Saddle Fitting - Western Roping Saddle

beth55051 · 09-18-2007, 04:56 PM

I took some photos the other day of my roper on Kitty and thought I would share them.

The saddle in question is a full QH bars 16" Roping Saddle made by Circle Y. Fully rigged with a roping breast collar and a wide roping flank/rear cinch. Pad is a 1" thick Tod Sloane contoured wool felt

The horse is a cow bred QH mare about 14'3" and fairly stout. With a round barrel and good withers.

Opinions? Critiques?

Off Side:

Off side close up:

On side close up:

Breastcollar:

Gullet on the off side:

Gullet on the on side:

Sorry about the saddle bags, I completely forgot to take them off until after I got home.

DoBeSassy · 09-18-2007, 05:13 PM

i think t looks fine. this reminds me of the other thread about where a saddle should sit. I measure by where my latigo (strap that tightens the girth) is. When I set my saddle on my horse, my latigo falls right behind my horses front leg, and my girth will be right behind it's front leg as well. Just like in your picture

Oh wait blonde moment here, that is the latigo right?

Jess6092 · 09-19-2007, 07:45 AM

Looks just right to me. I personally use more than one pad though - especially if roping. On our horses we use a fleece thick pad - then the one inch felt pad on top of that. Your felt pad looks a bit thicker than the one's we use though. Your saddle looks aweful cumfy!

PS - you may want to check your off billet in this picture it looks like the strings are not tied on properly. (above where your cinch is buckled)

beth55051 · 09-19-2007, 08:22 AM

Quote:

PS - you may want to check your off billet in this picture it looks like the strings are not tied on properly. (above where your cinch is buckled)

They're not tied at all, not really an issue since the cinch is buckled through both sides and the off billet is made of two very thick layers of latigo leather sewn together. I'm always adjusting it for different horses.

Slim Pikkens · 09-19-2007, 08:39 AM

The best way to check for fit is without the pad. Since your horse has a bulgy tummy, your cinch is inclined to move forward and will bring the saddle with it. In one pic it appears to have moved up on the shoulder blades a little. It also looks like the upper portion of the bars are a little wide. Again, I'm going by the pics and not always accurate. Is your pad natural wool felt?

beth55051 · 09-19-2007, 09:35 AM

Right on Slim. She is well fed to say the least and it is a tad wide in the front for her but fits her well across the bars as she's wide and flat backed. I generally shim up the front for her if we're doing serious riding or use a different saddle. This tree is actually a full QH with the front spread a tad extra.

Yes, natural wool felt pad, no synthetics here.

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09-18-2007, 04:56 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,966	Saddle Fitting - Western Roping Saddle I took some photos the other day of my roper on Kitty and thought I would share them. The saddle in question is a full QH bars 16" Roping Saddle made by Circle Y. Fully rigged with a roping breast collar and a wide roping flank/rear cinch. Pad is a 1" thick Tod Sloane contoured wool felt The horse is a cow bred QH mare about 14'3" and fairly stout. With a round barrel and good withers. Opinions? Critiques? Off Side: Off side close up: On side close up: Breastcollar: Gullet on the off side: Gullet on the on side: Sorry about the saddle bags, I completely forgot to take them off until after I got home. __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

09-18-2007, 05:13 PM
DoBeSassy Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 5,538	i think t looks fine. this reminds me of the other thread about where a saddle should sit. I measure by where my latigo (strap that tightens the girth) is. When I set my saddle on my horse, my latigo falls right behind my horses front leg, and my girth will be right behind it's front leg as well. Just like in your picture Oh wait blonde moment here, that is the latigo right?

09-19-2007, 07:45 AM
Jess6092 Coming two Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,572	Looks just right to me. I personally use more than one pad though - especially if roping. On our horses we use a fleece thick pad - then the one inch felt pad on top of that. Your felt pad looks a bit thicker than the one's we use though. Your saddle looks aweful cumfy! PS - you may want to check your off billet in this picture it looks like the strings are not tied on properly. (above where your cinch is buckled)

09-19-2007, 08:39 AM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,004	The best way to check for fit is without the pad. Since your horse has a bulgy tummy, your cinch is inclined to move forward and will bring the saddle with it. In one pic it appears to have moved up on the shoulder blades a little. It also looks like the upper portion of the bars are a little wide. Again, I'm going by the pics and not always accurate. Is your pad natural wool felt?

09-19-2007, 09:35 AM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,966	Right on Slim. She is well fed to say the least and it is a tad wide in the front for her but fits her well across the bars as she's wide and flat backed. I generally shim up the front for her if we're doing serious riding or use a different saddle. This tree is actually a full QH with the front spread a tad extra. Yes, natural wool felt pad, no synthetics here. __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*