Measuring for a New Horse Riding Saddle

Buying a new horse riding saddle is an important purchase. If you are a horse rider, the saddle is an essential everyday piece of equipment that will hopefully last you and your horse for many years, but incorrectly fitted horse riding saddles can cause many problems for the horse and for its rider as well as decrease the longevity of the saddle.

Consider a pair of running shoes for an athlete. If their shoes don't fit correctly, rubbing or pinching the feet, or moving around because they are too big then you would expect this to affect their ability to perform. In the same way, the saddle that we put on a horse's back should fit perfectly.

If you are buying a new saddle from a qualified saddler then you would expect them to visit your horse and maybe take some measurements to ensure that the saddle they supply is a perfect fit for your horse, however, there are many other places that you can purchase horse back riding saddles from. With the increased power of the internet, there are many online equine stores supplying quality products for horse and rider and the benefits of the internet are that it allows you to shop around for the best deals with ease and at your convenience. If you are considering ordering your saddle online though, it is important that you have accurate measurements of your horse's back and of the size and width of saddle that you require to avoid having to return the new saddle after it arrives.These measurements can be taken either from an existing saddle that fits the horse well or from the horse directly.

The size of the new horse back riding saddle required depends on the size of the rider and the length of the horses back and is measured on the saddle from the button on the side of the pommel to the middle of the cantle. The saddle should never extend beyond the 18th thoracic vertebrae which is the region of the last rib. If the saddle sits on the lumbar region then this can cause discomfort, pain and movement problems for your horse. It is also important that the new saddle is the right size for the rider. If it is too small then this will be uncomfortable and the rider won't be able to sit down correctly in the saddle, too big and they may slide around in the horse tack and find themselves tipping forwards or back.

The width is most important for the horse, and there are many problems that can be caused by a saddle too narrow or too wide. These can range from pain caused by pinching or bruising to muscle and nerve damage from uneven pressure from the saddle and rider. This is the reason why you must know the correct width measurement required for your new horse back riding saddle. This simple task done before buying a new horse riding saddle can save you a lot of time, money and distress later on and is in the end much better for the horse. So before you order your new horse back riding saddle, ensure that you have some accurate measurements of the saddle that you need.

by: Josie Amani