How do you measure gullet size on a saddle?
Western saddles can't be mechanically widened from one size to another because they are made in 8 gullet sizes.If you are the main rider, you want your used Western Saddle to fit you as well as your horse.
The most important measurement is up front where the bars join the fork.The horse's withers can be found in the gullet.
The saddle must not touch the withers and the horse's spine, especially when the rider is in the saddle.Any pressure will cause the horse to be uncomfortable, and at the very least a lack of performance.
In order to not cause any contact or pressure on the wither, you have to take into account the width and height of the gullet.
The bars run along the horse's back.The width and height of the gullet are measured in inches.
The Quarter Horse Bars were designed to fit narrower western horses.There are bars with a narrow angle.The gullet is 5 3/4′′ wide.
Horses got bigger and needed a wider angle in the bars.Most of the western horses have semi-quarter horse bars.The gullet width is 6 1/2′′.
The Full Quarter Horse Bars have even wider angles to accommodate horses with different shapes and sizes.The gullet is 6 3/4′′ wide.
The width of the gullet should be the same width as the withers.You need to know if your horse is narrow, wide or in-between.
A general guide to gullet sizes can be found in the following list.
The bars are wider for the Arab horse.
There is a description and explanation of how Western saddles are measured.