The right way to approach horse riding is to always make things better and more comfortable for the horse. Horse riders and owners are expected to ensure that their animals can move as freely as possible when they are on the trail, and a lot of this has to do with the crucial aspect of fitting a saddle. Just like rider safety and comfort are essential when choosing a saddle, a proper fit on the horse is crucial.
Even though horses are raised and trained to withstand saddles and all other elements of tack, the saddle will always feel strange to them even when they are older and have grown used to them. With this in mind, there should always be a goal of making sure that the saddle will fit them in a way that feels as natural as possible. Many horses will stop being obedient the moment they feel that something is off. Whether you follow the English or Western disciplines of horsemanship, you will need to become proficient at fitting the saddle; you should learn how it is done even if you are in a position that provides the benefit of someone else doing the fitting.
For this article, we will assume that the saddle has already been obtained after measuring both the horse and the rider. Now is your turn to test it and see that it fits the animal correctly. This may not be the only saddle you will use during your lifetime of horsemanship; let’s not forget that the weight and size of horses can vary according to their age, nutrition, and level of activity, so there is a good chance you may have to change saddles at some point in the future.
When it comes down to fitting a saddle, we are really looking out for the horse’s health rather than the safety and comfort of the rider; these factors should have already been addressed when measurements were taken. Moreover, we should not assume that the saddle will fit perfectly upon purchase, and this is why the first fitting will be vital. We will also be reviewing the various signs and symptoms of improper fit; be sure to pay attention to them because they could result in equine health issues if they persist.
English Saddles
In this riding discipline that favors shorter riding distances and more spirited galloping, English saddles tend to be lighter and smaller, but they can still create discomfort to the animal if they don’t fit adequately. The first fit will determine tack adjustments and the need for padding, so it should be completed without the saddle pad; the goal is to see how much the saddle slides around before it comes to a stop, which should always be a natural resting place somewhere behind the shoulder blades.
The points you will want to check during fitting include:
- Adequate wither clearance.
- Distance between cantle and pommel.
- Treewidth.
- Channel clearance.
- Seat length.
- Overall stability.
You always start with checking how much space you have between the wither and pommel, which should be about four fingers. The top of the pommel should not be higher than the cantle unless the saddle is designed for jumping. English saddles should provide a seating surface that is almost flat and parallel to the ground, and this is not for the comfort of the rider; if it tilts towards the back too much, for example, the horse will feel the effects of uneven weight bearing down on her loins.
As for the channel clearance, wider will always be better. In the past, English saddles featured narrow gullets that only took into account the spine; with modern saddles, the channel is wider because it gives enough space not just to the cartilage but also to the surrounding soft tissue. Some breeds are known to have wider spines, but this can vary from one horse to another. If you notice that the channel constricts the spine, this should be corrected with a gullet of greater width.
Finally, you need to remember that not all horses will be perfectly symmetrical, which means that you will need to make different adjustments on each side in order to achieve saddle stability. This is when you will be able to notice if there will be contact points on the sides of the pommel, which can be minimized with padding. Once the rider sits on the saddle, there should be enough clearance for someone to see daylight when standing behind the horse.
Western Saddles
This horse riding discipline makes the saddles larger and heavier, but they actually have more features that augment the comfort of both animals and riders. The Western discipline relies more on the use of padding to make Western saddles fit adequately, thus making them easier to purchase according to breed. Minimizing movement of the saddle is paramount because Western riding calls for longer trails, which means that friction wounds may result from excessive rubbing or pinching.
In essence, there are five issues you will want to avoid when fitting Western saddles:
- If the cinch is not aligned correctly, the saddle could slide, bounce, or move around in a way that forms girth galls and even open sores.
- When the saddle ends up being too long, even the widest channel will put pressure on the 18th vertebra, which can lead to chronic back pain and even bolting if the pressure is too strong.
- A bridging saddle that only makes contact in the front or the back will invariably cause muscle pain. The idea is to make the middle of the saddle sit firmly and uniformly across as many vertebrae as possible.
- If the tree angle does not provide enough clearance, there could be pinching points. If the pinching is right on a nerve cluster, the horse will toss its head around in desperation or even adopt a bucking behavior.
- Although a narrow channel is not too common in Western saddles, not all horses are born with the same spinal structure. You will want to err on the side of caution and use saddles that have a wide gullet unless working with a significantly narrow-withered breed.
Horses will go through anatomical changes as part of their development. Very muscular horses will resent saddles because the tree is not wide enough. All the same, a mature horse will not appreciate being fitted with a youth saddle when the rider is a heavier adult. Keep in mind that the muscle and skeletal structure of a mare will change after giving birth, and this may necessitate a different saddle fit.
Tips for Fitting Saddles
Whenever possible, you should conduct the fitting with a helper by your side. If you are going to be the rider, your helper will be able to see if there is enough clearance when you sit and put weight on the saddle; there is no way you can do this on your own. Needless to say, the helper would ideally be familiar with horses so that he or she is not standing too close to the animal when looking at the saddle from the back; this could result in a sudden kick.
Try different saddle pads to help achieve a good fit. English saddle pads and Western saddle pads and blankets come in a variety of styles and thicknesses. Bridging pads can be used for difficult fits. Contour pads help fit the shape of your horse’s back and are especially helpful for swayback horses.
You will want to be gentle during the fitting process. Keep in mind that a new saddle is an unknown piece of equestrian tack because the horse has never come into contact with it. An accidental pinch from an exposed stud or rivet may spook the horse. Do not be forceful with the cinching or adjustment. Let your horse get used to the new saddle.
Finally, it always helps to put the horse at ease right before the fitting session; this can be done with contact, feeding snacks, or letting the animal play around for a bit. Pay attention to the body language of the horse during fitting. If the ears are pinned and the teeth are showing, these are signs of discomfort that may escalate into bucking or kicking.