Also, read step by step guide how to fit a saddle - By now, most riders are aware that the saddle must fit both horse and rider. If the saddle does not fit the horse, they may develop muscle atrophy, pinched nerves, soreness, and potentially skeletal damage if worn long term and incorrectly.
For the rider, the saddle is a tool to be used to enhance the connection and communication between the seat and the horse’s back. An incorrectly fitted saddle may place the rider in an incorrect position, which can also be detrimental to the horse and rider’s comfort and to effective riding.
How Do I Know If My Horse Saddle Fits?
There are multiple points to check to determine if your saddle is a properly functional piece of tack or an uncomfortable hindrance to you and your horse.
Below are just a couple to start with:
1. See how many fingers (vertically) you can fit between your horse’s withers and the pommel of the saddle. The number should be 3-4. There needs to be enough space to accommodate for added weight (rider) to push down the saddle. If there is not enough space, the saddle will rub your horse’s withers and the rest of the spinal processes. Check the rest of the saddle channel and compare, is there enough room for the spine to be unharmed?
2. When you sit in the saddle, how much space is between your seat and the end of the cantel? There should be about 4 fingers to a hand’s width. Less room would mean you might need to increase in seat size (measured in inches from the nail head diagonally to the middle of the cantle).
3. When sitting in the saddle, no part of your leg should meet or extend passed the saddle flap and knee roll. A well-fitted saddle to the rider should compliment and properly steady the leg in a correct and comfortable position.
4. Test Ride- during a test ride, get in a good work out so you and your horse sweat. This will be a helpful tool when determining fit for the horse. When you remove the saddle and saddle pad, there should be no dry spots. Dry spots could indicate pinching, creating discomfort for the horse.
5. Watch and feel your horse move with the saddle on. Does it hinder their movement? Do they move better than before? Do they pin their ears or not want to move forward easily? A correctly fitted saddle for the horse should allow the horse to display natural, forward movement without pain.
As always, consult a veterinarian if you are finding lameness issues. A poorly fit saddle that has been used long term may result in damage to your horse’s body on the spine, shoulder blade and potentially muscle fiber damage.
To avoid this, periodically evaluate the fit of the saddle for your horse. As your horse’s muscle content and formation changes, so do the fit of the saddle! A saddle may fit perfectly when it is first brought to the barn, but with developed muscle tone, it can result in required adjustments to be made. Sometimes adjustments can be minor and just require re-flocking of the saddle. This is only to be done by a professional saddle fitter.
A professional saddle fitter is a great resource to use to check the saddle fit on the horse. Saddles also have different fits by brand. For example, the regular size gullet in a Henri de Rivel is not going to be exactly the same regular as a Circuit saddle. If you’ve found a saddlery brand that you are going for, use their fitters for that saddle as they know the product inside and out.
If you are looking for one of the best saddle brands than buy HDR saddles
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