Two suggestions: 1. Use a clothing hangar and extend it to a long wire. Center it on the withers of your horse and bend the ends down towards the legs to find the inverted "V" shape of saddle. This will customize the shape of your horse at the withers. 2. The saddle pad and saddle must make a complete sweat spot where the pad and saddle sit. Any dry spots once saddle is removed means there are inconsistancies and possible discomforts for your horse.. Most saddle sales will allow you to take saddle home to try it if you ask. Good luck.

A good shim pad, such as this: http://www.smithbrothers.com/product.asp?pn=X3-19498&bhcd2=1250078980 CAN be helpful in fitting a saddle that is just a tad off for one horse but fits another. THe pad with its various adjustments will help relieve bridging. Saddle fitting and purchasing can be challenging to say the least. Educate yourself and you will help your horse! This is a very helpful site as well: http://www.rodnikkel.com/ Best, Kathy

Pattie Thank you for the info on that site. It has loads of info for us. Like the saddles and as we have actually several horses to fit with saddles it will be a big help. Thank you Michelle

I do not have a REAL tack store closer than 300 miles, so I very much understand what you are having to do. It is quite possible that your animal will not stop growing until after he is 5 years old, so keep that in mind. The Tucker Saddle company has an excellent measuring process. http://www.tuckersaddlery.com/measuring.shtml Even if you don't buy a Tucker, their system is pretty universal and thorough. Good Sunday to ya! Pattie CoLady

make sure you get the pattern for the withers so that can help determine what to order

Are you sure you can't get a western saddle there in England ? I went to college in London and bought 2 western saddle during that time that was in 1960-65. I just goggled for western saddles in England and found 3 saddle shops making them. Good luck

Rancher2 thank you for the great advice. And yes it is worth breakfast and coffee if i am ever over that way. I would love to take the horse to a saddle maker but over here they have know idea how to make a western one and it is a tad to far over to you guys. So i am going to have to order one from a tack store and have it shipped over. The bay horse that is in need of the saddle is 16hh and 3 1/2 yrs old. His blood line is Tb x Cleveland bay x Trotter X Gypsy Cob. Michelle (pearlgirl)

justa, I also take my horses to the tack store to fit the saddles on them bareback. if the saddle fits with no pad and I can trot my horse around and it doesn't fall off...that saddle is a good fit. I have a mustang that has withers, not horrible , but they are there, and I use a aussie stock saddle on him. fits like a gem. Otherwise I just use a circle y trail saddle or ride bareback a lot and don't even bother with a saddle. The trooper saddles are a nice saddle to fit on different horses as well. Good luck Riatafaline

Everyone who has more than one horse wants a saddle that's not to heavy and fits all the horses. If you really want a saddle that fits ...you got to put it on the horses back. When I buy a saddle I just load up my horse and head to the tack stores, find the saddles I like and throw them on him in the parking lot. That's probably a little too redneck for most of you. lol When I custom order a saddle I take my horse to the saddle maker so he can measure my horse. No surprises and I always end up with good fitting saddles. Good luck in your search.

I fit my high withered Egyptian Arab with an Aussie stock saddle. The same saddle fits my QH barred 1/2 arab as well, so it works for me. I have been drooling on the Tucker Saddles for about a year now. I would have to send in a pattern to fit my high withered critter and, yeah, they are expensive as they start around $1200 and go up. But, in my opinion, worth it. As for a "first" saddle. That's a hard one. You have a kid and a horse that are going to grow and change. I would hit eBay and find something inexpensive that will fit both for now. Then when they grow out of it, it's not so hard to take in the pocket book. There are several long time sellers on there that are very happy to answer questions and help you find what you need. My daughter's "first" saddle was a $200 barrel saddle that I still use every now and then. Be patient and ask lots of questions! I have heard lots of good things about the Abetta, but I do not care for that synthetic stuff. It cleans up easy, though, and it is inexpensive. Rancher2 gave you some good advise. I'ld through in some breakfast to go with that coffee, though! Hope this helps.