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. The primary difference between the two sizes is in the angle at which the bars are positioned and the width of the gullet.
How do I know if my saddle has full quarter horse bars?
western saddles
have horizontal bars on the frame that connect the front fork of the saddle to the cantle, or rear of the rider’s seat. Full quarter horse bars have a wider fork, or width, that rests on the
horses shoulders
than semi-quarter horse bars.
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.
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 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.
How wide should a saddle gullet be?
The ideal width for a saddle gullet is between 2.5″ and 4″ depending on your horse.
How do you determine saddle size?
It’s easy to measure a western saddle’s seat size. Use a retractable tape measure. Start the tape measure behind the swell and stretch it across the seat to the front of the cantle That measurement is the seat size.
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).
Are barrel saddles good for trail riding?
The main job of a barrel saddle is to be light weight and keep the rider snug in the saddle. You can also trail ride out of barrel saddles, but you can not rope out of them The horn is not sturdy enough and will break if you tried roping or dragging out of it.
What horse saddle is best for
long distance
?
The endurance saddle is almost exclusively used for endurance riding or for long distance riding. The endurance saddle is very comfortable for both the horse and rider during long periods of riding.
What is an all around saddle?
All-around saddles are designed for anything! Ranching, roping, barrel racing , just to name a few. All-around saddles are typically equipped with a strong horn for light roping, a sturdy wooden tree, a close contact skirt, and a suede seat.
What are bars in a saddle?
Horse Bars: The bars of our
horse trees
are curved to fit evenly from the withers, back over the ribs and up onto the loin of the horse The front of the bars is flared to allow for free shoulder action. Mule Bars: The bars of our mule trees are flatter and curve less to fit evenly along the mule’s back.
How do I choose a saddle for my horse?
- Evaluate Saddle Fit for Your Horse.
- Ensure your saddle stays centered
- Free the withers
- Investigate the gullet channel
- Check the bars
- Consider saddle length
- Go on a test ride
- Look at the impression.
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.
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.
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 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.
Where 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 saddle is best for trail riding?
Western saddles have long been the most popular choice for trail riding in America. Their sturdy construction holds up well in brushy terrain and rough weather. The saddle horn and high cantle along with large stirrups keep you tucked securely in the saddle.
Are treeless saddles better for the horse?
Elite (equine) athletes require support, comfort and protection to perform optimally. Without a tree, a bareback pad/treeless saddle cannot protect the horse’s spine, support the curvature of the rider’s spine, and be comfortable for both horse and rider.
Can you ride English on a quarter horse?
If you need added agility and speed for barrel racing, consider a Clydesdale/Paint or Quarter Horse cross: they can all be ridden in both the English and Western style.
What does a 16 inch saddle mean?
A leg/seat measurement of 16.5-18.5 inches equals a 16-inch saddle. • A leg/seat measurement of 18.5-20 inches equals a 16.5-inch saddle.
What’s the difference between a western saddle and an English saddle?
An English saddle is much smaller in size and lighter in weight , which allows the rider to get close to their horse and feel its every movement. A Western saddle is larger and heavier, which provides more comfort and stability for long hours over rough terrain.
What is the smoothest riding horse?
The Paso Fino is known as “the smoothest riding horse in the world.” 2. Paso Finos’ unique gait is natural and super-smooth.
What is the difference between a gaited saddle and a regular saddle?
The difference between a gaited Western saddle and a normal Western saddle is the shape of the tree Gaited horses move differently than their non-gaited peers. Because of their unique movements, gaited horses require saddles with trees that are shaped differently than saddles for normal horses.
Can you barrel race a gaited horse?
Gaited horses have smooth moves and agreeable personalities that make them suited for a variety of disciplines – including barrel racing!.
What happens if a saddle is too wide?
When a saddle is too wide in the front, it can sink down over the withers This takes the saddle out of balance by making the pommel lower than the cantle, which in turn carries more pressure over the front of the tree (at the withers/shoulders) than a saddle with a properly sized tree.
What size is a blue gullet?
If your gullet has been changed after purchase the colours are sized as follows: Yellow – Narrow, Green – Medium Narrow, Black – Medium, Blue – Medium wide , Red – Wide, and White is Extra wide.
Is my saddle too narrow?
Look at the angle of the point of the saddle, and look at the angle of the horses shoulder. You should be able to see if the point is following the shape of the horse, or if it is sticking inwards (too narrow), or if it is sticking outwards (too wide). You should be looking at the angle of the POINT, not the panel.
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 is mutton withered horse?
Low Withers Also known as mutton-withered horses, this kind of horse has a gradual slope towards its rear and lacks shoulder definition It may also have a rounder and/or flatter back. Sometimes, a horse may have no withers at all. Low withers are common among American Quarter horses, ponies, and Arabians.
What is a medium tree saddle?
If there’s 1/2″ to 3/4″ of space on either side of your fist , the saddle is approximately a medium tree. If there’s 0″ to 1/2″ then the tree is narrow; and if there’s more than 1″ of space on either side of your fist, the tree is wide or extra wide.
What size gullet does a pony need?
The gullet width should be about the same width of the wither’s, approximately 2″ below the top of the withers Just remember, the main thing you need to know is, is your horse narrow, wide or in-between!.
How wide should the channel of a saddle be?
The average horse should be between 1.5″ to 2.5″ in width so that means your gullet width on your saddle should be at the very least 2″ in width but preferably greater than 3″ The easy test is to use your fingers.
How should a gullet sit on a horse?
Gullet Clearance Place the saddle on the horse’s bare back without a pad There should be two to three fingers space between the top of the wither and the gullet of the saddle. If you can vertically fit your whole hand between the bottom of the gullet and the wither, the tree is probably too narrow.
How do you measure a gullet on a stock saddle?
- Set the saddle on a saddle stand with the front facing you.
- Visually locate the narrowest part of the gullet. Use your ruler to locate the point of the saddle that is 2 inches below the narrowest section.
- Use your ruler to measure from left to right across this section of the saddle.
Sources
Full Quarter Horse Bar Saddles