How To Size A Saddle For You
This is the hardest part of making a saddle...making the saddle fit you. What
we look for when someone is sitting in our saddles, is approximately two to
three fingers between the leg at the thigh and the swell. We have both Round
Swells and Leg Cut Swells. The Round Swell is like the traditional swell, round
where it hits the leg.
The swell with the leg cut, has a cutaway portion of the swell located under the
swell at the back. It is cut parallel to your thigh, so it has full contact with
your leg the length of the cut, as you are sitting naturally in the saddle
(both shown on figure 1 and 2) .
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FIG 1 |
FIG 2 |
If you have not had an opportunity to sit in one of our saddles, you can give
us your height and weight. This lets us see approximately your body structure.
Your thigh size is what dictates the size of your saddle. They measure the
length from the tip of the last usable part of the cantle to one inch below the
base of the horn. This is the easiest measurement to keep uniform with all
western saddles. If you have a specific use for the saddle, we need to know.
This will help us recommend the seat size.
One of the three things you need to know about, for the correct seat size is: if
the seat is too short, your upper body will fatigue from the lack of movement,
and you will get cramped as if you have been riding three people in the seat of
a pickup. Also, with it too short, you sit too far forward over your
stirrup leathers and causes you to lift your legs forward instead of the free
swing that it has been designed for. When the seat is too long, you have excess
movement, losing security and natural balance. You need to keep pressure on your
feet to keep from getting sore. With a seat too long you don’t have the balance
to create equal pressure on your body
and feet. I feel the seat is better a little long than too short. We strive to
make sure your seat size is as correct as possible.
WHEN YOU GET YOUR SADDLE, YOU CAN SET IT ON A HORSE AND CHECK
IT OUT. IF IT IS NOT CORRECT, DON’T MAKE A USED SADDLE OUT OF IT
AND THEN WANT TO RETURN IT. IF YOU RIDE IT AND THEN RETURN IT FOR
THE CORRECTED SIZE, THE VALUE WILL BE PRORATED.
