full or semi quarter horse bars?
A saddle with full quarter horse bars is designed to fit a horse with a wide, fairly flat back. A saddle with semi-quarter horse bars is designed to fit a horse with a medium-sized back.
What are QH bars on a
western saddle
?
Semi-QH: Semi Quarter Horse can be referred to as Medium, Regular, or QH bars. This tree size has a higher pitch or angle to the bars. It’s for the horse with a more defined wither.
What size saddle do I need for a 16 hand horse?
Under 16.5 inches, You probably need a 15-inch seat size in an English saddle. Between 16.5 and 18.5 inches , Look for a 16-inch saddle. Between 20 and 21.5 inches, Try a 17-inch saddle. Over 21.5 inches, Try an 18- or 19-inch seat size.
Can I use a gaited saddle on a quarter horse?
Typically the gaited horse will require a 12-inch spread in the
shoulder area
of the bar while the Quarter Horse will require 13. If you put a saddle made for the Quarter Horse on the gaited horse it will fit at the top (or in this case gullet) but there will be no support at the shoulder.
What is a 6 inch gullet?
Semi-quarter horse bars fit most of today’s western horses.
gullet width
of 6″-6 1/2″. Full Quarter Horse Bars- have even wider angles to accommodate wider-bodied horses and horses with flatter or “Mutton” withers. Gullet width of 6 3/4″- 7″.
What size gullet is a wide tree?
Gullet Size Any gullet that measures larger than 7 inches is considered to be wide. An extra-wide gullet is going to measure 8 inches or more and is commonly found only in saddles designed to fit draft horses or draft horse crosses.
What causes a saddle to roll?
Too much padding negates the good fit between the shape of the horse and the tree by diminishing the curves. It causes the saddle to roll around more so the cinch needs to be tighter to hold it in place, causing possible cinch soreness problems.
What size tree does my horse need?
The tree must not only be wide enough for the withers, but it has to accommodate the horse’s shoulders They should be able to rotate freely, and for that to occur, the tree angle must match the shoulder angle. The scapula motions upward and backward as the horse moves.
What are gaited bars on a saddle?
Unlike a full Quarter Horse Bar saddle it is designed to sit correctly on the withers and not drop down and throw off the way the bars sit on the horses back The bars are called by many people as wide, however they are not. The bars themselves are not wide (only measuring 13 inches), but the angle is wide.
How do you tell if your saddle fits your horse?
Your saddle fits just right if it sits level on your horse’s back and the bars of the tree do not pinch The front of your saddle should be positioned behind your horse’s shoulder blade, allowing him freedom of movement. Your saddle is too narrow if the front of the saddle sits high.
What is a saddle gullet?
The gullet is the tunnel underneath the fork and rides over the horse’s withers The design of the fork and the angle of the bars of the saddle tree determine the width and height of the gullet.
How wide should a saddle gullet be?
The ideal width for a saddle gullet is between 2.5″ and 4″ depending on your horse.
What is a flex tree saddle?
A flex tree saddle has bars that are flexible, allowing the saddle to flex with the horse The flexibility ‘enhances’ an already proper fit, it doesn’t attempt to create it.
Are English and western gullet sizes the same?
The gullet size on Western saddles can be confusing, basically measurements go 2″ larger than normal english saddles (So a 16″ western is up to an 18″ English equivalent).
What are the different gullet sizes?
- Quarter horse bar: Gullet width from 5.75 to 6 inches, for narrow-bodied horses.
- Semi-quarter horse bar: Gullet width 6 inches.
- Full quarter horse bar: Gullet width 6.25 to 6.5 inches, for wide-bodied horses with flat withers.
- Extra-wide quarter horse bars: Gullet width 6.75 to 7 inches.
How do you measure a gullet?
Peek between the skirts in the front and find the connection between the top of the saddle bars where they connect to the pommel. Place your tape ever so slightly below that joint on the inside of the gullet on the fleece and measure across to the other side in the same place.
What is an Arabian saddle?
Arabian horses have distinctive body shapes and we have found a good selection of western trail saddles to fit your Arabian. They have shorter skirts with wider gullets and a bit more curve , just as your horse was designed. View our selection of Arabian saddles.
What is saddle swell?
Swell: The swell is the part of the saddle that holds the bars together and supports the horn 1. A-Fork – A-forks were very popular on ranch saddles back in the day. They are still a very widely used style on today’s working ranch saddles.
References
https://www.horsesaddleshop.com/western-saddle-fitting-tree-sizes.html
https://animals.mom.com/tell-saddle-full-bars-quarter-bars-4413.html