Saddle Fitting Services – Wherever You Are
At Colorado Saddlery, we offer a variety of saddle fitting options—whether you're located in Colorado or across the country.
Complimentary In-Store Saddle Fitting
Ensure the perfect fit and maximum comfort for your horse with a free professional saddle fitting at our Westminster, CO or Castle Rock, CO locations. Fittings are available by appointment only.
Schedule an Appointment:
Westminster: 303.572.8350 Castle Rock: 303.720.0609
Saddle Fitting Tools – At-Home Measuring Kit
Can't bring your horse to one of our locations? No problem. We'll send our Saddle Fitting Kit directly to you, complete with easy-to-follow instructions to help you measure your horse accurately from home for a Colorado Saddlery saddle.
How it Works:
For a $100 deposit plus shipping, we'll send you our professional saddle fitting tools and a free return shipping label. You’ll have up to two weeks to use the kit. Once returned in its original condition within the two-week period, your full deposit will be refunded.
Need help using the tools?
Watch our step-by-step instructional video here: [LINK]
If you need additional assistance, call 303.572.8350 to speak to a expert saddle fitter.
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General Saddle Fitting Information
Saddle Trees
A finished saddle is covered with leather and fleece, which can make it difficult to assess how the saddle tree truly fits the back of your horse or mule. Ideally, the bars of the tree should rest evenly along the back-- making full contact with minimal or no gaps. This optimal fit can be seen in example photos A, B, and C.
Checking Saddle Fit
To evaluate the fit of a finished saddle, place it on the horse or mule with a light blanket underneath. The horn of the saddle should sit directly over—or just slightly behind—the top of the withers. The saddle can be either loosely cinched or uncinched during this process.
Front Fit (Shoulder Area)
- Reach under the gullet.
- If the tree is too narrow, the top of the bar will lift off the shoulder.
- If the tree is too wide, the bottom of the bar will lift off the shoulder.
Middle Fit (Back/Bar Contact)
- Run your hand along the bar edges down the back.
- Check for gaps or "bridging", where the tree skips contact—these create pressure points and discomfort.
Rear Fit (Loin Area)
- Feel under the back of the saddle.
- The same rules apply as in the shoulder area:
- Too narrow: top of bar lifts off the loin.
- Too wide: bottom of bar lifts off the loin.
Gullet Height
Gullet height only becomes a concern if it’s too low and comes into contact with the withers. Colorado Saddlery uses trees with 8” high gullets, which accommodate both low and high withered horses. As horses age, their withers tend to become more pronounced—this is factored into our tree design.
Horse Condition & Age
As horses age, their withers tend to become more pronounced—this is factored into our tree design. When evaluating saddle fit, consider your horse or mule’s:
- Body condition (fat or thin)—use condition charts available from feed companies.
- Age—younger animals usually have rounder backs, while older animals may have sharper withers and a flatter loin area.
Every horse or mule is unique. Just like one boot size doesn’t fit everyone, one tree doesn’t fit all equines. That’s why Colorado Saddlery offers a variety of tree styles to accommodate a broad range of body types.
If you’d like to test a saddle tree for fit, give us a call at 303.572.8350. We’re happy to ship one out with a return policy in place. Or rent one of our Saddle Fitting Kits to asses your horse’s tree size.
Understanding Rigging Position
While tree fit is crucial, one of the most overlooked causes of poor saddle fit is rigging position—the location where the cinch or girth attaches to the saddle.
Common Rigging Types:
- Full Rigging
- 7/8 Rigging
- 3/4 Rigging
When the rigging is too far forward for a particular horse or mule, the cinch will sit tight behind the front legs—or worse, angle backward awkwardly. As the animal moves, the cinch slides down the belly, pulling the saddle with it. This often results in the saddle sliding too far back, causing the bars to lose proper contact and creating pressure points and soreness.
At Colorado Saddlery, we’ve found that 7/8 rigging offers the most reliable fit for a wide range of horses and mules—especially when used with a hanging dee or flat plate rigging.
We also offer saddles with 3-way rigging systems, allowing riders to adjust the cinch placement based on:
- The animal’s conformation
- Riding style
- Terrain being ridden