What is an upswept panel on a saddle?

The rear end of the panel can also have an “upswept” option. In this scenario, the panel is thinner in the rear with a swept up appearance. This helps horses whose backs curve upwards in the rear by keeping the saddle from bridging or digging into the loins. This option can also be useful for a short backed horse.

What are the panels on a saddle?

Saddle panels are the weight-bearing surfaces of the saddle that run along either side of the gullet. Saddle panels are designed and intended to distribute weight and pressure evenly along a horse's back, and they can be filled with a range of materials.

What is a short panel on a saddle?

The short back panel is designed for more compact horses. The panel is independent, which basically means it is more like a monoflap panel than a traditional panel. This type of panel can be requested on the SKL, Revelation, and K2 models. It also comes as standard on the Albion Fabrento Dressage Saddle.

What is a half panel saddle?

Half Panel (Owen Panel)

The padded area only extends at the front to cover the points of the saddle. This leaves more room for the shoulder blade to rotate and is an option we recommend for certain horse types.

How do you measure a saddle panel?

On the underside of the saddle, find the two parallel panels. You should see four felt knots embedded in the panels towards the front of the saddle. Measure the distance between the two knots that are closest to the gullet on each panel. Compare that to your horse's width.

How wide should the gullet be on a saddle?

The ideal width for a saddle gullet is between 2.5″ and 4″ depending on your horse.

How do I know if my saddle has full quarter horse bars?

The pommel is the front of the saddle and has the horn sitting on top of it. A saddle with full quarter horse bars will typically measure 7 inches across the gullet. A saddle with semi-quarter horse bars normally has a gullet measurement of 6 3/4 inches.

What is mono flap saddle?

A monoflap saddle (Fig 1) has a single flap with the girth straps emerging on its underside and the stirrup leathers lying on the outside. Advantages that have been ascribed to the monoflap saddle include a reduction in saddle weight and closer contact between the rider's leg and the horse's ribcage.

What is a wither gusset?

Wither gussets, those little teardrop shaped additions to the front panel are helpful in many ways. Horses with hollows by the wither often need a bit more support to lift the saddle so that the saddle can remain the correct width yet not collapse on the wither.

What are parts of a saddle called?

The pommel, seats, fenders, stirrup leathers (straps that hold the stirrups), paddings, cinches, latigoes, and a few other saddle parts can be replaced or repaired depending on the damage.

What is a drop panel saddle?

A drop panel (DP) is another way of adding more depth into a panel but instead of the front like a front gusset it sits underneath the saddle directly onto the horse. Drop panels are great when your horse is naturally higher withered with atrophy or just quite angular built.

What is a front gusset on a saddle?

Generally, saddles with deeper seats have deeper panels to provide clearance and good balance. Rear (and sometimes front) gussets—wedge-shaped pieces of stuffing sewn into the bottoms of the panels—broaden and flatten the weight-bearing area to achieve clearance and balance.

What is a short backed horse?

A horse is considered short-backed if his back length is less than one-third of his body length (measured from the point of shoulder to the point of buttock when the horse is standing square). The rider sits on the portion of the back that does not have any support (leg) below.

How do you tell if a saddle is wool or foam flocked?

Wool flocked saddles are often heavier than foam saddles due to the amount of material used. Some riders also feel that they are further from the horse in a wool-flocked saddle than in a foam paneled saddle.

What are the different parts of a western saddle?

The parts of the western saddle from front to back are:

• Skirt.
• Carrier.
• Latigo.
• Concho.
• Gullet.
• Horn.
• Swell.
• Rigging ring.

What does flocked saddle mean?

It allows a saddle to work for one horse much longer because it offers the flexibility to adjust the entire underside as the horse changes. Flocking can also give you more flexibility in refitting a saddle form one horse to another, by adding or reducing wool where needed.

What is the back of the saddle called?

Cantle: The back of the saddle that gently curves upwards for backward seat support. Twist: The “twist” is the part of the saddle tree that sits just below the pommel in front of the “seat” of the saddle (circled in the image). This is a part of the saddle that determines how the saddle sits between the rider's legs.

What is saddle gullet?

The gullet is the tunnel underneath the fork and rides over the horse's withers. The design of the fork and the angle of the bars of the saddle tree determine the width and height of the gullet.

What is the handle on a saddle?

A pommel is the rounded knob on a horse's saddle that a rider grips with one hand. The raised front of the saddle itself can also be called a pommel. Some saddles, particularly the modern western type, have a metal grip at the front, known either as a horn or a pommel.

What is the difference between a dual flap and mono flap saddle?

The biggest difference between a monoflap and a traditional saddle, IMO, is the girth placement. A monoflap uses a short girth while the traditional flap uses a longer girth that fits under your leg. A lot of riders prefer the monoflap as they feel closer to their horse without the bulk of the girth under their leg.

What is a dual flap saddle?

The traditional saddle most equestrians are used to is likely what is known as a “dual flap” saddle; around the seat of the dual flap saddle you will normally find the skirt, under which is the D-ring and the stirrup bar for the stirrups to loop around.

How do treeless saddles work?

Treeless styles are lighter options that allow the rider to sit closer to the horse's back, but they may also be less secure than those with saddle trees and are more likely to cause pain for the horse or rider if not fitted carefully. Treeless saddles come in Western, English and trail styles.

What size gullet do I need for a Quarter Horse?

Full-Quarter horse bars usually have a 7" gullet. They are designed for mutton-withered horses with broader backs. Arab saddles, usually with 6 1/2" to 6 3/4" gullets, are for Arabians. They have a shorter gullet.

Can I use a gaited saddle on a quarter horse?

Typically the gaited horse will require a 12-inch spread in the shoulder area of the bar while the Quarter Horse will require 13. If you put a saddle made for the Quarter Horse on the gaited horse it will fit at the top (or in this case gullet) but there will be no support at the shoulder.