While you may have an idea of how big your saddle is, do you know how to measure it? There are some general guidelines to follow when measuring the seat size of your saddle. The width of your sit bone is the width between your buttocks and the point where your knees meet. Your riding style and build may affect the size of your saddle seat. To find out, sit in a saddle that is a little larger than your normal size and measure the width of your sit bone.

It is important to examine your horse's conformation in order to measure its saddle size. You may need to add padding behind the saddle bars if your horse has a narrow wither. You can also place a shoulder pad pad behind the saddle bars. A medium-sized tree will suffice for horses of average size. A wide-tree-saddle is recommended for a narrow-withered horse. It should be no more than two fingers between the cantle & the horse's withers.

Measure the width of your English saddle using your hand. Place your hand in the area between the pommel, the saddle skirt and the panel. You will measure the distance from the saddle's nailhead to the center of its cantle. This measurement should be taken in increments of half an inch. A wider saddle is an Extra Wide/XW, so you might need to adjust your fist. It will be much simpler to buy the right saddle once you have determined the right measurement.

Consider your horse's size and riding style when choosing a saddle. A shallow saddle will fit a small, thigh-high rider, while a deep one will suit a big, tall adult. charts do not give exact measurements, but they can help to double-check your measurements. However, they won't tell you how big or tiny your sit bone is. So make sure to take measurements from at least two people.

You can use a wire measuring tool to accurately gauge the saddle size of a horse. The measuring tool is made of a 16-inch-long piece of stiff wire that can be molded to your horse's shape and retain its shape when removed. The best wire is either soldered or coated. Its 8-inch length will allow you to accurately measure the horse's wither. The wire should touch your horse's skin and be parallel to your saddle's back.

When measuring your saddle, make sure to include the seat size and the cantle size. The finished size of your saddle seat will be smaller than the size of your tree seat. It depends on which type of saddle and the manufacturer. A slick saddle will be three to five inches shorter than a fully-padded saddle. Consider buying a saddle with an extended fender if your seat is large.

You can also measure your gullet size. This is an important component of an English horse saddle. The gullet is the part below the fork that rests on the horse's withers. The size of the saddle is determined by its width and angle. The proper gullet height should be between two and four fingers above the saddle fork. To measure the gullet, you can also place a flexible wire over the horse's withers, which should bend into a slight arch shape.