What size is a medium horse?

How big is my horse’s saddle?

Another low tech method to estimate the width of a saddle is to clench your fist and put your knuckles up to the front of the saddle. A woman’s hand will generally measure about four inches across. If there’s 1/2″ to 3/4″ of space on either side of your fist, the saddle is approximately a medium tree.

What size saddle should I get for my horse?

Between 16.5 and 18.5 inches — Look for a 16-inch saddle. Between 20 and 21.5 inches — Try a 17-inch saddle. Over 21.5 inches — Try an 18- or 19-inch seat size. If you ride Western, you can use the same measurements with a slight adjustment.

What is the average length of a horse’s seat?

A tree with a 12 inch seat is going to have a bar length of around 19 inches. An average Quarter Horse has a rib cage about 19 inches long. A Western saddle with a seat length of 16 inches is going to have a tree with a bar length of around 22-23 inches with skirts that are around 24-27 inches which obviously is going to extend beyond the last rib.

Is there a universal size for saddle pads?

This universal sizing is possible because of the relatively small variance in saddle size. A 15 hand horse can wear the same saddle pad as a 17 hand horse because the seat size of a saddle is matched to the rider, not the horse.

How wide should a horse saddle be?

Once in a saddle, a rider should have approximately 2-4 fingers width between your rear and the cantle of the saddle, as well as the front. If you are between sizes, it is best to go up.

Is it easy to fit a saddle?

As you can tell, fitting a saddle is not a simple or quick exercise since there are so many choices and considerations for both the horse and the rider. To further complicate matters, there are specific items to evaluate for each type of saddle, horse, rider, and riding activity.

What is the average length of a horse’s rib cage?

An average Quarter Horse has a rib cage about 19 inches long. A Western saddle with a seat length of 16 inches is going to have a tree with a bar length of around 22-23 inches with skirts that are around 24-27 inches which obviously is going to extend beyond the last rib. So what’s the deal?

How to measure a horse’s neck?

Neck circumference (inches) ÷ Height at withers (inches) = Neck circumference to height ratio. Example: Neck length (poll to withers) = 36 inches, take neck circumference measurement at the half-way point between the poll and withers (at the 18 inch mark in this horse)

What is the standard size of a western saddle pad?

The average western saddle pad will measures 32 inches by 32 inches or 30″ x 30, square, when unfolded. That means most western pads have a 15-16 inch drop (distance from the center fold to the bottom edge) and a 30-32 inch spine.

Can a 15 hand horse wear the same saddle pad?

A 15 hand horse can wear the same saddle pad as a 17 hand horse because the seat size of a saddle is matched to the rider, not the horse. With so many different saddle shapes and features, and so many unique horses, there are of course exceptions that will prove the “one size fits all” norm to be wrong.

What size saddle do I need for my horse?

The average horse requires a medium gullet size while larger horses, like Clydesdales or Warmbloods, might require a wide or extra-wide saddle. You can’t always go by size. Large breeds such as Thoroughbreds or Arabians are large horses but have narrow backs.

How to tell if a western saddle is too wide?

It can be very easy to see if a western saddle doesn’t properly fit your horse. A properly fitted western saddle will fit your horse’s sides, the skirt molding to their body. If the skirt sticks away from the horse so as to not touch the horse’s sides, then the saddle is too wide.

What size saddle for a Clydesdale horse?

Most riders can look down the horse’s back from above and should be able to determine the size of the horse’s back. The average horse requires a medium gullet size while larger horses, like Clydesdales or Warmbloods, might require a wide or extra-wide saddle.

How do you know if a saddle will fit your horse?

Saddle makers and fitters should consider both tree width and tree angle when fitting a particular horse. Tree width and angle need to be adjusted together. If the width of the tree is correct for the horse but the angle is not, the saddle will not fit.

Does your horse’s saddle no longer fit properly?

Your horse’s saddle is an important piece of equipment. It helps distribute your weight evenly over the parts of the horse’s back most capable of carrying you and it also helps you to sit in a good, balanced position. However, when a saddle no longer fits correctly, it can begin to cause problems.

How to choose a western saddle for a short backed horse?

We’ll recommend you to get western saddles for short backed horses because they provide easy fits. Try placing the saddle without a pad below. Now, see if the saddle needs more tightening. Usually, for short backed horses, saddles fit without tightening the cinch. Just make sure your saddle stays in the centre of your horse’s back.

Where are the ribs on a horse’s back?

Rib length increases from the first rib, which lies just behind the point of the shoulder, to the eighth or ninth, and then diminishes again. The last rib is the shortest and most slender, usually. The ribs of an extremely skinny horse are easy to see and feel.

How many ribs does a horse have?

It is also common for a horse to have only one extra rib on either the right or left side, not a full extra pair. This would make the count thirty-seven total, with eighteen on one side and nineteen on the other side.

What is a horse’s ribcage?

A horse’s ribcage is completely unique compared to that of humans and those of other animals. It is one of the reasons the horse is a desirable animal for riding, allowing the horse to be able to carry large things on its back such as saddles and people.

What are the characteristics of a western saddle?

Western Saddles 1 Seat Size. Western saddles measure differently than English saddles by measuring about 2″ smaller than whatever your seat size would be in English. 2 Skirt Length. The skirt of the western saddle is the leather or other material attached around the seat of the saddle. 3 Saddle Width.

What to look for when buying a western saddle pad?

As a horse owner buying a saddle pad for the first time or as a replacement, the first thing to always consider is size. Unlike English saddle pads, which are one-size-fits-all, Western saddle pads vary in skirt size.