Saddleinformation

FACTS ABOUT SADDLE FITTING

Only few saddles truly fit the horse as it was meant to do.

Statistics say 80% of all saddles give problems due to:

• too narrow in the pommel
• hard panels
• asymmetry
• narrow gullet
• bridging
• tipping
• pressurepoints on the withers or kidney/loin area

Any of these will cause discomfort or pain to the horse and will always manifest itself in behavioral or physical problems.

Pressure points will develop due to too much pressure in a small area, recognized by white hairs or spots on your horses’ coat, accompanied by (temporary) swelling, but the damage has been done: Muscle tissue is destroyed; muscle atrophy. Exactly the opposite of what we are trying to accomplish with our training. We’ve all seen those horses witj pronounced withers with hollow spots on either side. The odds are that a poor fitting saddle was teh cause. Some will say:”But the saddle fits just right..” Yes, meanwhile it does, the horses’ body had adjusted to it in a negative way! Or one will say: “I’m using an extra pad, so it’s fine..”. Now that is like putting on an extra pair of socks with shoes that are a size too small. If we provide the problem area with more room, the damage tissue will recover in most cases. 

Many saddles have a gullet that is too narrow and panels that are rock hard.. This can cause severe pain and damage to the spine as it presses against the vertrebrae’s when asked for only the slightest bend and will result in head tossing, tail swishing, running away or other behavior being labeled as “bad” due to the horses’ inability to do what it has been asked. You don’t need to be an expert to recognize the signs your horse is giving you about your saddle:

• rearing
• dropping the back
• bitting during saddling
• being “clinchy”
• and so on

One by one we shouldn’t ignore.

A good saddle has specific, but also general characteristics. some guidelines are: You should be able to fit 3 rather 4 fingers between the panels (in the gullet), which should be wide, symmetric, soft and distribute weight evenly. Off course a saddle should never rest on the withers, you should be able to fit at least one finger after 15 minutes riding between pommel and withers. The angles of the tree points and shoulders should match; if these imaginary lines cross, you are in trouble!

And last but not least, YOU need to feel comfortable in your saddle and have the right seat size.