Gullet Size?

Question

What size (as in narrow, medium, wide) is a 6.3 inch gullet? Where is this measurement taken on the saddle and what measurement does this mean on your horse (where do you measure? On the wither tracing?)?

Thx

Answer 1

I dont understand that either =[

Answer 2

Typically if I'm looking for a particular sized tree for a hard to fit horse, I'll use a wire coat hanger and make a shape of my horse's wither so that I can take it into the store and show them that's the horse's size.

Typically most TBs, Running QHs etc use medium sized trees, Foundation QHs. Arabs, Morgans use WIDE trees.

Now with you using the word "gullet" you make me think that you're looking at a western saddles which most come in Semi QH, Full QH and Arab sized trees.

The semi QH tree fits most TBs and Running QHs, whereas the FULL QH trees fit those with muttony or really wide withers.  Arab trees fit the short backed round withered Arabs, Morgans and shorter backed horses.

Answer 3

The gullet is the open area between the bars of the saddle tree...it is measured under the fork, and its width is related to the angle of the tree bars.  A narrower width means the bars of the tree have more angle as for a high withered horse, and a wider gullet would have flatter angle of the bars, as for a lower withered horse with a wider back.  The height of the gullet is also important...it has to be high enough to clear the wither.  You don't have to measure it if you have a tracing, and you can't do it on a finished western saddle with any accuracy. You might be able to access it better on an English saddle, I don't know.  A 6.3" gullet is narrower...a semi quarter horse bars tree, which is also called just a quarter horse tree by some makers.  It isn't consistent. For example, a 6.75 to 7" tree is full quarter horse bars...flatter angle and for lower wither.