Saddle fit and why it matters?

Jim Hosse talking with client about the tree.

Saddle fit comes down to allowing a horse to accomplish the maneuvers they are tasked with correctly without interference at best and pain at worse. The modern horse is probably the most physically demanded horse of history with their confinement in stalls and being ridden less frequently in less-than-optimal physical shape, while being asked to perform at levels often beyond their riders' skills. Add ill fitting saddles to this mix and sore backed horses will be the result. 

How do we measure to order the right tree?

First off as a western saddle maker not by attempting to microfit. We fit the horse’s body type. Fitting western saddles require keeping in mind the changes horses' backs go through as they age and keeping in mind how their backs change throughout the year as they are used more or less depending on weather. 

We are able to measure and choose the right tree by knowing how the tree is made and how it interacts with a horse’s back. A saddle maker knows where the potential pinch places are and how to avoid them. Also, a saddle maker knows how the different bars are shaped and how they can put excessive pressure on a horse’s back if the wrong one is used.

Too many people only know about gullet heights and widths. Which is important to know but it is not the only answer to fitting. Bar type, and length must always be considered and factored into fit. 

As gimmicks come and go these gimmick trees seem to always show up on horses they were never meant to be on. The reality is that no horse should be subjected to most gimmick trees.

We are able to fit saddles by understanding how a horse moves, while understanding only way to measure a horse's back is when the horse is standing still. But horses move. In all directions at all times. Therefore, measuring for fit is a combination of how a horse moves and how the saddle moves with the horse. 

Fitting must be accomplished without saddle bridging, or the wrong bars, without having the bars pinch or pressure the withers or kidneys. While this is not building pianos, it is math, anatomy, physiology, and art. 

And please remember there are no such bars as Quarter Horse bars. 

There are three bar types, (five if you apply the shortened Arizona. bars as Arab bars and mule bars)

The Northwest bar. 

The Standard bar. (Standard Tree Company patented bar)

The Arizona bar. 

These are bar shapes not gullet widths and heights. 

Quia plerique pingues assed et equitant.