This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Does anyone know if a full quarter horse tree (western saddle) fits a fjord correctly? I'm wondering if my half draft's saddle would fit "my future fjord". I'm trying to learn about fjords before getting my own next year. Have heard a little bit something about their withers being low, narrow, or somehow different than other horses - is this something like a mule's that usually require special saddles? (Bear with me - so much to learn!)
"...Or do the western ones come in various tree sizes?..." I have a half Belgian (not yet a Fjord, but heading there!) and when getting him a saddle to fit properly, I learned about saddle trees - that's the frame inside the western saddles. In western saddles, the tree comes in these sizes: Arabian, Semi Quarter Horse, Full Quarter Horse (if there are other sizes in western saddles, I did not hear about them. TinyTim's back is broad, ribs attached high on the spine as is typical of the big drafts - so a semi quarter horse tree road him like an adult on a kids' tricycle! Most western tack or ranch supply stores carry the full quarter horse tree -- in fact, to learn Tiny's size needed, they should me how to measure him with a wire coat hanger, as I could not bring him in (no horse trailer!) for a saddle fitting. This worked out perfectly! We took the wire "outline" of his back into the store, held it up under the saddles with store's "saddle pro" helping us to do it right, and his cordura western trail saddle fits him like a glove! Sher in Colorado
