The Refined Equine LLC

 Use this guide to measure your horse's templates for a new saddle, or to measure your saddle in preparation to sell.

 If you can offer the correct measurements to potential buyers, you are sure to have better results in selling your saddle.

 To list your saddle for sale or trade, please email karen@therefinedequine.com

Measuring your saddle: Use centimeters for all measurements except seat size.

1) Find the point of the tree and mark the inside on the panel that corresponds with the point, center of the panel. Mark back every 4" in the center of the panel. Measure across the mark to the center of the opposite panel.  

2) Hold up a protractor to the pommel to check the degree of angle to determine tree width if unknown. Follow the point of the tree to use as a straight edge if possible. Check the other point and estimate the angle. See varying angles in explaination opposite.    

3) To measure rocker, bend a coat hanger along the length of the panel from mark A to mark E, pommel to cantle. Lay it flat and trace it onto a piece of paper. Measure the arch as in the photo opposite.

4) Seat size in inches. Measure from center of head nail to center of cantle.

You may list your saddle without these measurements, but it will sell better if someone knows exactly what they are getting into.

Measuring your templates: Use centimeters

1) Gullet/panel width:

Templates A-E, place ruler on the 3" mark, point A to point B in photos below, and measure the distance across in centimeters .

2) Tree width/angle:

Take a straight edge and find the flatest point on the side of template A, generally it's from the brown vertical line to the 3" mark. Draw a line that extends past the top of the template, then another on the reverse side to form a cross.

Hold a protractor up to the cross to determine the correct degree of angle. As a reference, narrow trees are 86 degrees, medium are 90, and wide are 94. Many other tree widths available, so if yours doesn't fall into one of the basic categories, don't worry!!

3) Rocker Depth:

Place straight edge along top of rocker, point A to point B, then measure deepest point of arch, point C. 

These measurements will give you the information you need to find a saddle that will fit horse horse. Keep in mind that even with the correct angle, width, and rocker, it may need the flocking adjusted for a proper fit.