What Saddle Size Do I Need?

Finding the correct size saddle is crucial to how comfortable you ride as well as your horse’s wellbeing. A saddle is made up of two components which are: the seat and the gullet.

You should sit on your feet, and stretch your legs in 90 degrees. Tape measure your thigh from behind of your knee to your buttocks.

The length from the knee to the hip

It is generally accepted that the size for a saddle ought to be able to fit between 3 and 4 fingers (or a hand’s width) between your thighs and your cantle. It is also good to be cautious of a seat that is too huge rather than narrow as a saddle which is too small can cause chafing between the rider’s legs.

This condition can be cured with the knee and thigh padding of the saddle which offer support to your lower leg. The length of the flap isn’t as crucial, as it’s about how well the flap angles are in harmony with your leg angle (i.e. shorter flaps will not be ideal for tall riders.

The last step is to make sure that the pommel clearance to be measured using a ruler or a scale, is appropriate. The rider can be affected by a saddle having a an excessively high pommel. Also, it puts stress on their elbows.

Sit the Bone Width

Sit bone thickness (or external ischial tuberosity) is a crucial factor to be considered when choosing an appropriate size saddle. If a saddle is too small for the riders sit bones, then they will experience discomfort as a result of the pressure exerted on other parts within the pelvis. A saddle too wide may cause pain because of the chafing it causes within the thighs.

Some simple home-based methods can be used to determine the size of a horse’s sit bone and then correlate it with the proper size saddle. A Retul digital Sit Bone instrument can be utilized at any Specialized retailer to measure the width of a rider’s seat bone.

Idealy, the saddle width should at least be as wider as your thighs for you to avoid unpleasant contact. The rider’s position along with the seat position can alter the size of the saddle, new post from Huwthomas Saddlery Co,. Therefore, a rider should test a variety of sizes before settling on the right one.

Cantle Height

The size of a seat is determined by the height of a seating area and its appearance. Its cantle’s size can vary from very low to steep. An excessively high cantle makes the size of a saddle feel smaller and it will make it appear smaller and vice versa. Certain riders prefer a less high-thigh cantle with a mild or high slope for back comfort. Certain barrel racers as well as ranch cowboys might prefer a model with a lower height for a less enclosed experience.

The typical size for a saddle seat is measured from the front of swell all the way to the top cantle. There are a variety of factors you should consider while choosing a chair. If the saddle is listed as a 16″ seat, but you feel it is to be too small, check the cantle height and cantle slope. This might make what makes the difference between a great fit and an unsatisfactory one. This will also allow you to save money by not buying one that’s too large and unsuitable for your discipline.

The Swell’s Length

The saddle may not sit correctly if the swell is too high. If a saddle has low swell may cause pressure to the horse’s back. A saddle with a low swell might cause pressure to the back of the horse. Likewise, a saddle that has an extremely high swell could cause the saddle to sit incorrectly. The most common rule is that you should have at least a hand’s width between your upper thigh and the swell of the saddle.

The best way to determine your seat measurement is to use a measuring instrument that extends from the knee up all the way to your buttocks in your back. This is known as the Holmes Method is used to measure the seat size. It takes into consideration your shin, not unlike the other two methods.

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