Can a gig saddle be widened?

[Yip]

I don't know what they're made of under all the padding. If it's metal, can it be spread by a harnessmaker?

Cookie's saddle does not fit her. It looks like it was made for a STB and Cookie is very wide and flat backed. If it can't be spread, I'm going to have to buy a new one. But nowhere, when I was looking at harness, did I ever see anyone ask the horse's breed or ask for a wither tracing type of thing. How can I find a gig saddle that actually fits?

Any ideas out there?

Yip

[Drive NJ]

Yip
Yes a gig saddle CAN be widened but possibly not enough.
Usually harness makers do not ask for back tracings etc, just assuming that you have a standard sized horse. When you have a horse with sprcific dimensions YOU have to take the initiative and do the work to get proper fitting equipment
We have 2 draftyX boyz and I sent back tracings to our harness maker last time I had harness built
What he came back with was a wide spread saddle for the one boy and a treeless saddle for the other. The treeless saddle has a nice wide gullet and nice contoured padding but it fits Alex's flat back very nicely without pinching.
So I would recommend you do a back tracing and a tracing of the harness saddle and compare the two. Then send a copy of the tracings to your harness maker of choice and ask if they think the two could be made to fit or what their recommendation would be
You need a nice flexible form or a skinny and bendable wire hanger to get a good back tracing. There used to be a really good description of how to do it on the Thorowgood site

[goodhors]

Flexible quilt ruler for doing curved shapes works pretty well. They are long enough to go around the back and down the sides a little. Make sure it is warmed up before bending a lot outside in the cold days. Available at sewing stores.

[Yip]

I have a flexible curve thing from the art supply store that works well. I'm going to figure I have nothing to lose in spreading this one. If it doesn't work, I'll have to buy a new one anyway.

I wouldn't think of buying a riding saddle without wither and back tracings. Why would I think gig saddles were any different?! It's not easy being green! Can't wait till I mature in this sport.

I spoke with Claudette at Country Carriages yesterday and she has a *treeless* in her shop. Hoo-doggies, though, it's a lot more than I expected.

Thanks!

[Drive NJ]

What we all seem to forget is that the bridle and saddle are the most labor intensive parts of the harness and therefore the bulk of the cost of a harness
Most of the rest is just strapwork and relatively easy to make
The bridle and sadle are worth half or more of the price of the whole harness.
When you think of it that way it doesnt seem as expensive for individual pieces

See if you can ask Claudette for a returnable deal on the saddle in case you or Cookie dont like it in use
Also see if she will take any part of a trade on the saddle you have - or you can possibly sell that seperately
And for a treeless saddle you do still need good padding so the terret bolts dont poke and a good gullet will help it fit and stay in place better
the treeless saddles do slide a bit more when adjusting the harness onto their bods but ours does not slide IN USE

[Yip]

Well, I brought the saddle in and was able to flatten it somewhat. Claudette said some of hers were made on a spring tree, and it appears this one is too.

I was easily able to flatten it, but not all the way because it goes almost flat, then springs back a little. Looks like it was enough to make it fit a lot better. I would just say to be careful and use your hand pressure, not try to step on it.