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Does
your horse need a new saddle?
Treed Saddles should be checked every six months, due to the changing shape
of your horse which may be due to greater workouts, or getting fatter from
spring grass! Or youngsters from work and growth!
Many problems can be caused by saddles that do not fit correctly. Things to look for:-
Behavioural problems:- rearing, bucking, napping, biting, refusal to be mounted, or girthed up are just some of the problems that can be caused by the saddle. Please be aware that they are not always caused by the saddle but if your horse is showing these signs please get your saddler to check the fit of your saddle.
Pain and discomfort:- May also be shown by the horse other than through behavioural problems. Over the years I have become aware that you may have bought a very good saddle that does fit your horse but your horse doesn't accept it. Just because it fits and you like it consider changing it to a saddle that your horse accepts and is comfortable in. Most of us have a pair of boots that we wear for mucking out and daily yard duties etc, these boots are so comfortable you wouldn't buy another make, even though the other make is exactly the same size. I think our horses deserve the choice of which saddle they prefer.
Restriction
of movement- The horse may have problems rounding and coming
into an outline, may find transitions difficult and a shorter stride may
also be noticeable. Difficulty may also be experienced in working on one
rein and not the other.
..
My biggest cause for concern has always been where saddles are being placed on the horse. This is something that I come across time and time again and my clients always ask why they have never been shown before? The saddle should fit behind the shoulder blades. Find your horses shoulder blade and make sure your saddle is sitting 1 fingers width between shoulder and saddle. If your saddle is positioned too far forward i.e. sitting on the shoulders, the treed saddle will twist from left to right across the spine as each shoulder moves, this is before the hinderance of the rider. With the rider his job is made so much harder, and development of the chest area is restricted.(see saddle fitting)
The girth should be placed a hands width from the horses elbow to beginning of the girth. If it is placed too far forward it will sit on the very sensitive area of skin, also this will pull the saddle forward and maybe over the shoulder blades, causing discomfort. With the SBS and extremely wide and flat backed horses, caution should be exercised as with all treeless saddles. Heather strongly advocates the Professionals Choice dressage girth. This girth is elasticated at both ends, if only one end is elastricated the saddle will be pulled unequally to one side. The girth has a wide neoprene strip on the side nearest the horse, which is velcroed and can be removed for easy washing, and gives considerable adhesion. This girth will be available from Heather very soon.
The photos below are of Bones and Baby. As you can see their withers and top line are strong with no signs of atrophy. Our horses are ridden for up to 3 hours, 5 times a week. The very hairy and muddy one is bones, before starting work and his new life with us in Exmoor.
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The Baby doing ealy lateral movements with ease
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Saddle Fitting
IMPORTANT
Always position your saddle behind the shoulder blades, if you position
it too far forward and on top of the shoulder blades you will be crushing
your horse. Stand behind a friend and put your arms around their shoulders
and squeeze your arms together, your friend should feel their shoulders
being crushed and are unable to move freely, also if they now put their
arms out in front of them and you do the same thing again, their hands will
meet and it will be hard for them to move them apart because you are restricting
the shoulders.
If this happens to your horse, he can not develop his chest muscles and his front feet will be very close together. Once you have put your saddle behind the shoulder blades, check that it is not to long and sitting on his loans. There should be at least 6 inches clearance between the whorl and the back of the saddle. These pictures show a saddle that is too long.
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Now check that the seat is horizontal to the ground. With Treed saddles if the pommel is too high, this means that the saddle is too narrow, the riders weight will now be concentrated at the back of the saddle and will cause pressure and bruising in the loin area. If the pommel is too low the saddle may need reflocking or if it is due to your horse having been out of work and subsequently lost muscle in the wither area, don't reflock the saddle, but put suitable padding under the front, which will allow your horse to develop muscle again.
When putting your girth on, don't be tempted to put it to far forward. It should sit a hands width from elbow to Beginning of girth. If it is to far forward it will be tightened on the very sensitive skin just behind the elbow
