Western Saddles

What should I look for in a Western saddle?

Whilst with English saddles the adjustment of the saddle to the horse is done via the saddle pads or the gullet width, the adjustment possibilities with a Western saddle are often limited. The reason is the solid wooden construction of the saddle tree, which is still very popular. In order to optimally capture the curve of the horse's back with the saddle, Western saddles are often custom-made. In the meantime, however, there are also Western saddle designs with a plastic tree, which you can also buy in our online shop. These can be adjusted more easily to the changing horse, especially in the gullet width, than a Western saddle with a wooden tree.
The bars of the Western saddles are not softly padded like the panels of English saddles. Therefore, no subsequent adjustment can be made if the horse's musculature changes significantly. Only small discrepancies can be corrected with Western pads and inserts.
When buying a Western saddle, also pay attention to its length. Due to their large contact surface, many Western saddles protrude beyond the horse's saddle area. This can cause the skirts to rest on the lumbar spine and create pressure points. It is important that the rider's weight does not press on the loins. The rider's centre of gravity must be perpendicular and above the horse's centre of gravity. Furthermore, the skirts must not be too soft nor too hard, nor should they bump against the horse's hips in flexion and position.
Especially when putting on Western saddles, meticulous care should be taken to ensure that they are not put on, but behind the shoulder. As Western saddles can be very long, it is easy to feel the need to place the saddle too far forward. However, this adversely affects the horse's freedom of movement and causes damage to the cartilage tissue.
After tightening the girth, slide your fingers between the shoulder and the tree. If you can do this easily and feel no resistance, the gullet width fits and does not pinch your horse.
Always use your Western saddle with an anatomically shaped Western pad. This cushions and provides padding. You should also make sure that the pad is not too long and does not press on the horse's loins.
As is common practice with English saddles, care should also be taken with Western saddles to ensure that the rider can adopt a balanced seat. Many (unadapted) Western saddles put the rider far back, which makes their pelvis drop unnaturally and puts them in a chair like position. So when buying and fitting the Western saddle, make sure that the Western saddle has its centre of gravity in the middle and that it fits both rider and horse perfectly.
You can find a detailed description of the Western saddle including overview diagrams of the structure of a Western saddle in our guide to Western saddles.

Which Western saddle is suitable for my horse?

First of all, the saddle length and the curve determine whether a Western saddle will fit the horse.
If you have a horse that is already well trained and fully grown, the probability of major muscular changes is rather low. In this case, a Western saddle with a wooden tree can be used. Slight physical changes between summer and winter can be compensated for with Western pads, inserts or underlays.
However, if the horse's musculature changes a lot, for example when it is still growing or in the build-up phase, Western saddles with plastic trees are the better alternative. You can choose between Western saddles with a rigid plastic tree but adjustable gullet width and Western saddles with an individually adjustable plastic tree.
The discipline you want to ride is also important. You have the choice between Western saddles with a primary purpose:

• A reining saddle has a high cantle and a low centre of gravity.
• Cutting saddles have a flat seat and a pronounced swell.
• Roping saddles need a very stable saddle tree and a stable horn. They also have a deep seat.
• Barrel racing saddles have a long horn that the rider can hold onto at high speed and in tight turns.

Which size Western saddle do I need?

When choosing the correct sized Western saddle, you should keep a close eye on the following points: The seat size and the gullet width.
The standard seat size of Western saddles is 16". 15'' or less are suitable for petite riders or teenagers, while Western saddles with 16.5'' and 17'' are more appropriate for tall or heavily-built riders. In the Kramer Equestrian online shop you can also buy pony saddles with a seat size of 13".
Pay close attention to the width of the gullet to see if it fits the horse correctly. Often only the width is designated with the general abbreviations ARAB (Arabian), SFQ (Semi Quarter), QH (Quarter), FQ (Full Quarter) and XFQ (Extra Full Quarter), but each manufacturer can interpret and define this differently. The decisive factor is the width of the fork, measured from bar to bar. Ultimately, the path towards the appropriate saddle size is more a matter of trial and error and taking measurements.
Furthermore, when assessing the correct size of the Western saddle, attention should not only be paid to these two points. The saddle must be viewed in its entirety with the eye of a professional and assessed with regard to horse and rider.

What is the correct position for a Western saddle?

In contrast to English saddles, Western saddles have a very wide contact surface, which also extends in length. This means that a Western saddle can even rest on the lumbar spine of some horses. When buying a Western saddle, make sure that it fits your horse's saddle area. This begins behind the shoulder blades and extends to the 18th thoracic vertebra. You can roughly estimate the end of the saddle position by running your fingers along the last rib in the direction of the spine. Where the rib ends under the long back muscle is where the saddle should end.
Keep in mind, however, that the saddle tree, which carries the actual weight of the saddle and on which the rider sits, is the decisive factor. The skirts, which lie behind the saddle tree, do not contribute any weight, which would be decisive for the distribution of pressure and the correct position of the saddle.
We have illustrated the correct position of the saddle or the size of the saddle position for you in this diagram. You can read more important information about the length of the saddle and the size of the seat in our guide to Western saddles.