3 Main things to look for in a home saddle fit
- . Saddle Tree Angle or Gullet width
At a point 2 to 3 inches behind the back edge of the shoulder blade, the tree angle must match the angle of the horse's shoulder. This is determined by tracing the wither at this point and comparing it to the angle of the saddle's tree. With a rider on board, the saddle must be checked, and a second person must run their flat hand from top to bottom of the front of the tree under the front panels. The pressure should be equal all the way down, not tighter at the top than at the bottom or vice versa. If the saddle has a variable gullet the gullet gauge can be used to help determine what gullet is required.
- Wither Clearance
A saddle must have 2 to 3 fingers of wither clearance at the top of the withers not just standing without a rider but also when the rider is on board. A saddle must also have at least 2 fingers of wither clearance all around the withers, including on the sides.
- Full Panel Contact
The panel should make consistent contact with the horse's back from front to back. The shape of the tree and the panelling from front to back determines this. Saddle panels come in a variety of shapes and sizes and vary with time especially the older flocked type saddles. If you don't pick the proper shape for your horse, the weight will not be distributed evenly across his back. To test, sit in the saddle and run your palm from front to back beneath each side of the panels. There should be consistent pressure throughout, not less or more in the centre.
Another way of testing this is to apply talcum powder to your horses back and sit the saddle carefully in the correct position. Girth him and then walk him for 5 minutes. Lift the saddle off carefully from above if possible and see if there is any talcum left on the horse. If the saddle doesn't connect there will be a patch of powder left behind.
What do I do if my saddle doesn't fit correctly and I cant get to a saddler?
If you have inconsistent contact and you cant get to a saddler the EASY-CHANGE® Riser System provides a full fitting solution with an unmatched range of adjustability for your horse's comfort and your peace of mind. This system provides shims of various thicknesses to go in a Cleverley designed pocket in the Arena Bates and Wintec range. The shims are shaped to be suitable for the front section middle section or rear section to help push out the panel to suit your horse. They also come in 3 thicknesses.
https://www.aussiesaddlery.com.au/easy-change-rise...
Another way of correcting this without a saddler is with external pads.
These include gel pads with front risers https://www.aussiesaddlery.com.au/gel-front-riser-...
Gel pads with rear risers https://www.aussiesaddlery.com.au/gel-back-riser-p...
Foam Rear risers https://www.aussiesaddlery.com.au/foam-riser/
Another product that has shims is this gel pad that has options of adding shims at the front or back https://www.aussiesaddlery.com.au/gel-lite-pad-fro...
For saddles that bridge leaving a gap in the middle this middle gel riser is ideal https://www.aussiesaddlery.com.au/gel-middle-riser...
We also have sheepskins half numnahs that have the shim system and an elegant look.
How do I fix the saddle if it sits on or near the wither?
Tools to help the everyday person decide on gullet width
The EASY-CHANGE® Gullet Gauge is a tool to help you choose the right gullet size for your horse. You can also use the gullet gauge to check for changes in your horse's muscling every three to six months.
This is a basic tool for ensuring you have the proper gullet in your saddle. A handy tool to have at home to determine if your horse's saddle is properly fitted. Obviously, it is not a substitute for a professional saddle fit, but it is an excellent indicator of overall fit.
How do you choose the best gullet for your horse's saddle?
1) Make sure your horse is square and standing on level footing. The EASY-CHANGE® Gullet Gauge must be placed where the tree points will be within your saddle in order to be used. Make a notation under the region where the saddle nails are positioned on each side of your horse once the saddle is in place.
(1a) Make sure your chalk markings are about three fingers away from the edge of your horse's shoulder to ensure your saddle is properly positioned.
2) Position the EASY-CHANGE® Gullet Gauge vertically over the wither of your horse. Align the gauge with the previously mentioned reference point.
3) Place the gauge over your horse's wither and confirm that the chalk marks are evenly in contact with your horse on BOTH sides. The gauge's centre should be clear of your horse's wither.
4)The gauge will now show your horse's correct coloured gullet. Use the measure to verify that your saddle remains comfortable for your horse as its form and muscling varies with maturity and fitness level.
When used together, the EASY-CHANGE® Gullet System and the EASY-CHANGE® Riser System provide a full fitting solution with an unmatched range of adjustability for your horse's comfort and your peace of mind. The EASY-CHANGE® Gullet System allows you to effortlessly modify the width of your saddle as your horse matures.
The above really shows the importance of a changeable saddle! Nearly all the saddles stocked at Aussie Saddlery are changeable. Some like the Bates Arena and Wintec have the easy change system . Others like the Syd Hill Eurosport and Tekna also have a gullet changing system. WE also have a few saddles that have a compressed steel gullet that can be altered on our specialist machine in store. These include Passier Kieffer and Ascot. There is alos a few in store with the Gentec changeable system.
All the above advice is for a home type check up of your saddle fit and are not designed to take away from the professional saddle fit. Aussie saddlery has 4 accredited saddle fitters.