Saddle Fitting
Did you know studies indicate 75-90% of all saddles in use do not properly fit the horse on which they are used?
Did you know improper saddle fit can cause back, hip and pelvis issues, permanent muscle damage, cervical (neck) issues, shoulder issues, lameness, behavioral issues, poor performance and pain?
The good news is that a properly fitting saddle can be found for almost every horse. However, finding a properly fitting saddle can be time consuming, take a lot of patience and knowledge, and often requires professional assistance. Additionally, even when the "right" saddle for the horse is found, it must fit the rider too. If not, the rider is also susceptible to painful back, hip, pelvis, leg, shoulder and neck issues, muscle damage (as well as some behavioral issues ☺).
Why is Proper Saddle Fit Important?
Proper saddle fit is a necessity for a happy, healthy, high performing horse. A properly fitting saddle will:
- Protect your horse's spine and surrounding musculature
- Distribute the rider's weight as evenly as possible across a broad area thereby avoiding pressure points, muscle damage and possible lameness
- Help enable your horse to properly use their ring of muscles which includes the neck, back, shoulders, hips, pelvis and haunches just to name a few key areas
The Six Components of Saddle Fitting
Holistic Horse Bodyworks performs a six component saddle fit evaluation. Each component has 10-30 individual items that are assessed.
- Component One: Saddle evaluation off the horse
- Component Two: Evaluation of the horse (Some of this may be done prior to component one.)
- Component Three: Saddle evaluation on the horse (static)
- Component Four: Evaluate the "rider's conformation" (if they give permission-oral and visual only)
- Component Five: Saddle evaluation with the rider up
- Component Six: Saddle evaluation with the rider riding
Examples of chalk impressions made during Component Six when the rider is riding
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Note the unevenness of the coloring right to left.
This saddle shows more contact and pressure at the front on the right side due to shoulder asymmetry of the horse which was exacerbated by uneven flocking in the saddle.
The white space on the left side toward the center also indicates a bridge.
The deep blue coloring on the back portion of the panel also indicates a pressure point.
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This saddle has very little contact toward the front. What little contact there is is only on the right side.
Most of the weight is on the back represented by the deep blue color. |
Saddle Shopping Aids and Tips
- Make Templates of Your Horse's Back
Both English and Western saddles come in different tree sizes. There is variance in the tree size from manufacturer to manufacturer even if the size has the same name. Making templates of your horse's back you can take with you when you are shopping can aid you in your search and save you time and money.
- Do not buy a saddle you cannot test ride. Most reputable saddle shops will allow customers to either take a saddle on trial with a deposit or allow a customer to buy a saddle and return it within a specified period of time if it does not fit the horse or rider. Private saddle sellers may or may not allow returns. Because of the complexities involved in saddle fitting, it is not advisable to purchase a saddle that cannot be test ridden and returned if needed.
- Saddle trees cannot be widened despite what you may read on the internet. Most trees are made of wood. There are also composite and fiberglass trees. Attempts to widen the tree can affect the structural integrity of the tree.
- Broken, cracked and fractured trees cannot be repaired. However, these saddles can continue to serve a valuable purpose. Holistic Horse Bodyworks presents hands-on saddle fitting clinics. Saddles with broken trees are a very effective teaching tool in these clinics. If you have a saddle with a broken tree and would like to donate it, please contact Ilene Nessenson. See the Upcoming Clinics page for the next scheduled clinic.
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