Question: Does your saddle reeaaalllly fit???

I did not understand the video's explanation of the difference between tree width and the channel width. Isn't that the same thing? Does it just mean the channel has to be consistently wide enough for your horse?

Great videos thanks for posting . )

Ah! Ok! Great question, I thought the same thing too Tymer, honestly.

What I found out, is the tree width is just that - the width of the tree.



The Tree Width deciphers the angle/size of the tree - as we all know.


And the Gullet/Channel width is this:



See the space between the panels? That is the channel or the gullet.


This will help explain:

http://equineink.com/2008/06/28/eval...-gullet-width/

Ah! Thanks! So you can have two saddles with the same tree but different channel widths. Cool!

So I checked my saddle today and it is too close to the withers! I can just about fit 2 fingers. Can I sort this out without having to buy a new saddle as I cannot afford one. Would a saddle riser work?

(Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone)
I believe this would work, but it is really only a temporary solution. If this is the only problem with your saddle, I would save up some money but not worry. If there are other issues with the saddle as well, I would definitely invest in a new saddle.
Also, if it is only two fingers on all sides, does this mean your channel is too small? Its really hard to know because I'm not the one seeing and touching your saddle.

Maybe, but I wouldn't change how the saddle rests on your horses back, without having a Professional there to help you and assist you. See, your saddle could be laying balanced on your horses back right now, just as it is - and by adding a riser pad to lift the front up, you could possibly be changing the whole position of your saddle and how it lays on your horses back, unbalancing it and causing issues somewhere else on your horses back.

Tough call, I would definitely contact a Professional to come out and work with you.

Great videos. I ride in competetive trail rides and I think that saddle fit after 30-60 miles has to be correct. Unless you have went that far you will never truely know how well or poorly your saddle fits.

I just remembered this thread the other day.
In the video they show a saddle where the channel gets narrower towards the cantle. What kind of horse would that fit?

That's a good question - I have no idea! I would think it to be uncomfortable since narrow channels put pressure on the muscles surrounding the spine. The narrower the channel, the closer to the spine they are...etc,etc.

That's a question definitely worth asking!