I want to buy an english saddle but i dont know how to measure it so that it fits my horse. Can anyone help me

Question

I want to buy an english saddle but i dont know how to measure it so that it fits my horse. Can anyone help me

Answer 1

it deepens on the horses withers

Answer 2

The first thing you will need to know is the measurement from the pommel to the cantle. 16-18 inches is typical, depending on how big the horse is and how big you are to some extent.

You then need to trace the shape of the withers. This used to be done with bending a piece of lead pipe to match your horse and then tracing it onto a piece of paper you could take to the store. Usually a wire coathanger is used now instead.

If you have a good saddler nearby, give them a call and they will often load their van with saddles and come out to you. They will then try different ones to find the best fit. A really good saddler will then restuff it so it is as close a fit as possible for your horse.

These are the older and better methods, but can be a bit expensive. More common is to take the horse to a (teaching) stable and hopefully they will let you try saddles until you get a good fit and can then order that size for yourself.

The most common method now is also the least satisfactory, and that is to just buy a 16 inch saddle for a small horse/cob and you are small, or an 18 inch saddle for a larger horse/you are larger. You then buy a numnah (saddle pad) for under the saddle and hope for the best.

Good luck with the new horse!