Selecting A Draft Horse Western Saddle

Thanks to their surefootedness and gentle nature, draft horses are becoming more common everyday riding horses. Due to their grand size, riding these beautiful beast offer a smooth feel while their muscular frames lend impressive stamina. Many who ride these gentle giants prefer the secure feel a Western Draft Saddle offers. If you're looking for the right fit,  you’ll appreciate these helpful tips for selecting a saddle that'll fit you and your big ole' riding partner.

Before beginning the process of selecting your saddle, make sure your mount is at least five years old. Unlike other horse breeds that develop at a young age, a draft horse’s spine does not close until they're about five years old. Riding too soon could cause permanent damage. The only acceptable activity, would be to teach your draft to drive. Working on ground manners is also acceptable. This way, once you are ready to transition to riding, your horse will be more willing and eager to cooperate.

Wither Tracing
As with other breeds, the first step in selecting a Western saddle, is to measure your mount. Do not skip this step. Simply make a wither tracing to ensure that the standard 9-inch gullet on a typical draft horse saddle will fit. If your horse is crossed or mixed, you may end up either needing a smaller or larger size. If a saddle fits too small or too large, it could lead to discomfort such as pinching in the withers or rocking on your horse. A safe and secure ride should be a number one priority.

Select a Seat Size, Girth and Other Accessories
Next, select the seat size you'd be needing. Many of the most popular Western draft saddle designs are designed and made with larger riders in mind; especially for those who usually need a 17-inch seat or bigger.  However, there are  usually plenty of smaller seat sizes available, especially if you know where to look. Finding the correct saddle fit is very important, especially for anyone planning on riding a draft horse. If your saddle is not the right size, a rider risks feeling insecure and uncomfortable in their seat. If you’re not sure about your own seat requirement, just refer to our quick Saddle Sizing/fitting Guide to determine what size saddle you need. Otherwise, you can use the following weight/size chart as well:

Western Saddle Weight Chart

If you don’t own a saddle pad, cinch, breast collar, or other accessories for your draft, be sure to pick these up as well. Measure your horse for a girth while you are in the process of fitting him, so you can choose the right one. Many riders agree that the "Golden Rule" works best. The unit of measure you'd be using is inches. All you have to do is measure your horse's heart girth, divided by 2, and then subtract 3". This is supposed to give you the correct cinch size for your horse.  The heart girth is measured around the horse's girth by placing tape across the highest part of the withers, and keeping the tape as close behind the elbows as possible.

Be sure that you also have the right bit to go with your bridle. If you are not sure what size bit your draft horse needs  you can easily find out. Just take about 1-foot length of yarn or string and place it through the horse's mouth, in the same position where a bit would be. This is best done with the help of a partner. Once the string is straight and just taut enough to not be pulling up on your horse’s lips, use a pen or marker, to mark both sides of the string, where it meets the corners of your horse’s mouth. You should add ½ an inch to that measurement. If your horse has large, low and prominent cheek bones, you may need to pick up a bit that’s one size larger to accommodate their face.

In conclusion, with a comfort fitted Western saddle and with the right sized tack, you and your mount will be ready to hit the trails in no time.

If you have any questions, or need any help, do not hesitate to give our saddle experts a call at (800) 967-2335.