Saddle Fit
Saddle Fit Guide: Tree Width, Gullet and Bars Explained
A saddle that fits the rider but not the horse causes soreness and behaviour problems. Here is how to check tree width, gullet clearance and bar fit.
By the Indus Saddlery team · · 8 min read
A saddle has to fit two bodies: yours and your horse's. Seat size takes care of you (see how to measure saddle seat size). This guide covers the horse's side: the tree width, the gullet and how the bars or panels sit on the back. A saddle that pinches or bridges can cause white hairs, sore backs, and a horse that pins its ears, bucks or refuses when you ask for more.
What the saddle tree does
The tree is the frame inside every saddle. Its width at the front (the gullet or points) determines how the saddle sits over the withers, and its shape along the back determines how evenly your weight is spread. English trees are sold in widths such as narrow, medium, medium-wide and wide. Western trees are described by their bars: semi quarter horse, full quarter horse, and wider draft or 'wide' bars.
| Tree width | Typical horse |
|---|---|
| Narrow / semi QH bars | High withers, narrow back, e.g. many Thoroughbreds and some Arabians |
| Medium / medium-wide | Average withers and back, e.g. many warmbloods and stock horses |
| Wide / full QH bars | Flatter withers and a broad back, e.g. many Quarter Horses and cobs |
| Extra wide / draft bars | Very broad, flat backs, e.g. drafts and draft crosses |
Five checks for saddle fit
Do these checks on a level surface with the saddle placed without a pad, then again with your usual pad and a rider in the saddle.
- Placement. Set the saddle on the back and slide it back until it settles behind the shoulder blade. The tree points or bars should sit behind the scapula so the shoulder can move freely.
- Wither clearance. With a rider mounted, you should fit about two to three fingers between the withers and the gullet or pommel. Less than that and the saddle may press on the withers.
- Gullet channel. Look down the gullet from behind. There should be clear space along the spine the whole way; the panels or bars should never touch the spine.
- Even contact. Run your hand under the front of the panels or bars and along their length. Pressure should feel even; tight at the front means too narrow, while contact only at the front and back with a gap in the middle is called bridging.
- Level seat. Viewed from the side, the deepest part of the seat should be centered and level, not tipping you forward or back.
Signs a saddle is too narrow or too wide
| Too narrow | Too wide |
|---|---|
| Front of the saddle sits high, seat tips you back | Front sits low, seat tips you forward |
| Pinching at the withers or shoulders | Saddle rests on the withers |
| Dry spots behind the withers after a ride | Saddle rolls or slips from side to side |
| Horse resists going forward or downhill | Rider needs extra padding to lift the front |
Can a pad fix a poor fit?
A good pad can fine-tune a saddle that is close, for example lifting the front of a saddle that is slightly wide. It cannot make a narrow tree wider; adding padding under a tight saddle only makes it tighter. If the tree is wrong, the saddle is wrong.
Horses change shape
Muscle builds and fades with fitness, age and season, so a saddle that fit last spring may not fit now. Re-check the fit every few months and whenever your horse's work or condition changes. Our English saddles, such as the Classic All-Purpose, come in medium, medium-wide and wide trees, and their wool-flocked panels can be adjusted by a saddle fitter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my saddle is too narrow?
A narrow saddle sits high at the front and tips the rider back, pinches the withers and shoulders, and often leaves dry spots behind the withers after a ride.
How many fingers should fit between the withers and the saddle?
With a rider mounted, you should fit roughly two to three fingers between the top of the withers and the gullet or pommel.
What are full quarter horse bars?
Full quarter horse bars are a wider western tree designed for horses with flatter withers and a broad back, such as many Quarter Horses. Semi quarter horse bars are narrower for horses with more withers.
Can a thick saddle pad fix a saddle that doesn't fit?
Only slightly. A pad can fine-tune a saddle that is close to fitting, but it cannot widen a narrow tree; extra padding under a tight saddle makes it tighter.
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