What saddle tree size is recommended for a quarter horse?

Question

My horse has very flat withers

Answer 1

You should get a saddle fitter to get the proper measurements for your horse.

Someone said that most full quarter bar saddles fit- this is not the truth. Now a days most quarter horses are either in semi quarter or a privately fitted and made saddle. Because of crossbreeding with TB and TBX this has diluted out the quarter horse blood line giving them more shallow backs with high withers. The foundation quarter horse is what a pure quarter horse looks like in true form- this is because of very little crossbreeding with paint and TB lines.

Have your horse measured before investing in an ill fitted saddle that will only end up making your horse sore and cause health and soundness issues. Otherwise you will end up spending money on vet bills which you could have used to get a saddle made specifically for that equine.

If you have multiple horses- like me- then do like another person suggestion and get a saddle with an adjustable gullet, this way you can transition the saddle to fit all your equines and not have to shell out money to get a fitted saddle for each.

Answer 2

It all depends on your horse.Is he high withered?No withers?Short back?Most of your full quarter horse bar saddles will fit.Most medium tree saddles will work.Ther are medium or wide tree saddles.Have you had a saddle on this horse and seen if it has rubbed sores on the horse anywhere?Usually you can tell by lookin to see if the horse has grey or white spots from a prior saddle rubbing him the wrong way around somewhere below the withers.They would be around the same area on each side of your horse.What most customers have done is take a piece of wire and shaped it to the horses withers where saddle would start.Then take another to go down the back of the horse.There are many web sites to help you too.Try this one todayshorse.com .Good luck.=-)Oh I wanted to add one more thing.Alot of saddle companies have the flex trees now.They are light and the tree flexes.Awsome saddles.circle Y carries them.You can look up circle y online and read about them.

Answer 3

It depends on the make of the saddle. A medium tree on a Crosby saddle is not necessarily the same size as a medium tree on a HdR saddle.

It also depends on the horse. Not all quarter horses have the exact same build.

Most tack shops will give you a week or two to try out a saddle to make sure it fits properly. Never buy a saddle unless there is a trial period. You just never know what is going to fit until you try it.

Answer 4

I have had a quarter horse before, and I liked the Wintec regular tree. It really depends on how wide your quarter horse is, but really wide trees are made for warmbloods, or drafts. The Wintec saddles have an adjustable gullet. If you can get a Wintec comfort pad which conforms to the horse and makes it more shock absorbent, that would also help. It's a memory foam pad that you can get in a lift front or lift back- whichever part of the saddle needs the most conforming. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

If you are not experienced enough to know yourself then you need to get a qualified saddle fitter out to fit a saddle to your horse, they will often have a selection to try or can recommend a size and make, saddle fitting is an art and for the sake of the comfort and health of your horse you should always seek help if in doubt.