Measuring Your Horse

Instructions for taking the wither tracing and photos etc for your Custom Made English Saddle....

Photos: Please have someone to lead the horse around, follow closely, and take some side on photos of the horses back. We like to see if horses backs change shape as they move, because they often do!

When ordering your Walsall Made, Bespoke/Custom Made English Saddle or sending your saddlery for Alteration, repair, re-flocking, stitching etc please send all mail to:

Heritage Saddlery. 5 Oak Avenue. Heaton Moor. Stockport. Cheshire. SK4 4EU. UK.

*please remember the bespoke build option, for all saddles, is an extra £100. But when you order 2 saddles or more this cost goes down to £75 per saddle.

Please note that there are some very good YouTube videos that will help you with taking the tracings we require.

Photos: Please have someone to lead the horse around, follow closely, and take some side on photos of the horses back. We like to see if horses backs change shape/flatten etc as they move, because they often do!

Also supply....

One of either side of horses withers.

One from side on, to show spine shape.

One from above. Get above the horse, standing on something sturdy (be careful) and take one from tail to head of the area of back where saddle sits.

During all of the template and photo taking please ensure horse is standing square on a flat surface, with horses head up.

Please don't send lots & lots of photos. We only need the ones above, just ensure good quality and an extra 1 or 2 of problem areas such as large shoulders etc.

We will also require...

• The seat size you require . To measure a tree size correctly measure from the centre of the head nail/ makers button to the centre of the cantle/back of saddle.
• The colour/s of leather and piping in the seat.
• Billet type, long or short etc.
• The saddle model (include photos if you have them)
• Flap dimensions (see email we will send to you)
• Cantle shape. Round or Square.
• Gullet width, in Cm's. This will eliminate pressure on the spine.
• Any other details I have requested and/or any other details you wish me to know about you or your horse inc. any past, present back problems or unusual back details like bigger shoulder on one side etc.

There are many useful videos on YouTube if you Google around!

Taking the all-important template of your horse:

The Saddle and its parts for fitting:

A: The imaginary level line from the pommel to the cantle.

B: The deepest part of the saddle directly behind the twist.

C: The points of the saddle tree where we take our measurements using the Flexi-Curve.

D: The gap between the pommel and the horse's withers.

Correct position of the saddle

It is important that when you take the measurement of the horse's withers for fitting the saddle, that you take it in the correct position. With your horse standing on a level surface, take you existing saddle and place it over the horse's withers and press down gently.

Now slide it a little back until it comes to rest in a natural position just behind the shoulder blades. What we are trying to achieve is to take our measurement about one to one and a half inches (1" - 1.5") behind the front of the pommel of the saddle.

If you lift your outer saddle flap you will see the points of the saddle tree. These are made of wood reinforced with steel.

We need to take our measurement directly under these 'points.' See the Fitting Diagram. Taking The Measurements - OK, so now we have the saddle in the correct position to take our measurement.

The next thing we need is a little item called a Flexi-Curve. This is obtainable from most office supply stores. It is basically a flexible ruler (a wire coat hanger can be used if a Flexi-Curve is not available).

Place your fingers under the saddle about one and a half inches behind the pommel and slide the saddle back clear of your hand.

Now bend the Flexi-Curve over the horse's withers in this spot smoothing against the horse to fit the its profile. Carefully remove the Flexi-Curve taking care not to bend it from the shape you have just taken.

Now place it on a piece of paper and carefully draw around the inside of this form. Good! We now have the shape of your horse's withers. We will need your drawing with your order to ensure the saddle will fit your horse. It must be posted to us (we need the original template).

Send all info Recorded delivery, for safety, to:
Heritage Saddlery. 5 Oak Avenue. Heaton Moor. Stockport. Cheshire. SK4 4EU.

Q&A.....

Q: I have been told that an SMS saddle fitter must fit/measure my horse? is this true?

A: No it is not true. There are many, myself included, saddlers who are not SMS's, who have been in this business a very long long time, and are some of the UK's best saddle fitters/makers.

You cannot learn form a classroom alone, in a short time, the ways of saddle fitting and more importantly saddle manufacture.

I have been involved, and so has my father and his father, in this trade all my life and have fitted 1000's of saddles and measured 1000's of horses. Our companies, over many decades, have manufactured 10's of 1000's of saddles, that have been sent all over the globe. That is real, hands on, experience.

If you follow our guide and supply what we require, you will get a saddle that fits.

Good luck. Matt Marlow. Heritage Bespoke Saddles Ltd.