OK I'm going to jump
in here. The term QH bars refers to the pitch of the bar, not the width. The
width is a measurement that is in the gullet, that is where the pommel attaches
to the top of the bar, how far apart the bars are at their top. The pitch is how
upright or how flat the bars are, how far apart they are at the
bottom. A Thoroughbred bar is more upright, steeper. The QH is
flatter, and the Semi QH is between. So if a saddle maker has
2 trees, a QH and a SQH what is the gullet measurement? You would
have no idea at all what size your tree is, or what design it is. When I
order a tree, it would go something like this. >>5" gullet X 15"seat
X SQH with moderate flair front and back. My 3 horses all wear a SemiQH tree,
but the gullets are all 3 different. one is a 5" one a 5 3/4"
and one a 6 1/2" lots of flair front and back. , but they are all SQH, and
if I interchange the saddles I will have sore horses!!!. Pitch alone will not
accommodate a gaited horse, as the back end of the horse still needs a normal
fit. and if the bars are to flat, regardless of the gullet width your
saddle will be on his spine. What accommodates the huge shoulder action is the
flair of the front of the bar. Which is not the pitch or the width.
And one big thing to remember is that trees should not set on the shoulder
blade. I put a little more flare on the gaited horse and the endurance or
distance trees. As these horses tree needs are quite similar, when
the distance horse really hits the big trot. Another thing to remember is
that allot of trees have long straight bars, with no twist or flair which is no
good at all. The Bars need a certain degree of twist from front to back. When
you hit the really big trot your horse will kind of flex side to side, as
all his legs are really reaching, straight bars and/or to long bars inhibit this
movement, and sore him. I see this allot. Look at your horse, you will see
that most of them are flatter toward the back, regardless of how narrow or steep
they are up front. Straight bars are the cause of loin
sores and bridging. All of this may sound
like Greek, and I could explain it allot better if we could use visual
aids, but there is an awful lot that goes in to a saddle tree. One thing that I
would love for the saddle consumer to really "get" is that the size of a tree
and the design of a tree is completely 2 different things. I don't care what
size it is, if it is a lousy design you will have a sore horse. A truly good
design is real quite forgiving in size. This is why you see saddles that seem to
fit really well, then a few months later you realize it is killing your
horse. Sometimes a horse will be so glad to just have the pressure in a
new spot he will move out really well to start with, and you think you have
finally found the rite saddle, then the old sore spot gets well, as the new
one comes up, and you are saddle shopping again! So you need to be sure of
the design of the tree you are going to be doing distance riding in. And
just because it is called a distance saddle does not mean that the tree is
correctly designed for this sport. Granted there is a certain amount
of trust, and faith that the rider needs to gain in the maker, it's a big
expensive decision. But please, don't let yourself get fooled by allot of
expensive gimmicks. I get calls all the time from people who have some
kind of an expensive saddle that has just murdered their horse, and has so many
gimmicks and flaws and some of these poor people just swallow the biggest load
of advertising bull, I just roll my eyes, and feel for them. Another thing
I hear is " if it fits the horse I don't care about myself." A saddle has 2
sides, the top and the bottom, your side and his side. If the riders side is out
of balance, makes you hurt, or puts you in the wrong place or position, you will
have a sore horse, even if the saddle does fit him. It is the job of the saddle
maker to put them together in a way that fits you both, that works together in a
cohesive and harmonious way to get you down the trail with a big smile on
both faces!! This is why I do only custom work. Another thing is the
term "custom" what does that really mean? Not just 40 saddles to choose from.
Custom means custom. One at a time. There are a few of us that do it that way,
and whether or not anyone ever buys one of my saddles, you are WAY better off
getting your saddle from one of the small makers than big factories. At least
find out who they are and get it done rite. I am not knocking any
other makers, companies, or factories, and I will have no comment, here or in
private on any other maker. I am a consumer of all other horse products, and all
of it is expensive, and heartbreaking when it doesn't work. I am just glad
to help anyone who wants a saddle or just wants to ask questions.
Saddle up, have fun, and Happy Trails!! Annie G.
Anne George Saddlery www.vtc.net/~ageorge
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