Measuring a Used Saddle

At Specialized Saddles, we understand how important it is to find the right saddle fit for both you and your horse. If you are considering purchasing a used saddle, accurately measuring and evaluating the saddle is essential to ensure comfort and fit for you and your horse.

Please Note

We do not provide measurements, advice, or detailed information regarding used saddles. This policy is rooted in both confidentiality and accuracy. The original saddle order contains personal fitting data, rider preferences, and horse-specific measurements that belong solely to the original purchaser. Out of respect for their privacy and in order to prevent the potential for misinformation or misapplication of custom details, we only provide saddle information and support directly to the individual who originally purchased the saddle from us.

Unfortunately, this means that questions about used saddles that were not purchased directly from Specialized Saddles cannot be answered by our team.

If you have purchased a saddle directly from us and need assistance, please have your purchase details ready when contacting us. For all other inquiries regarding used saddles, we recommend consulting a professional saddle fitter or the seller to obtain accurate information.

If you have any questions about purchasing a new saddle or measuring your current saddle bought from us,

How to Measure a Specialized Saddle

If you want to measure a saddle yourself, here are the key parts to focus on:

1. Bars

Flip saddle over, remove any fitting cushions or fitting inserts, and measure the bars starting at the front near the gullet in the middle, extending straight back to the end of the bars in the middle.

2. Gullet Width

To determine the gullet width, measure at the front of the saddle where the pommel ties into the bars. Currently, our standard tree has a 6” gullet and the wide tree has a 7” gullet.

Please note that over the 25+ years we’ve been in business, our tree specifications have evolved. As a result, older saddles may not match today’s measurements, even if they were originally built as a standard or wide. Because of these changes, the only gullet measurements we can provide are based on our current tree models. We are unable to confirm exact widths on older saddles.

 

3. Seat Size

To measure the seat size start at the inside edge of the pommel, where the seat meets the front rise—not the top of the pommel. Then, measure in a straight line back to the inside edge of the cantle.

This measurement reflects the actual area where the rider sits and is how to determine seat size.

Be sure you’re measuring inside to inside, not over the top of the pommel or past the cantle. Measuring over the curves or using outside dimensions will result in inaccurate sizing.

 

4. Cantle Height

Most Specialized Saddles feature one of two cantle heights:

Short Cantle: Measures 3.5” on a saddle that has a skirt and 4” on an Ultralight model with no skirt.

Tall Cantle: Measures 4.5” on a saddle that has a skirt and 5” on an Ultralight model with no skirt.

 

5. Seat Type

Most Specialized Saddles come with one of the following seat styles:

Trail Seat: A solid seat with no cut-out. It features a slight rise at the back, sloping upward toward the
pommel.

Flat Seat: Features a cut-out near the front of the seat by the pommel, typically around 3” in length (may
vary by production year). This seat has a lower rise and a flatter overall profile from front to back.

Note: Most Aussie-style saddles are built with the Aussie Seat, a hybrid between the Trail and Flat styles
and do not have a cut out.

 

6. Fender Type

If the saddle you are looking at has a fender—some have stirrup leathers only—there are two fender styles:

Trail Fenders: Have a 1.5” Biothane neck that connects the fender to the stirrup and are adjusted with
easy-to-use roller buckles.

Traditional Fenders: Have a 2.5” leather neck that are adjusted with a blevins buckle.

Need Help with a New Saddle?

If you’re interested in purchasing a new Specialized Saddle or need assistance with a saddle you purchased directly from us, please contact us.