Horseback riding is a sport that both adults and children enjoy. Keeping your child safe while riding is a key factor in the enjoyment level. Choosing the right size saddle for kids may involve a series of visit to the tack store to "test drive" a variety of saddles. Your child's body proportions can help you size saddles correctly.
Step 1
Sit your child down in a straight-backed chair with her feet flat on the ground. Her knee should form a right angle. Measure the distance from furthest point of her buttocks to her knee with a determine the length of her upper leg. Bring this measurement with you when you shop for a youth saddle.
Saddle seat sizes correlate with the upper leg length, according to online merchant Crazy Horse Tack. Saddle seats range between 15 and 18 inches. Kids--and adults--with longer legs generally require a larger saddle size.
Step 2
Bring your child with you to try out a variety of kids' saddles. Upper leg length is a primary factor in determining saddle size but as each child's build is different, there may be exceptions to the rule. A very slender child may need a smaller saddle even if his legs are long, to keep him safely seated during riding. A child with a broader build might require a larger seat size even if his legs are on the short size, so he is comfortable on the horse.
Step 3
Size a saddle correctly for your child by assessing the length of the stirrups. The stirrups should be long enough to wrap around your child's leg so that she can keep her feet in the stirrups easily, according to the Certified Horsemanship Association's publication "The Instructor." If the stirrups on a particular saddle don't adjust to longer lengths to accommodate your child's foot in the stirrup, you may need a larger saddle size.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Saddle
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