• First of all, start by considering the saddle you have that does NOT fit your horse. For example, if you have a saddle that is marked either 34 cm., or W, or perhaps #4....and if this saddle is too small (see our page on Saddle Fitting)....then you know that you need to look for a saddle with a wider tree, such as a 36 cm. Remember, a saddle that's too narrow will tilt backward (making you feel off balance as you ride) or will pinch the horse's shoulders.
• When you contact us, let us know what you have been riding in, the brand, age, width, and what the symptoms are of poor fit.
• If you can make and send a tracing, that will be a big help. It not not a guarantee, since your weight will definitely make a difference, but it will be a big help to us in determining what your horse needs. Sometimes we'll send you a couple of tree widths to try out.
• If it's determined that sending a tracing will be the next step, follow these directions:

ON MAKING A WITHERS TRACING FOR DUETT

Most saddle fitting websites, including Duett’s, will tell you to make a withers tracing using a flexible curve, locating it a couple of inches behind the horse’s scapula.

Because horse’s conformations differ so much, with some horses having upright shoulders, others having sloping shoulders and still others being so fat that their shoulders can’t be located, we at Duett propose another way to make a withers tracing!

Put a saddle on your horse.  Yes, we know you can’t find a saddle to fit—that’s okay—put on the best fitting saddle you can find.  Girth it up, if you can, get up and walk around in it.  Let the saddle find its “sweet spot.”  Don’t trot or canter if the saddle tends to slide forward or back.  (This can happen if the saddle doesn’t fit.  It can also happen with saddles that do fit, when the horse has a certain type of build.  In that case, there are other solutions—talk to us.)

Now get out of the saddle and here’s where we want you to make that PRIMARY tracing—just exactly where the base of the pommel--an upside-down U--touches the horse's body! A secondary, helpful tracing can be made about 2" behind this one, which is about where the tree points are located.

You’ll need to remove the saddle to do it.  Use something like a flexible curve, bendable copper wire,etc...anything that will bend around the horse and also hold its shape.  The wire should be about 18” long.

When you have molded the wire or curve over the horse, remove the wire and place it on a sheet of paper—then, using a heavy marker, trace the shape of the underside. This tracing can now be faxed or mailed to us.

On the “mountain shape” of the tracing, write you name and contact info (phone, email), your height, weight, and the type of saddle you want.  If you’re not sure what type of saddle you want, write down the type of riding that you do.

We’ll get in touch!

Mail the tracing to:

DUETT SADDLES
341 West Street
Needham, MA 02494

or fax it to Duett's importer at: 617-582-7820

You may also fax tracings to Duett's fitter, Colin Kimball-Davis. There is no extra charge for working with Colin. His fax number is 401-831-2132.