Ralphs Tackeria

09/08/2026

🐎 SHORTER vs LONGER GULLET POINTS – DOES LENGTH MATTER?

While adjusting Dixie's saddle yesterday, I started thinking about something we don't always talk about when looking at saddle fit — the length of the gullet points.

We often focus on the width and angle of the gullet, but the length of the points can also affect how a saddle sits on the horse.

🔹 SHORTER GULLET POINTS

These extend less distance down the shoulder and provide less contact further along the shoulder.

🔹 LONGER GULLET POINTS

These extend further down the shoulder and can provide a larger area of contact and help distribute pressure — when the length and position are appropriate for that particular horse.

But here's the important bit...

LONGER DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN BETTER!

The ideal length depends on the individual horse, their shoulder shape, movement and the overall design and fit of the saddle.

And this is where cost can get interesting! 💰

Longer points and other construction features can contribute to a more expensive saddle, but a more expensive saddle doesn't automatically mean a better fit for your horse.

Point length can also vary between individual saddle models, so it's worth looking at the actual saddle rather than assuming based on the brand.

I've made a little 3D comparison to show the difference between shorter and longer gullet points.

What do you have on your saddle — shorter or longer gullet points?

Have you noticed a difference in how your saddle sits?

👇 I'd love to hear what you've found!

🐴 RALPH'S BACK MAP

Want to better understand how your saddle matches your horse's back?

Ralph's Back Map moulds to your horse's back so you can compare the shape directly with your saddle and get a clearer visual picture of what's happening.

💲 $69

📏 10" × 18"

Made from flexible 0.5 mm stainless steel and reusable on multiple horses.

📖 Comes with an instruction booklet to help you get started.

📦 NZ Postage:
🇳🇿 South Island – $15.70
🇳🇿 North Island – $25.70
🚜 Rural delivery – add $7

💳 Afterpay available through the Stripe checkout

🛒 ORDER HERE:
https://buy.stripe.com/3cI6oH3bW8fQgBwgABaMU03

🐴 Also available from Burwood Produce

🎥 Check out the Ralph's Tackeria page for videos, customer examples and more saddle-fitting information.

📩 Or send me a message if you'd like to know more!

30/06/2026

30/06/2026

🐴 Ralph's Back Map (RBM) Available Now! 🐴

Take the guesswork out of saddle fitting by measuring your horse's actual shape.

The RBM helps you:
✔️ Understand your horse's back shape
✔️ Compare saddle gullet angles
✔️ Assess panel fit and contact
✔️ Make more informed saddle-fitting decisions

Whether you're buying a saddle, changing a gullet, or simply wanting to understand your horse better, the RBM provides a visual reference that makes saddle fit easier to understand.

📦 NZ-wide shipping available.
-Sth Island non RD $13.80
-Sth Island RD $18.80
-Nth Island non RD $23.80
-Nth Island RD $28.80

🛒 Order yours here:
https://buy.stripe.com/7sY3cvcMw7bM4SO989aMU02

📩 Have questions? Send me a message or drop a comment below.

Disclaimer: I am not a saddle fitter. The RBM is a measuring tool that helps us understand the horse's shape and provides information that can be used alongside professional saddle fitting advice.

29/06/2026

29/06/2026

Part 3: Understanding Your Back Map – Bridging 🤔

One thing your Back Map can help identify is a common saddle fitting issue called bridging.

Bridging happens when the saddle doesn't make even contact along your horse's back. Instead, the saddle makes contact at the front and back, leaving a gap through the middle.

This can create two areas of increased pressure while the middle section isn't carrying its share of the load.

The most common cause of bridging is a saddle that is too long for the horse's back, meaning the saddle cannot follow the horse's shape correctly from front to back.

However, bridging can also occur when the gullet is too narrow.

When the gullet is too narrow, it can lift the front of the saddle and change how the panels sit against the horse's back. This can contribute to a gap forming through the middle.

In some cases, widening the gullet can help the saddle settle more evenly onto the horse's shape and reduce—or even eliminate—the bridging.

Of course, the gullet is only one part of the equation. The panel shape, panel angle, saddle length, and overall saddle design still need to suit the horse as well.

That's why it's important to look at the whole picture—not just one measurement.

📸 Swipe through the photos to see an example of bridging and how adjusting the gullet can improve panel contact.

👉 Not sure if your saddle is bridging? Drop me a pic below and I'll help you take a closer look.

Disclaimer: I am not a saddle fitter. The RBM is a measuring tool that helps us understand the horse's shape and provides information that can be used alongside professional saddle fitting advice.

25/06/2026

🐎 Understanding Your Back Map – Part 2: What Does "The Tree Doesn't Fit" Mean?

One of the most common things horse owners hear during saddle fitting is:

👉 "The tree doesn't fit your horse."

But what does that actually mean?

It's one of those saddle fitting phrases that gets used all the time, yet often isn't explained.

Many people assume it means the gullet is the wrong size, but that's not always the case.

A saddle can have a gullet width that looks quite good and still not fit the horse properly.

Think of the tree as the overall shape and structure of the saddle from front to back.

For example:

🔹 The front gullet angle may look like a reasonable match.

🔹 But the tree may be too curved for the horse's back, causing bridging.

🔹 Or the tree may be too flat for the horse's shape, preventing even contact through the panels.

🔹 The saddle may fit nicely through the front but not follow the horse's shape through the weight-bearing area.

This is where understanding your Back Map becomes really useful.

In Part 1 we looked at comparing front gullet angles. That's an important piece of the puzzle, but it's only one piece.

A saddle can have a reasonable front angle and still have other fit issues further back.

One of the reasons I love sharing customer photos is that they help turn these saddle fitting phrases into something visual.

Instead of hearing:
❌ "The tree doesn't fit."

We can start asking:
✔ What part doesn't fit?
✔ What am I actually seeing?
✔ What is the saddle telling me?

Because once you can see the shapes and understand what they mean, saddle fitting becomes a lot less mysterious 🐎✨

📸 All photos shared in this series are from custo

19/06/2026

Yes ,🙂

❌DON’T SADDLE TOO FAR FORWARD

🧨Avoid pressure on the shoulder
🧨Let the scapula move freely
🧨The girth groove shouldn’t determine
saddle placement.

❌WHY IT MATTERS
Pressure over the scapula can alter movement and contribute to muscle soreness and atrophy .

❌TIGHT ISN’T ALWAYS RIGHT

🧨Excess pressure can reduce comfort
🧨May affect breathing and movement
🧨Secure the saddle without over-tightening

❌WHY IT MATTERS

🧨Excessive cinch pressure around the sternum, pectoral muscles, and rib cage can cause discomfort, affect breathing, and create tension through the horse’s back.

🧨keep it simple when cinching https://www.winnhorses.org/schedule drop in and see us while we are in your town.

19/06/2026

🐎 Understanding Your Back Map – Learning to Read the Lines

One of the reasons I've been sharing more Back Map comparison photos lately is because every horse and saddle combination tells a slightly different story.

The more examples we look at, the easier it becomes to understand what the shapes and angles are actually telling us.

All of the photos I've been sharing are from customers using their Ralph's Back Maps to better understand their own horses and saddle fit. It's been really interesting seeing the variety of horse shapes, saddle types and fitting challenges people are working through.

In this example, I've drawn lines along the Back Map and the saddle gullet to help compare the angles.

📏 If the saddle angle is steeper (more closed) than the Back Map, the saddle may be too narrow through the front.

📏 If the saddle angle is flatter (more open) than the Back Map, the saddle may be too wide through the front.

These comparisons aren't about finding a perfect match or making a diagnosis from a photo. They're about helping us understand what adjustments might be worth investigating next.

One of my favourite things to do is add comparison lines and then flip the image upside down 🤓. For some reason, our brains often pick up differences in angles much more easily when the image is reversed.

That's why you'll probably see me posting lots of comparison photos over the coming weeks. The more examples we see, the easier it becomes to recognise patterns and understand what the Back Map is showing us.

📸 If you have photos of your Back Map compared with your saddle, feel free to send them through. I'd love to draw some lines on them and chat about what we're seeing together.

After all, saddle fitting gets a lot easier when you can actually see what's happening 🐎✨