Welcome to Parelli Saddles

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE ENGLISH SADDLE:

SIZE for your HORSE:

There are two gullet width sizes available for Parelli English Fluidity and Dressage saddles:

Parelli Standard
Super Wide

Standard: This saddle will suit the majority of riders and horses. While we call this Parelli STANDARD, remember it is approx. a 7X, or seven times wider than most English saddle gullets described as "wide". It is already constructed in a way to improve your horse's ability to use his back.

Super Wide: This saddle is just how it sounds, SUPER wide through the gullet. It is especially suited to big, wide horses such as some warmbloods and draft crosses, as well as very wide and heavily muscled smaller horses. We have discovered that many broad Quarter Horses, Icelandic horses, wide rib-sprung Arabians, Cobs and MANY others love the superwide. It hugs their bodies better, and the saddle will sit in a lower profile on the horse. (Please download and print out our measurement guide to help you make a decision about whether your horse needs our standard or superwide gullet).

It is important to make certain that any Parelli saddle is shimmed properly (see shimming suggestions for a wide variety of horses' back types) so that the gullet does not touch the horse's wither and the overall saddle is positioned/balanced so that the rider can easily access his/her balance point. Our saddles are deliberately built extra wide in front so that there is room for the shoulders...and they will tend (in most cases) to "nose down" when they are not shimmed.

This MEASURING GUIDE illustrates a comparison between our superwide vs. standard gullets that we compiled after testing on hundreds of horses. It can be helpful, but it is impossible to be exacting about these things. You can download a printable version of it by clicking DOWNLOADS at the bottom of our home page.

Note: Linda says, "If you're thinking that your horse needs a superwide saddle, he/she probably does!" Horses just LOVE the way the superwide hugs their backs and leaves lots of room for shoulder movement. That being said: if the back of the horse is very broad and the front of the horse's body more narrow, you will need to fiddle with more shims to balance it correctly. Hill Therapy (download/print information about this by clicking DOWNLOADS at the bottom of this page) will likely help re-develop shoulders and latissimus dorsi muscles to widen the horse in front, along with fluid riding techniques in our well balanced saddles. We have received glowing testimonials about our superwide saddles from owners of smaller broad-backed breed horses (Icelandics, Cobs, Arabians, Ponies, etc.) as well as the larger breeds (broad Quarter Horses, Warmbloods, Drafts, Crosses and the like).

English Saddle SEAT SIZES for YOU:

English seat sizes are measured by different criteria than Western saddles. Generally, a person would ride a seat size 1" larger in English than in our Western saddles. (English measurements are taken on the diagonal, between the "nail" with the Parelli logo on it, across to the center of the top of the cantle.

Please realize that the chart and descriptions below constitute AN APPROXIMATE SIZING SYSTEM. Body configuration subtleties make this a difficult thing to be exacting about. If you are in between the height/weight approximations listed below, and/or have large thighs/buttocks, we generally recommend going to a larger size saddle, so that you don't feel restricted in any way. Long legs also generally need larger seat size, so that knee doesn't project too far forward and restrict natural angle/access to your balance point.

We have also discovered that people who might enjoy riding a standard gullet saddle in a certain size, might actually enjoy a superwide saddle in one size smaller. The feel of the English Fluidity superwide seat is a little bit larger in length, for some reason.

There are 5 seat sizes available for each saddle (standard gullet and superwide), and we describe them by NUMBER: (please note that we do not manufacture a Size 1, which would be extra petite, or child's size).

2. 17 inch (Dimension front to back along topline from horse's perspective: 21 inches) for Small, slim people, usually 4 foot 9 inches to 5 foot 4 inches tall.

3. 17.5 inch (Dimension front to back along topline from horse's perspective: 21.5 inches) for people usually 5 foot 3 inches to 5 foot 8 inches tall, and/or weighing approximately 125 to 160 pounds.

4. 18 inch (Dimension front to back along topline from horse's perspective: 22 inches) for people usually 5 foot 6 inches to 5 foot 11 inches tall and/or weighing approximately 165 to 200 pounds.

5. 18.5 inch (Dimension front to back along topline from horse's perspective: 22.5 inches) for people usually 6 foot or taller and/or weighing approximately 200 - 245 pounds.

6. 19" (Pat Parelli enjoys this size). This saddle requires extra time to produce, and the saddlemakers call for a $300-$400 surcharge. If you are larger than this size, an English saddle is not recommended because it will not afford enough weight distribution for your horse's comfort. You will be best advised to go to the Parelli Natural Performer or Ranch Roper saddle.

Important: this is not just about your seat size, it also has to do with your length of leg. If your thigh is so long that it extends beyond the mid point of the thigh rolls of your saddle, it will effect your ability to sit on your balance point in the saddle. Please make certain you measure your full leg inseam length accurately, while wearing no shoes. Measure from crotch to floor.

Your height would most likely be 5 foot 4 or smaller and you are of a slender build. If you have quite long legs for your size or a stocky build, go up to the Medium seat size. Linda Parelli rides this size in her SuperWide saddle.

17.5

Your height would most likely be 5 foot 3 up to 5 foot 8 with a slender or medium build. If you have long legs for your size or a stocky build, go up to the Large seat size.

Linda Parelli rides this size in her Standard gullet saddle, and a 17 in her SuperWide.

Your height would usually be 5 foot 6 up to 5 foot 11 inches with a slender or medium build. If you have long legs for your size or a stocky build, go up to the 18.5 or 19 seat size.

18.5

Your height would usually be 6 ft. plus with a slender to medium build. If you have long legs for your size, this saddle should still work for you, but if you are also of a stocky build it may not be big enough and you would be better going to the Parelli Natural Performer or Ranch Roper saddle.

Your height would be 6 ft. plus with a stocky build. If you weigh more than 250 pounds, we would recommend riding a Parelli Natural Performer or Ranch Roper saddle, because an English saddle cannot distribute weight as comfortably for your horse as a Western saddle can.

Pat Parelli rides this size.

Note: If in doubt, please send in photos of you in a saddle, measurements of your pant size and length, and any other information you think would be important and we can help advise you. You might also tell us your standard pants size in clothes you wear. Too, we have a saddle TEST RIDE program within the USA, and more and more Parelli instructors all over the world have Parelli saddles on hand.

If you can slide 4 fingers between the back of the saddle and where your hand would touch your body, (while sitting on your balance point, not leaning forward and arching your back) it's a good fit. (no fewer than 3 fingers, or it's probably too small a saddle for you).