Taking measurements – Passier saddles

Passier makes each saddle to measure: the tree and panels are adjusted to your horse's back. To do this, the saddlery needs two things: the outline of the back's shape and three photos. Here's how to take them, either on your own or with us.

The principle in one diagram

Annotated horse skeleton showing reference points A, E, 1, 2, 3, D, B and C for taking measurements for a Passier saddle

A — the shoulder blade (scapula). The flat bone you can feel moving under your hand when the horse moves its foreleg forward. All measurements are located from this point.
E — the chalk marks. The three positions marked on the back before starting.
① ② ③ — the three crosswise outlines. The first two or three finger-widths behind the shoulder blade, the second 15 cm farther back, and the third another 15 cm farther back.
D — the lengthwise outline. Placed along the spine, it extends beyond ① and ③ on each side.
B — correct. The wire lies against the back along its entire length.
C — to avoid. The taut wire “bridges”: it leaves gaps underneath and the outline obtained is incorrect.

What you need

A flexible wire approximately 2 mm in diameter and 50 cm long (baling wire works very well);
A stick of chalk to mark the positions on the back;
A large sheet of white paper for transferring the outlines: the curves of the back are much larger than A4 format, so use a sheet of paperboard or two A4 sheets taped together lengthwise;
A fine-tip marker;
The printed Passier form (download link at the bottom of the page);
A camera or phone.

1. Mark the three positions with chalk

Before placing the wire, locate the shoulder blade and mark the three positions with chalk on the back: the first two or three finger-widths behind the shoulder blade, then 15 cm farther back, and another 15 cm farther back. This is reference point E in the diagram.

These marks save time and prevent two common errors: the spacing shifting from one outline to the next, and being unable to place the wire in the same spot again if an outline needs to be redone.

2. The three crosswise outlines

Place the wire across the spine, on the first mark, lying flat against the back: there must be no gap between the wire and the horse (reference points B and C in the diagram). Repeat on the second and then the third mark.

After each outline, place the wire flat on your large sheet, without distorting it, and trace its contour with the fine-tip marker. Number the three outlines 1, 2 and 3.

3. The lengthwise outline

Next, place the wire along the spine, so that it extends beyond the three marks on each side. Transfer its shape onto the same sheet, then mark the points where this outline crosses the three crosswise outlines. These intersections allow Passier to reconstruct the back in three dimensions.

Write your horse's name and the date on the sheet: it travels with the form.

4. The three photos

Saddle the horse with its saddle pad and work it for about ten minutes before taking the photos. Then place it on level ground, standing squarely on all four legs, with its head held high. Take:

a photo of the horse saddled, from the left side;
a photo from the front, aligned with the saddle's channel, showing the space between the withers and the channel;
a photo of the horse from the left side, with the saddle removed.

5. The form

Complete the information sheet: saddle model, saddle number (engraved under the flap, for a saddle you already own), horse's name, breed and age, as well as your contact details. Age matters: it helps anticipate changes in the horse's conformation, which are particularly significant in a young horse that is still growing or developing muscle. If the form does not include a box for the age, write it next to the name. The form is in English: call us if you are unsure about any field and we will fill it out with you.

6. Send everything to us

Drop off or mail the sheet with the outlines, the completed form and the three photos to the saddlery. We will handle sending everything to Passier and follow up on the process.

Sellerie Bucéphale
Quartier Bonne Barbe
CS 18005
84105 ORANGE CEDEX

New saddle made to order: allow approximately two months for production.
Readjustment of a Passier saddle you already own: the saddle is sent with the paperwork; Passier states that workshop processing takes around ten working days, plus shipping time.

Good to know: on models with a PS tree, the tree width remains adjustable afterward, making it possible to accommodate changes in your horse's musculature.