Six Things You Should Never Assume When It Comes To Western Saddle Fit
It's essential to find a Western saddle that fits your horse properly and also feels comfortable for you. Unfortunately, some horse owners make assumptions they shouldn't when it comes to fitting a Western saddle for their horse.
The following are six things you should never assume when it comes to Western saddle fit.
Western saddles are one-size-fits-all.
One of the worst things you could ever assume is that Western saddles are one-size-fits-all and can fit on any horse. Using a Western saddle on your horse that doesn't fit properly can create a lot of problems when you're riding and make your horse very uncomfortable.
You need to take careful measurements and size your horse's Western saddle properly for a happy horse and rider.
You can fix problems with Western saddle fit by using a saddle pad.
A lot of horse owners try to fix fit issues with their Western saddle by using a saddle pad. Although a good saddle pad may help a saddle to fit better in some cases, saddle pads can't fix every problem.
You need to focus on finding a Western saddle with a fit that's really right for your horse rather than thinking you can just fix fit problems later on with a saddle pad.
The sizing of Western saddles is standardized among manufacturers.
Unfortunately, there aren't really standard measurements among different Western saddle manufacturers. It's hard to compare measurements such as gullet width between saddles from different manufacturers.
Western saddle manufacturers will provide you with statistics on their saddles. However, there may be some guesswork involved in using these statistics to find the right Western saddle for your horse.
A Western saddle has to be custom-made to fit right.
Some horses are harder to fit with the right Western saddle than others. However, you shouldn't have to pay for a custom-made saddle even if your horse is particularly difficult to fit. Research your horse's specific needs and consult with a saddlery expert to find the right Western saddle for the unique needs of you and your horse.
You can't buy a Western saddle online because you need to try Western saddles on your horse first.
Although it can help to buy a Western saddle in person so you can try it out on your horse, it's not always necessary. You may be able to use downloadable templates provided by saddle manufacturers that allow you to determine if a particular saddle is an appropriate fit for your horse so that you can order it online.
It's ok to use the same Western saddle on two horses.
It's rarely possible to use the same Western saddle on two horses unless the horses are almost exactly the same in terms of wither shape, weight, and back width. You should definitely assume that you'll need to purchase multiple saddles if you're shopping for multiple horses.
Visit a local tack store to learn more about Western saddles.