Saddle Fitting Tips from an Amateur Saddle Fitter
Recently we’ve been focusing a lot on the straightness of the horse and rider. An important piece of the Dressage training scale IS straightness of both the horse and rider. It is very important to have a properly fitting saddle that sits straight and balanced on the horses’ back and helps the rider stay in the correct position.
It is best to have a certified saddle fitter come out and properly assess and check for the proper fit of the saddle but there are some basics of saddle fit that anyone can learn and use to assess saddle fit.
Here are things to consider when looking at saddle fit:
Assess the horses’ back – Is the horse wide or narrow? Short or long in the back? High withers or no withers? Uphill or downhill? These observations will give you a starting point for the type of saddle you need for your horse.
Does the saddle look like it fits? When you put the saddle on the horses’ back it should more or less “fit like a glove.” You should not see any big holes or spaces under the saddle. The saddle should look evenly balanced and have even contact on the horses’ back.
Does the saddle rock on the horses’ back? If you put one hand on the front of the saddle and one hand on the back of the saddle, the saddle should feel stable on the horses’ back.
Does the saddle fit the horses shoulder? When you run your hand down the front of the saddle, the saddle should sit behind the horses’ shoulder and allow the horse to move freely in the shoulder.
Does the saddle sit straight on the horses’ back? Often saddles will have the tendency to fall off either to the left or the right on the horses’ back. It is very important that the saddle sits in the middle of the horses back and does not put pressure on the spine. Shims can be used to help straighten a saddle that falls off to the side. (Watch the video for an explanation of shims)
A correctly fitted and properly balanced saddle is essential in Dressage. It is impossible to ride correctly in an ill fitted saddle and it is not nice for the horse either. I am a frugal person but having a good saddle that fits your horse is an absolute necessity!
