WOW - The Modular Saddle -

The following mails order guide is a 7 step guide to get the perfect WOW™ saddle for you and your horse. You will need nothing more than the gauge you can make in step 1.

We are confident that we can make a saddle that you and your horse will be supremely comfortable in that if you or your horse are not satisfied you can return the saddle for refund. See our terms and conditions.

Step 1 - Make the saddle gauge

You will need to print off the following Microsoft WORD Document WOW Saddle Gauge.doc

Acrobat Reader PDF WOW Saddle Gauge.pdf

You will need to stick the two pages of the document onto a piece of stiff cardboard before cutting out the shapes as instructed in the document.

Once you have done this the gauge should look like the one below and should help you access your horse.

Step 2 – Angle of the back

We must ascertain with angle of the horse’s back commonly termed the width fitting. This term is somewhat confusing as it has nothing at all to do with the width of the horse and more to do with the angle of the musculature either side of the withers.

To find out what headplate is required we need to know the angle the musculature makes at a point roughly 2” or three fingers back from the scapula, WHEN THE HORSE IS STOOD FOUR SQUARE.

Note; WHEN USING AN ANGLE GAUGE the gauge is held vertically against the third finger DO NOT ANGLE IT BACK AS THIS WILL GIVE A FALSE READING

Using the gauge should be easy as long as you have stuck it on some stiff cardboard. Always ensure that the two smaller diamond windows align with the printed diamonds on the opposite half of the gauge to ensure accuracy.

Note that on the gauge it tells you what part should be evenly touching the horse. Don't worry if the arch is not touching the top of the wither if your horse has a broad flat top to its' wither the gauge cannot touch it. We are only interested in the angle between the sides of the withers at this point.

Step 3 – Gullet Width

A very important and much overlooked part of fitting a saddle correctly is the width of the spinal process at the base of the withers. This is a junction box for a lot of muscle groups. Pinch this area and the horse’s ability to perform especially laterally will be hampered. The gullet has to be wide enough in this area to give clearance for the muscles to work freely. However if fitted too wide it will cause instability and at worst pressure related problems because of insufficient muscle to support the saddle.

a. b.

Look at your horse’s back. Feel the width of the musculature at the base of the withers . Then lift the horse’s head and feel again. If the area becomes a lot wider when the horse’s head is pushed up you must use a wider gullet to accommodate this muscle group.

Look at these two different horses, whilst the grey has still some width to the withers the difference is marked when compared to the bay.

This is obviously easier done with two people. Hold the horse’s head up. The person feeling the base of the wither area may not notice any difference until the horse resists and tries to bring its head back down. When this happens the horse engages the muscles that are used in self carriage and they tighten and expand. If the difference between a flaccid muscle and a tense muscle happens to be a marked change in the width of the muscles at the base of the withers then you must specify a wide gullet in your saddle.

If your horse’s width is like picture a. and stays as a. when the head is raised then you will want a standard gullet

If your horse’s width starts out as a. and ends up more like b. when the head is raised then you will require a wide gullet.

If your horse is already like b. then you have a wide gullet anyway.

Step 4 – Panel Front Profile - Front Gusset Yes/No?

Background Info

The WOW™ panel comes in four standard styles to accommodate the different types and shape of horse. The back of the panel does not vary (unless specified) the back gusset being a standard 2" depth. It is only the front portion of the panel that will change significantly.

It is important to understand that a smaller panel can be used on a larger seat i.e. a 17" panel can be used on an 18" seat. This is very important when the rider requires the comfort afforded by the larger seat but the horse cannot accommodate an 18" panel.

You can also commission special designs for such problem as very dipped backs and exceptionally wide spinal processes.

D Panel - Thoroughbred

This panel will suit many shapes and sizes of horse. It works particularly well on Thoroughbreds because the panel is able to fill the "hollows" behind the shoulder and give clearance on the highest and sharpest of withers normally associated with this stamp of horse.

Defining Characteristics: Has a generous front gusset and large panel and a good three finger gullet at rear.

SD Panel - Low Wither

This panel should be used on horses where they are round and flat in the back especially in the wither region and not much definition in the shoulders region.

Defining Characteristics: Has no front gusset and a smaller panel area (not support area) to keep the front of the saddle down and in contact with the horse. A good three finger gullet at rear.

DWG Panel - Thoroughbred Wide Gullet

This panel was originally designed to cope with stallion withers, wide, thick with a well defined difference between shoulders and saddle area. The wide gullet does not pinch the wither at its base where the horse can be very wide and the muscle groups very well developed. Also is a very useful panel for Arabs or any well muscled horse.

Defining Characteristics: Has a front gusset and a reduced TB panel area (not support area). The throat of the saddle is very wide reducing to a good three finger gullet at the rear.

SDWG Panel - Low Wither Wide Gullet

This panel should be used on round flat backed horses where the wither whilst not prominent is wide and well muscled

Defining Characteristics: Has no front gusset and a smaller panel area (not support area) to keep the front of the saddle down and in contact with the horse. The throat of the saddle is very wide reducing to a good three finger gullet at the rear.

Some horse’s like the Grey and Bay above have well defined scapulas and a place where the saddle sits. When the scapula moves backwards under the saddle as the foot goes forward there will have to be room for the scapula to move into. In some cases the horse maybe described as hollow behind the shoulder. This term seems to indicate there is something missing i.e. muscle. That does not have to be the case; very fit well muscled horses do tend to be very hollow behind the shoulder especial TB eventer types. This type of shoulder profile will obviously require more padding and the use of a panel with a front gusset assists this. The code we use for this type of front gusseted panel is a “D” type panel.

Typical D panel (front gusset) type horse

The other type of shoulder profile is undefined having a shoulder that in effect has its own padding! The scapula can move freely backwards under the saddle, in a sense, within the horse with very little change in the shape of the horse as the scapula rotates. In this type of horse we use a panel with NO front gusset its code is an “SD” type.

Typical SD panel (No front gusset) type horse

Step 4 – Length of Panel

Maggie is indicating the area that would require covering by the Equiform template. Equiform allows you to mould the whole back profile on to a thermoplastic sheet. The sheet can then be used by us or a saddler to help choose the correct fit for the saddle.

As you can see it is important that the shoulders of the horse are covered if using Equiform. For more information on click here.

A saddle MUST only sit on the rib cage of the horse. The panel of the saddle will sit slightly on the scapula and should end on or before the last (18th) rib. This area is indicated by the two vertical white lines. To this end we have to find out where the last rib is.

Method 1 – Yellow dotted line (harder)

Find the last rib in the area where the yellow dotted line meets the edge of the picture. Palpate upwards following the rib when you find it disappears under the muscles that run along the back keep tracing that angle until you reach the spine.

Method 2 – Two curved arrows (Easier rule of thumb)

The arrows indicate the direction coat growth. At the point indicated the coat grows backwards from the trunk and forward from the stifle. Where the two growth directions come together it is possible to trace a line straight up. Where it meets the backbone will be the last rib.

MAKE SURE THE HORSE IS STANDING SQUARE!

NOW USING A TAPE measure the distance from just on top of the scapula to the position of the last rib following the back roughly where the middle of the saddle panel will sit (indicated by the green dotted line). Check it on both sides as you will find a difference because of asymmetry. Take the shortest measurement and look at the table below.

Max Length (Green dotted Line)	Panel required
18” or 46cm	16” No. 0 panel size
19” or 48.5cm	17” No. 1 panel size
20” or 51cm	18” No. 2 panel size

Step 5 - Which Seat Size Do You Require

Have a look at the seat styles page and decided what size and style you need. Remember that you can use a smaller panel on a larger seat.

If your horse's back can only take a 17" No.1 panel and you require a 18" No.2 seat this can be done (but not the other way round)

click here to see seat styles

Step 6 - Which Flap Style

Have a look at the flap styles and choose the flap that is most suitable for you. If you take a leg length in trousers of 28" - 31" (71cm - 79cm) standards length should be correct for you. If your leg measurement is 32" - 34" (81cm - 87cm) you should be thinking about 2" (5cm) longer flap length.

Remember that you can change the flaps on your saddle so if you are doing more than one discipline then you must ask yourself whether you will want two flap styles i.e. jumping and dressage or whether a general purpose flap would suit your requirements.

Click here to see flap styles.

Step 7 - Choose Stirrup Leather Length

If you measure your existing stirrup leather (only the leather) on your saddle when set to your riding length and add 3" - 4" (7.5cm - 10cm) then choose the length closest to your result from the following 24" (60cm), 28" (70cm) or 32" (80cm)

If you do jumping and dressage you may find that you will need two lengths of stirrups.

In Conclusion

You should now have all the information that you require to satisfy your horse. Now the hard part comes in choosing the seat, the flap, the colours and finish. What ever combination you choose we hope you and your horse enjoy WOW™ and continue to do so through your riding life.

Result of Step 2 - Headplate No. (-1) to 9 = _____

Result of Step 3 - Wide Gullet Yes/No = _____

Result of Step 4 - Panel Length/Size = _____

Result of Step 5 - Seat Size No.0 16", No.1 17" or No.2 18" = _____

Seat Style Deep, Shallow or Flat = _____

Result of Step 6 - Flap style & Length standard, or +2" = _____

Result of Step 7 - Stirrup Leather Length 24" or 28" or 32" = _____