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Discussion on Tree Width for Wide QH, English Saddles
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Member:
terrilyn
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2007 - 5:00 pm:
After searching high and low for a saddle to fit my high-withered TB, I'm now looking for an all purpose English saddle for a very wide QH with pretty low to nonexistent withers. My daughter's horse, switching from western to English.
Should I be looking at wide trees in English saddles? Is this the same as full QH bars in a western saddle? I always thought of wide trees in English saddles as being more for draft types.
This horse has a big shoulder, medium-low withers, very wide and round back. He's a tank.
Any guidance greatly appreciated.
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Member:
teddyj1
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2007 - 9:08 pm:
Terri, the answer is probably yes, but to be sure you need to do a "Wither Tracing" of your horses back.
With a Wither Tracing, you'll have a very good idea of not only the Tree Width your horse needs, but you'll also know the shape of the PANELS your horse needs. The shape of the Panel is as important as the Tree Width, as this is what sits on your horse's back.
Doing a Wither Tracing is easy, you can find specific instructions either online, or from any Saddle Shop. My personal recommendation is to have a "Saddle Fitter" come to you and take the measurements, many Saddle Fitters work at Tack Shops, and can bring a variety of new and used saddles for you and your horse to try, for a very reasonable fee.
Depending on where you are located, I'm in New England, I can recommend several top notch Saddlers.
FYI- from your description of your horse's back- depending on the brand of saddle he could take Extra-Wide+
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Member:
terrilyn
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 6, 2007 - 10:14 am:
Thanks TOD--Yes, am very familiar with what you have stated and have done wither tracings, etc...and it is the panels that I am specifically worried about. It is fairly easy to gauge whether or not there is adequate gullet clearance and width, but I'm worried about the rest of the tree and what the general experience is with this type of conformation.
It would be helpful to know what brands of English saddles have worked well for folks riding foundation Quarter Horses that have a very stocky build.
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Member:
teddyj1
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 6, 2007 - 10:41 pm:
Again,
I would look for recommendations from an area saddler, but I know for my Holsteiner, who is very low withered, flat wide back, that the Tree shape inside the saddle is of utmost importance. In other words, not only does he take a wide tree,gullet, he needs a saddle with a wider twist, which many of todays saddle makers sell saddles with narrow twists, which creates its own set of problems for a wide backed horse.
As for panel shape, if you get a saddle with "up-swept", or "Swiss Panels" the saddle may rock on his back, but you should be able to see this even from a photo. Not to say that a flatter panel couldn't bridge.
This is why I have a certified saddle fitter work with me when I purchase a new saddle, so that the saddle can then be properly adjusted to get the very best fit.
IMO- I think the $50-100 bucks is well worth having the saddle really accurately fit my horses backs, but that's just me.
I own a Black Country Eloquence X. Black Country's are hand made in England, and are highly touted by the Society of Master Saddler's Guild.
They are sooooo comfy, for horse and rider, and put the rider in the perfect position. I can't say enough about them 
Black Country makes saddles for several disciplines.
Trumbull Mountain Saddlery will take your horse's tracing, and then match up saddles for you, shipping is $35 and you can try the saddle for a week.
www.trumbullmtn.com
they have tons of new and used saddles on the website- Nancy's great- they all are really knowledgeable there.
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Member:
terrilyn
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Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 8:43 am:
Thanks for the Trumbull recomendation...I have been to their site, but that's a great reminder. I didn't think of it. I noticed that Wintec makes a wide saddle with a wider twist. Saw it for the first time when I was browsing catalogs last night...
Will let you know what we end up with!
Saddle fitters are scarce in our area. Very. I know of one and he's way across the state...I think I may just do the wither tracing and see what Trumbull has to offer.
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Member:
gailkin
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Posted on Monday, Dec 10, 2007 - 4:26 pm:
I have broad round backed, large shouldered arabs and I have found the Wintec with the adjustable gullet is the only saddle that fits them. They aren't expensive and if the horse is young or not too fit, you can change the gullets if he changes shape. If you want to find something in leather and a little fancier, you could try older model used saddles from England or Germany. I find their gullets are just wider in general and fit many of the round wide bodied horses. Since men and women are built differently, each of us finds a different type of saddle more comfortable. And of course fitting the horse is the most important of all. I hope you find something that isn't too expensive in case your daughter changes her mind to another discipline! Good Luck. Gail
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