How to tell if a western saddle has full quarter horse bars

18 - 21 lb. So the different fits went in a sequence from Regular to Semi-Quarter Horse to Quarter Horse to Full Quarter Horse with the bars progressively getting farther apart and angles progressively getting wider.

There are standard measurements in the saddle industry Its surprising to find out that manufacturers do not have a standardized way to measure gullet width.

How to tell if a western saddle has full quarter horse bars. When you are looking at the saddle from the front a saddle with semi-quarter horse bars will appear to be narrower with a steeper angle created between the skirts and the gullet. A saddle with full quarter horse bars will appear to be wider and will be sitting flatter than a comparable saddle with semi-quarter horse bars. The width of your horses shoulder determines the type of tree and gullet width you will need.

Regular quarter horse bars gullet width. Semi-quarter horse bars gullet width. Full-quarter horse bars gullet width.

Semi-quarter horse bars measure 6 inches apart on your measuring tool. This size saddle fits a horse who is healthy without excess fat or muscles on his upper shoulders. Full quarter horse bars are 6 14 to 6 12 inches apart.

This size fits horses who are wider in the front shoulders than a semi-quarter horse bar size with extra muscle or fat. So they came out with the Full Quarter Horse bars fit - with the bar spread even wider and the bar angle even flatter. So the different fits went in a sequence from Regular to Semi-Quarter Horse to Quarter Horse to Full Quarter Horse with the bars progressively getting farther apart and angles progressively getting wider.

Yes western saddles are so hard to fit. Three quarter bars tend to fit well covered Tbs QHXs Stock Horses X-breds etc. Full bars fit round fat horses or real QH types Get someone that knows about western saddles NOT Europa or Horseland folk to fit your saddle professionally.

The green line represents the width of the saddle tree and the blue lines represent the angle of the saddle bars. Saddles with full Quarter Horse bars have comparatively wide saddles trees with. This tree size has a higher pitch or angle to the bars.

Its for the horse with a more defined wither. 12 Arab Appendix Thoroughbred etc. Full Quarter Horse or FQHB can be referred to as Wide usually 7 gullet.

The angle is flatter compared to the Semi-QH tree. This is for horses with a broad shoulder. Theyre considered mutton withered or a less pronounced wither.

Quarter Horse Paint etc. The gullet width should be about the same width of the withers approximately 2 below the top of the withers. Just remember the main thing you need to know is is your horse narrow wide or in-between.

If you Google Western saddle width fittings you will come across a variance and the following list is regarded as a general guide to gullet sizes. Regular Quarter Horse Bars RQHB 5 34ins to 6 14ins. Semi Quarter Horse Bars SQHB 6 14ins.

If you are sitting in the saddle like a recliner with your legs out in front you are exerting twice as much force on the back of the bars and digging the bars into the horses loins. The rider must sit in a balanced position vertically with your legs under you-this will allow the bars of the tree to function properly spreading pressure equally front to back. Standard full and semi Quarter Horse bars describe the angle and spread of the bars of the tree in a western saddle.

They relate to how wide the horses back is. While many horses used to be fine with the standard Quarter Horse bars today many need either semi- or full Quarter Horse bars. If the bar angle is too wide for the horse it will pinch at the contact point.

If your horse has a narrow A shape the saddle may be too wide. Simply put you want the bottom of the saddle to match the shape of your horses back as closely as possible. With the saddle on without any pad you should be able to assess the bars.

The bars of the tree should lay completely flat on the back without any rocking says Oliver. He wants the saddle skirt to fit close to the horses back. A standard gullet measures 7 inches and is the most common measurement found in saddles described as having full quarter horse bars.

Any gullet that measures larger than 7 inches is considered to be wide. What is the average gullet size for a quarter horse. Full Quarter Horse Bars-have even wider angles to accommodate wider-bodied horses and horses with flatter or Mutton withers.

Gullet width of 7. The gullet width should be about the same width of the withers approximately 2 below the top of the withers. Just remember the main thing you need to know is is your horse narrow wide or in-between.

We apply the term medium to regular narrow or semi-quarter horse bars and the term full to wide full quarter horse bars. There are standard measurements in the saddle industry Its surprising to find out that manufacturers do not have a standardized way to measure gullet width. Full Quarter Horse Bars have even wider angles to accommodate wider-bodied horses and horses with flatter or Mutton withers.

Gullet width of 6 34- 7. The gullet width should be about the same width of the withers approximately 2 below the top of the withers. Just remember the main thing you need to know is is your horse narrow wide or in-between.

Hopefully this has helped clarify saddle fit and. If the full Quarter Horse bar is too wide for your horse the saddle will sit too low in front and the back of the skirt may pop up causing bridging and pressure on the withers. If a horse is sore farther back it is good to watch the rider saddle their horse then check where those back bar tips are positioned.

Often it is right over where the horse is sore. This has serious effects not only on muscle health but how the horse moves and his overall performance. Full Quarter Horse Swell.

2 x 7 Skirt. 28L x 14D Fenders. 19½L from middle of seat to top of tread with 7 adjustments each 1½ apart Saddle Weight.

18 - 21 lb. Determined by saddle size.