Measuring your horse for western saddles.
Measuring a saddle. To measure an english saddle, you’ll need to measure your current saddle and make sure it is the correct size for you. Measuring the saddle size for a western saddle starts from the back of the swell at the top of the gullet and is measured back to the stitching on the cantle binder. The best way to measure for your seat size is to take the measurement of your thigh from your knee to your buttocks.
They are traditionally made from leather or synthetic suede over wood or metal frames. It consists of a tree and a cantle, with two flaps on either side called pommel blocks. The distance between each side of the hanger will be your horse’s gullet width.
Why is measuring a saddle important. Start measuring from the top of the metal down to the edge of the flap. Take a measuring tape and put it in the middle of the pommel button diagonally across to the middle of the cantle.
Did you know it means nothing? Or that a saddle has arrived and isn’t the correct size, even though it is stamped. To measure the post and the cap, use a straight edge to measure from the bottom of the horn to where the cap begins.
You can follow specific points for the right saddle fit for the horse. Measure the length and width. It can be a bit tricky to measure your horse for the correct saddle fitting.
Here at the saddle bank we regularly get asked to confirm a saddle’s seat size. Measuring horse for a saddle. Key measurements of an english saddle: