Measure your gaited
horse or mule before buying a saddle. Then buy a
saddle that fits!
Properly fitting saddles is Crest
Ridge Saddlery’s first objective
Crest Ridge
Saddlery offers saddles a bit differently than other
companies. We are not here just to sell you a saddle. We
want you to have a saddle that is correct for your horse
and comfortable for you. We want you to tell your
friends “this one fits!”
We can accomplish this by having
correct measurements and good photos of your horse.
These allow us to determine the saddle tree within our
saddle lines that best accommodates the horse’s shape
and size. We can get these measurements by your visiting
us with your horse or mule in Lowry City, Missouri, at
one of the shows we attend, or by your taking the
required measurements and sending them to us.
Saddle fitting is easy with our
system
We have developed a simple process
which will provide us the information we need to
recommend the proper tree to best fit your horse or
mule.
Step 1: Build the saddle
fitting measuring tool.
Cut a sixteen inch piece of stiff
wire that can be easily molded to fit your horse’s shape
and retain that shape when removed from the horse.
Coated wires such as ROMEX or soldering wire work well.
Mark the middle of the wire at the 8 inch point with a
marker.
Step 2: Mold the saddle
fitting measuring tool to your horse or mule.
Stand your horse square on a level
surface. With gentle pressure locate the back edge
of the shoulder blade (scapula) with one or 2
fingers and keep them there. With your other hand
place your measuring tool over the withers. Place the
marked center point directly above the withers, with
eight inches of wire to each side, and directly
over where your fingers are marking the back edge of the
scapula. Mold and press the wire down so that it
makes a perfect outline of your horse's wither. It
must make contact with the horse’s skin on both sides
immediately behind the shoulder blade.
Free
movement of the scapula is essential for a properly
fitting gaited horse saddle.
Step 3: Measure
your horse or mule
| Carefully remove the
measuring tool from your horse or mule so that
the shape of the animal is maintained by the
tool. Lay the diagram on a sheet of paper and
trace the wire as shown to the right. We
use the measurements indicated by the two dashed
lines. From the center
of the wire measure straight down 3 inches and
then side to side. This gives you the gullet
measurement. Then measure from wire end to wire
end straight across and this gives you the bar
width through the shoulder. Record these 2
measurements, as we will need them to determine
the required flare, bar angle, bar width and
swell height needed for a proper fitting tree
for your horse or mule. |
 |
Step 4: Photograph your horse or mule.
With
your animal standing square on level ground, take three
photographs as shown below. It is not necessary
for your measuring tool to be on your animal for these
pictures—it is challenging enough to get your horse to
stand square and still without having to worry about a
piece of wire staying in place. These pictures
help us determine the appropriate rocker for your animal
and to spot potential fitting issues, such as a
prominent spine.
Photographs help us determine which saddles will fit the
curve (rock) of your horse's back.
Some additional views are helpful,
but not required. Again, please note that you do not
have to have your measuring tool in place for these
pictures.
Thank you to Dayna & Daniel Schroder
for allowing us to use the photos from their
measurements!
Step 5: Send us your information.
Send us the photographs and the tracing
of the wire along with the
measurements from Step 3. You can send it in by fax,
e-mail or regular mail. We’ll have enough information to
help recommend an appropriate tree for your horse or
mule.
Customer Comments
Good day! I bought a Mule saddle from you last
year for my 4 year old who hadn't quite filled in yet.
Like you said - she has filled into the saddle nicely
this year so that I can ride without her britchin now!
Though I like the way it (the breeching) looks on her,
and still use it..... Real impressed with your
knowledge on saddle fitting from pictures alone and
discussion. I have a 3 year old MFT that when
she's done with training will fit her up with you for a
saddle - talk to ya then. Happy trails!
Sharon Williams Hartwick, NY, May 2010
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