Western Saddle How-To Guide

Hello! The next issue of my horse training newsletter is coming soon - but today here's a great tool: The "Info Center" at HorseSaddleShop.com is open & has answers to your western saddle questions: - How do I place the saddle correctly? - How do I keep my saddle from squeaking? - How do I measure my horse's weight? - What's this part of the saddle called? They've got comprehensive articles answering tons of the most frequently asked questions. They've got the largest selection of premium saddles on the web. They've got the experience it takes to get you outfitted with the correct saddle & pad. - What's a flex tree? - How do I fit the hard-to-fit horse? - How do I care for the saddle I've already got? - Which saddle pad should I use? Jump directly to the complete listing of articles - or read samples below.   - - -   Here are just some of the available articles: "How to Properly Fit a Saddle to a Horse" "How to Get the Correct Stirrup Length" "How to Turn Your Stirrups"   - - -   - See the entire list of Saddle Guide articles - Articles Featuring the Methods of John Lyons - Tell a Friend (send them an email)

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Saddle Fitting: Short Backed

How can you tell if your horse has a short back? Your horse's conformation can be divided into thirds. From the peak of the withers to the point of the hip, a horse's back should measure one third of its overall length. If your horse has less than one third of its length in the back, it's back is considered short. A short back can increase your horse's agility, but also limit flexibility. Important Points to note while saddle fitting a horse with a short back: - First ensure that you know your seat size as well as what size tree your horse needs. The basics of saddle fitting still apply. - The problem area for a short backed horse comes in the length of the bars of the saddle tree and the length of the skirt. The saddle tree or skirt should in no way interfere with the movement of the horse's hip. If you have a saddle... See the whole article "Fitting Short Backed Horses" Also find saddle fitting for other hard to fit horses: High-withered horses Swayback horses Mutton withered Horses Flat-backed horses

Which One's Right For You?

Use the Saddle Expert™ System to get the right western saddle for you and your horse. Breed, conformation, price range... leather or synthetic... horse and rider info, from weight to height, from wither type to riding type... the experts will consider your individual situation and offer tailored recommendations.

How to Care for Your Saddle

Your saddle purchased from us is made from hand selected saddle skirting leather, chosen for its durability and extreme strength. However, any leather must receive regular care to preserve this strength and long life. At least four times each year your saddle should be completely cleaned with a good soap or detergent, and then well oiled with a good neatsfoot oil. In wetter climates this should be followed more often, as continued moisture is very harmful to leather. With a program of reasonable care, your saddle should last for many years. The products we use to clean and oil our saddles are listed below. Here are 7 SECRETS of Saddle Care by Circle Y: 1) Do not store saddle in plastic or other non-porous covers. 2) Allow a wet or damp saddle to air-dry naturally away from any other source of heat. Apply a little Bick 4 leather conditioner when the saddle is nearly dry to restore flexibility.... 3) To prevent mildew, protect the saddle from excessive humidity. In a dry environment, regularly condition the leather to prevent the saddle from drying out and cracking.... Read this entire article

Choosing the Proper Pad

When it comes time to purchase your next saddle pad you can become overwhelmed with choices. There are several materials saddle pads are made of, and multiplied by the different shapes, it could leave the decision complicated and more like a shot in the dark than an informed decision. We hope to take the mystery out of the proper pad for your horse and saddle. Saddle Pad Construction: Different Materials - Fleece: One of the most common saddle pads is the pad made with a fleece bottom. The fleece is often either a synthetic fleece or actual wool or sheep fleece. This is a soft material that is also under many saddles. The wool fleece has a bit more cushion than synthetic fleece but it does not usually have the longevity of synthetic fleece and often becomes matted and compacted quicker. There are chemicals in the horse’s sweat that... Read this entire article   - - -   Thanks for reading! Keith Hosman, John Lyons Certified Trainer Horsemanship101.com