How Should My Saddle Fit My Horse?

Your horse was a major investment and so should your tack - especially your saddle. Your horse knows exactly how that saddle that you put on him/her feels. He/she knows every lump, every seam, every bump or defect in the padding or bars of the saddle. He/she knows if you've gained weight or if you've changed the stirrup length. The saddle tells the horse allot and you need to get "in tune" with your saddle.

WE CAN BUILD YOU A CUSTOM SADDLE FOR LESS THAN YOU'D PAY FOR THOSE BIG BRAND NAME SADDLES IN A TACK SHOP.

Take the time to look over your saddle very carefully. Start by looking at the underside, the part that comes in contact with your horse. Feel thru the fleece for lumps and bumps, tacks, nails etc. Feel for the actual shape of the tree so you can get an idea what contact this tree has on your horse's back. The tree is the bones or skeleton of your saddle. It forms a base of support and allows for even weight distribution of you and the saddle.

WE CAN BUILD YOU A CUSTOM SADDLE FOR LESS THAN YOU'D PAY FOR THOSE BIG BRAND NAME SADDLES IN A TACK SHOP.

Check the saddle for contact by placing the saddle on the horse' s back with no blanket or saddle pad. Watch your horse's reaction as you approach with the saddle. Is he "happy to see you", does he stand there like "nothing bothers him" OR is he pinning his ears, raising a leg, moving away, turning to bite or showing any disturbance at all. This is a clear sign that he and the saddle are not buddies.

WE CAN BUILD YOU A CUSTOM SADDLE FOR LESS THAN YOU'D PAY FOR THOSE BIG BRAND NAME SADDLES IN A TACK SHOP.

With the saddle on your horse's back, feel underneath starting at the front under the horn area. Feel for the shoulder blades and is your saddle in contact with the shoulder blade? Not good! You want contact to start 2 to 3 fingers width (1 1/2" to 2") behind the shoulder blade and you want as much contact as possible. Contact should be even and NOT SNUG. Also, step back and view your horse from the side and observe where this part of your saddle lies.

WE CAN BUILD YOU A CUSTOM SADDLE FOR LESS THAN YOU'D PAY FOR THOSE BIG BRAND NAME SADDLES IN A TACK SHOP.

Check for how the bars of the saddle come in contact with your horse's back by sliding your hands up under the flaps and skirts of the saddle. Does the contact feel evenly pressured the length of the bars or do you feel areas of heavier or lighter contact? Also using your fingers, press into your horse's back and feel for sore spots or a sensitive area that your saddle is causing. Pay particular attention to the end area of the bars and press firmly into your horse's back for any reaction.

WE CAN BUILD YOU A CUSTOM SADDLE FOR LESS THAN YOU'D PAY FOR THOSE BIG BRAND NAME SADDLES IN A TACK SHOP.

Observe your saddle from the back and look to see if it has enough clearance (approximately 2") down the center between the horse's back and the channel of the saddle.

WE CAN BUILD YOU A CUSTOM SADDLE FOR LESS THAN YOU'D PAY FOR THOSE BIG BRAND NAME SADDLES IN A TACK SHOP.

How does the saddle fit the withers? This area is extremely important. Too narrow a saddle will sit high up and actually pinch this area and make it difficult for your horse to move properly. Does the saddle want to fall off if you gently rock it back and forth? Is there enough clearance in the gullet area (underside of horn and horse's withers). Imagine a riders weight in the saddle - this will make the gap smaller and possibly too close to the withers to be comfortable for the horse.

WE CAN BUILD YOU A CUSTOM SADDLE FOR LESS THAN YOU'D PAY FOR THOSE BIG BRAND NAME SADDLES IN A TACK SHOP.



Please click a picture or description below for information or ordering
    Description Price
1.   Order Gaited Saddles As Shown Below starting at:
Item No. GS
$580.00
All prices in US Dollars

info@horselovers.com or phone 570-673-5902 EST

The Saddles Below Are Custom Built Gaited Horse Saddles. Write or Phone Me If You Need More Details.

Choice of Tree:
All gaited saddles give you a choice of two trees - Wide (7" Gullet)with s 13" bar spread or Narrow (6 1/2" Gullet)with a 12 1/2" bar spread. We also have a "Flex" tree available for gaited horse style saddles in 16" and 17" sizes only. These are additionally priced. Gaited Flex Trees will open up to approximately a 7.25" gullet and a 13.25" bar spread with the rider up.

We can build seat sizes in 18" - 21" for the majority of the styles. All are available in 18" and 19". Please check with us for availability and prices.

Gaited Wood Trees can have modifications but Polymer Trees cannot.

The shoulders of the gaited horse needs to be free to move easily into the gaits, therefore we have flared the front of the gaited tree outwards to allow for this action.

The gullet on the gaited horse tree is also taller. Example: a 16" seat will have a gullet height of 12 1/2".

Our stirrups are free swinging as the fender straps run all the way through the tree - so you can put the stirrups further forward, under you or more to the rear.

All seats are padded with more than most other saddle companies. The best compliment we've received over and over is the comfort of our seating material.

Also, you have a choice of a 4" or a 5" cantle on our gaited styles.

All gaited saddles have a double rear skirt.
 
The "Paso" $902.75
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


The "Paso"
Gaited Fiberglass Wrapped Wood Tree, 6.5" or 7" gullet - 14", 15", 16" or 17" Slick Seat or Suede - Hand-tooled small barb wire border or your choice in similiar style - 3 Way Rigging - 2" Laced Bell Stirrups with 5" Tread - Montana Silver Conchos - Breast Collar Dees (not shown in picture) - Weighs 33 lbs.
 
The "Rocky" $902.75
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


The "Rocky"
Fiberglass Wrapped Gaited Wood Tree, 6.5" or 7" gullet - 14", 15", 16" or 17" Slick Seat or Suede - Suede Seat - Hand-tooled Small Barb Wire Border - Single Front Rigging Hung from Tree - 4 Saddle Strings - 3" Bell Sewn Stirrups with 5" Tread - Montana Silver Conchos - (No 3-way rigging on this model) Weighs 33 lbs.
 
The "Walker Deluxe" $937.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


The "Walker Deluxe"
Gaited Fiberglass Wrapped Wood Tree, 6.5" or 7" gullet - 14", 15", 16" or 17" Slick Seat or Suede- Hand-tooled Large Barb Wire Hand-Tooled Borders - Single Front Rigging Hung from Tree - In Skirt Rear Rigging - Basket Weave Tooling on Pommel - Front and Rear Saddle Strings with Footman's Loops - 2" Stainless D Rings Between Top and Bottom Rear Skirt - 2" Laced Bell Stirrups with 6" Oversized Tread - Also Available in 18", 19" and 20" Seat Sizes at Additional Cost - Weighs 33 lbs.
 
The "Missouri" $1,145.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


The "Missouri"
Hand-Carved Floral with Navajo Hand-Carved Borders - Large Rose Floral Hand Tooling on Fenders - Montana Silver Laced Pommel and Cantle - Single Front Rigging - Montana Silver Conchos - Upgraded Fleece Lining - 3" Bell Sewn Stirrups with 5" Tread - Gaited Fiberglass-Wrapped Wood Tree - Weighs 33 lbs.
 
The "Saddlebred" $897.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


The "Saddlebred"
Fiberglass Wrapped Gaited Wood Tree, 6.5" or 7" gullet - 14", 15", 16" or 17" - Slick Seat or Suede - Hand-Tooled Small Barb Wire Border - 3-Way Rigging - Montana Silver Conchos - 2" Laced Bell Stirrups with 5" Tread - Also Available in 18", 19" and 20" Seat Sizes - Weighs 33 lbs.
 
The "Highlander" $667.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


The "Highlander"
Cordura/Leather Combo (Cordura Skirts and Fenders) - Fiberglass-Wrapped Wood Gaited Tree, 6.5" or 7" gullet - 14", 15", 16" or 17" Slick Seat or Suede - Single D Front Rigging - Slot in Skirt for Rear Cinch - Large Barb Wire Hand-Tooled Jockey - Round Skirt - Leather Covered Ralide (synthetic) Stirrups with 5" Tread - Weighs 19 lbs.
 
The "Single-Foot" $710.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


The "Single-Foot"
Cordura/Leather Combo (shown in Mahogany)- Single D Front Rigging - Gaited Fiberglass Wrapped Wood Tree, 6.5" or 7" gullet - 14", 15", 16" or 17" Slick Seat or Suede - Round Skirt - Hand-Tooled Jockey - 6 Nickel Conchos - Leather Covered Ralide (synthetic) Stirrups with 5" Tread - Weighs 19 lbs.
 
The "Icelandic" $955.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


The "Icelandic"
Fiberglass Wrapped Wood Tree, 6.5" or 7" gullet - 14", 15", 16" or 17" - Slick Seat or Suede - Montana Silver Conchos - Hand-Carved Floral Design - 3-Way Front Rigging - Available in 18", 19" - Weighs 33 lbs.
 
The "FoxTrotter" $1,006.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


The "Fox Trotter"
Fiberglass Wrapped Gaited Wood Tree, 6.5" or 7" gullet - 14", 15", 16" or 17" - Slick Seat or Suede- Hand-Tooled Small Barb Wire Borders - Double Rigged - In Skirt Rigging - Padded and Stitched Seat - Pencil Roll Cantle - Pommel Hand Tooled Basket Weave - 4 Sets of Saddle Strings - 2" Bell Laced Stirrups with 5" Tread - Weighs 37 lbs.
 
Cordura/Leather Combo $685.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Navajo Tooling $1,033.85
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Premium A-Fork $1,148.75
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


A-Fork $985 .00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Wade Rancher $975.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Premium Gaited $1,322.50
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Plantation Style $1,493.85
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Gaited Wade Tree $1,029.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Gaited A-Fork $1,092.50
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Cordura/Leather Combo 4 $667 .00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Cordura/Leather Combo 6 $685 .00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Cordura/Leather Combo 7 $672.75
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


Premium Leather Gaited Saddle $1,265.00
As Shown Below 14" to 17" Seat


info@horselovers.com or phone 570-673-5902 EST


Tree and Saddle Tree Fitting Program:  
Saddle Leather Color Choices:  
Tooling Options:  
Stirrup Selections:  
Embroidery Options:  

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