The saddle is an important element to horseback riding, according to the Mini Horse and Pony Tack Guide. Always sit in a saddle prior to purchasing it. There's no exact science for finding your perfect saddle size. But you should take time to discover the one that's most comfortable to you--because comfort is the critical factor.
Step 1
Place a tape measure on the arm of a couch or something that you can straddle as if sitting on a horse. Measure the distance from the back of your buttocks to the front of your pelvis to obtain a starting point measurement for your seat.
Step 2
Shop for saddles that equal your seat measurement and sit in several of them to test comfort levels. Allow two fingers distance between your legs and the front of the swell for pleasure riding or one finger distance for a more snug fit. The swell is the area on the saddle located on both sides of the saddle horn.
Step 3
Measure the saddle seat on the most comfortable saddle you find. Use a ruler or tape measure and measure from below the horn, parallel along the seat to the stitching on the back cantle. The cantle is the area that sweeps up behind your buttocks on the saddle. This measurement equals your seat measurement for a saddle. Add two inches to this measurement for English saddles.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
References
- Mini Horse and Pony Tack Guide: Western Saddle Guide
- America's Horse Daily: The Right Saddle
- Wyoming Saddlery Inc.- Mountain Horse Saddles: Frequently Asked Questions about our Mountain Horse, Inc. Saddles
- The Tack Guide.com: Saddler's Notes and Saddle Fitting Guide
- Cowboy Way: Measure a Western Saddle Seat
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