Saddle Fitting & Horse Bit Consultants
Saddle Fitting
Saddle Checks and Saddle Fitting
Following your saddle fitting enquiry.
We will send you a list of fact finding questions prior to our visit to understand the current circumstances that have led you to requesting a saddle fitting and so that we can consider designs and sizing that will be more relevant to your needs for your chosen discipline.
Having taken comprehensive details of you and your horse, our first visit will involve a full assessment of your horse both in hand and under saddle.
In order to carry this out please make sure the following requirements, where possible, are met:
In Hand Assessment
Please present your horse groomed and ready to be ridden.
Make sure that the main rider of the horse is present as a saddle needs to be suitable for both horse and rider
We will need a flat level surface to assess your horse standing "in hand" and in walk and trot.
Templates will be taken to record shape and condition on the day of fitting.
The following aspects of saddle fit will be checked.
- Examination of the horses confirmation and skeletal Structure.
- Riders physique and needs.
- Fit of tree ,width, and shape.
- Saddle length
- Saddle design
- Panel Contact
- Saddle balance and stability
- Clearance of Spine and withers
- Position of girth straps in relation to the saddle and girth groove.
Ridden Assessment
We fit saddles for the horse when under movement and so the ridden assessment is essential to understand how the saddle will perform under ridden conditions, and the rider can assess leg position and comfort.
- A safe level area to ride, ideally a riding arena.
- All riders must wear a riding hat that meets current British standards.
- Show jumps available for jumping saddle enquiries in order to assess a saddles performance over a fence if necessary.
- Your normal girth, stirrup leathers and saddle pads so these can be discussed and checked for suitability with a new or existing saddle.
Once the assessment has been carried out our findings will be discussed with you as to what is required so that you and your horse’s needs are fully met.
Saddle Check
An existing saddle check will involve the above considerations and assess such things as flocking distribution and volume, saddle tree damage, girth strap wear, and fit on the horse and rider.
If your saddle is slipping to one side, or backwards this is indicative of a saddle fit or girthing problem. If the saddle is lifting at the back, again saddle fit needs looking at. The saddle fit over the withers is extremely important as the shoulder can become impinged if it is too tight and reduce free movement of the shoulder, or if the fit is too wide the saddle will tend to drop and lift at the back preventing the saddle sitting in balance. If the saddle gullet is too narrow it will impact on the horses spinal areas.
Horses that are being ridden in a saddle that is not fitting correctly can become injured and swelling or rubs may appear.
Horses that are growing, changing weight, developing or losing muscle, will change the saddles fit and this can cause problems of saddle stability and the development of discomfort due to possible pinching, rubbing, compression of soft tissues, and riders weight being distributed badly causing pressure on spinal processes, muscles and soft tissue areas.
The horses shoulder freedom is extremely important for expressive movement, and so we have to ensure that there is adequate support while maintaining the shoulders freedom to move as intended.
Regular saddle checks are an essential part of your saddle maintenance routine and help reduce the need for remedial physio of chiropractic visits. It is a good idea to discuss this with the saddle fitter for your particular circumstances and agree a maintenance check period and visit cycle.
Think about this.
With the enormous amount of hard work and expenditure that goes into getting a horse to a competition fit and ready to perform, it never ceases to amaze us just how many horses are working in badly fitting saddles. Saddles that are either shimmed or padded which were never bought or fitted for the horse in question. Why would you not go the extra mile and make sure the saddle fits for maximum comfort and freedom of movement so that the rider can get the best performance from the horse or pony and in some cases less attitude or back chat from your equine partner.
The old adage, of a runner with a pebble in the shoe is not likely to win the race, seems very appropriate here.