May 27, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
Saddle fitting
Saddle fitting is an art and to correctly match a saddle to both horse and rider can require the expertise of a saddler. I have sat on a lot of saddles that felt uncomfortable to me and I expect many felt uncomfortable to the horse too.
Given the cost of saddles, it is often tempting to use the same saddle for different horses but this may not work well particularly if their size & conformation is quite different. I would generally advise that a saddle be checked for the horse by a saddler but an experienced horse owner/rider may be able to assist with this, at least to highlight any major problems. The key point is that the gullet is the correct width for the horse’s back. If it is too narrow, it will sit too high on the horse and nip its back and if it is too wide, it will press on the withers. A saddle pad or numnah will only be able to help with minor fit problems, not major ones. I would also recommend that a saddle is re-stuffed every few years particularly if it is being transferred from one horse to another.
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June 15th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Great article, we need to think more about the horses comfort factors.