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Hundred Oaks, Inc. TM
Specialists in Ladies' Side Saddles
P O Box 886, Graham, NC 27253
336-516-3835 10 - 8 EST
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Fitting and Measuring Page
A sidesaddle needs to be fitted carefully because of the different design of the tree that compensates for weight placement. While it's possible to add padding and make an astride saddle work, we don't recommend the practice with sidesaddles. Basically, if you add too much padding to a sidesaddle, it will roll.
Sidesaddles of all designs require some withers on the animal to help stabilize the saddle. While some designs like the Steele are designed for animals with lower withers, this requirement still applies.
Sadly, some of our more popular breeds present a challenge in this area, and we offer the following guideline: If your animal is very large and/or mutton withered, and is difficult to fit and astride saddle to, it's going to be doubly difficult to find a sidesaddle that will work. This is especially true of draft type horses.
We offer some wide saddles that will work for some of these large animals, but be aware that there is NOT a sidesaddle available for every need. We wish the situation were different, but that's the way it is.
We'll be happy to advise you on finding the best saddle for your animal. Just call us.
Looking for more information on Side Saddle?
LINKS:
modified 7/20/07
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To measure seat length of a sidesaddle, measure from a point in line with the front of the upright horn, to the cantle. We do not measure from the cutback, as it gives an inaccurate measurement. As you can see, this antique saddle has NO cutback.
Measure the widest part of the seat too. Most antique saddles will measure about 13 inches, but modern riders prefer 14 inch seats, and in some cases a 15 inch is a better fit.
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To measure the rider: Have her sit on a hard chair or bench, with back touching either the chairback or a wall. Measure from the back to the bend in the knee. This measurement corresponds to the length of the saddle above. If the rider measures 20" and the saddle is only 18", then it's too small.
The best fitting saddles are about 1" longer than the rider's leg measurement.
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To make a withers tracing, use pliable wire and bend it to the curve of the horse's back and withers in the saddle pocket, as shown. Please be sure to extend the tracing 18" down the shoulder. The result will be a tracing like the one in the upper right of the photo. Trace this line onto a large sheet of paper - newspaper, a brown paper bag, or anything that's big enough, and mail it to us.
Please note: The tracing must be mailed, not reduced electronically and emailed. We need the actual tracing to hold up to our supply of saddles so we can check for fit.
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