The Importance of Saddle Fitting

COULD YOUR SADDLE FIT BE AN ISSUE?

Has your horse recently come back into work after a Winter Break?  Has your horse gained weight with Spring grass?  Are you finding that you are tiling forward or backwards, or just don’t feel right in the saddle?  Is your horse not working properly or does he seem to be sore in the back?

If it’s been more than 6 months since your last saddle fit, or you’ve answered “Yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to book a Saddle Fit.

Like us, horses change shape throughout the year, particularly when seasons change which impacts weight and when their workload changes.  Any change in horse shape impacts the Saddle Fit which can impact your balance and ability to correctly apply your aids.

Saddle Fitting is an important part of horse maintenance to manage their wellbeing.

A correctly adjusted Saddle provides even distribution of the rider’s weight through even pressure of saddle panels along the horse’s back.  The correct gullet profile to wither profile is the first step to ensure a correct fit.  These factors combined with the correct placement of the saddle tree points to the back of the shoulder blade, provides stability and enables freedom of movement through the shoulder, making the saddle more comfortable for the horse.  The more comfortable the horse is, the greater the likelihood the horse is able to perform at his best.

ALWAYS USE AN EXPERIENCED SADDLE FITTER

Saddle Fitting is not an exact science and it takes years of experience to become an experienced Saddle Fitter who is familiar with various horse conformations and be across the vast amount of saddle brands and styles available in the Australian Market.

EQ Saddlery works with a network of highly experienced Independent Saddle Fitters who work for you, to deliver the ultimate Saddle Fit for you and your horse.

QUICK CHECK LIST – IS IT TIME TO GET A SADDLE FIT?

To help you qualify whether it’s time for a fit, here is a quick checklist for you

• Does your saddle have any issues before it is on the horse?
• Does your saddle have any lumps in the panels?  Any lumps and bumps along the panel that sits on the horses back will result in uneven pressure and can correspond with pain points on your horse.
• If your saddle has any issues, it’s time to book a Saddle Fit!
• Is your saddle sitting in the right spot for your horse?
• Not too far forward. Not too far back. The saddle needs to sit just right.
• The saddle needs to sit so tree points (under stirrup bar) are sitting the width of 2 fingers behind the back of the shoulder blade to enable stability and freedom of movement.
• If you are unsure about the correct placement of your saddle, your Saddle Fitter can show you as part of the Saddle Fit process
• Is your Gullet the right size for your Horse?
• The angle of the gullet should be parallel with the horse’s withers and the pressure should be even without any tight spots as you run your hand between the front of your saddle and your horse.
• If the angle is not parallel and/or you feel uneven pressure, it’s time to book a Saddle Fit.
• Are your Saddle Panels providing even pressure along horse’s back
• There should be even pressure down the panels of the saddle. You can check this by running your hand under the panels of your saddle while putting slight pressure onto the saddle from the seat with your other hand
• Check for bridging: High pressure points at the front and back of the saddle with less pressure in the centre of the saddle.  Often these high pressure areas can correspond with back pain
• Check for rocking: High pressure in the centre of the saddle with less pressure at the front and back of the saddle.  Often these high pressure areas can correspond with back pain
• If you find that there is uneven pressure, it’s time to book a Saddle Fit
• Does the back of your saddle match your horse’s back?
• The rear saddle view profile needs to match the horse’s spine profile so there is even pressure across your horses back.  Panels that dig into the horse’s back do not correctly fit your horse and are likely lead to back pain.  If the back panels are ‘floating’, your saddle also does not fit properly.
• Do you saddle back panels match the shape of your horse’s back?  If not it’s time to book a Saddle Fit.
• Does your saddle have sufficient wither clearance?
• There should be roughly 3-4 fingers (2-4 fingers for Dressage saddles) worth of clearance between the horses wither and the saddle pommel.  Clearance changes as the shape of your horse changes.
• If you are concerned that your saddle does not have sufficient clearance, it’s time to book a Saddle Fit
• Are you feeling unbalanced in the Saddle?
• Do you feel like you are leaning forwards or backwards when you sit in the saddle on your horse? Does the centre of the saddle look too far forward or too far back? A
• test you can use it to put pressure at the front or back of the saddle – the saddle should not rock and should stay even and balanced. (Left to right: Uphill, Downhill, Balanced)
• If you are concerned about Balance, it’s time to book a Saddle Fit

IF YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH YOUR QUICK SADDLE FIT CHECK, IT’S TIME TO BOOK A SADDLE FIT?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW SADDLE?

EQ Saddlery provides a great range of Saddles at the Best Prices.  Our range covers all disciplines including all-purpose, dressage, jumping, stock and western saddles. We stock the Best Brands including Arena, Wintec, Bates, Kieffer, Ideal, Amerigo, Ord River, Toowoomba and Ezy Ride!

If you are interested in a new saddle, ask our friendly staff who can assist you and can also arrange for you to Try before you Buy with our network of Independent Saddle Fitters.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR NEW SADDLE!

EQ Saddlery also has a great range of saddle mounts including stirrup leathers, stirrups and girths.  We also stock a great range of Saddle Cleaners, Oils and Dressings and are more than happy to ensure you have everything you need to care for your new Saddle Purchase.

Endorsed by Paul Buckland