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Kaye
11 Feb 2009 15:40
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I've seen so many ads selling saddles that someone has bought for their horse, only to find it doesn't fit. How does one "fit" a saddle to a horse?
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Horse Hero Guru
12 Feb 2009 10:40
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The quick answer is you get a qualified saddle fitter to do so.
It is always tempting to buy a cheap saddle online or elsewhere, often without actually even seeing the saddle, but then you really are just taking a risk (and often big one) just as if you were buying shoes in the same way. Has the person selling the saddle measured it properly and, even if they have, do you know what size your horse is? Then there is the fact that different brands of saddles measure differently. If you want to do it yourself there are several easy checks you should make – and everyone should make at regular intervals since horses change shape as they mature, get fitter or fatter.
I would first put the saddle on the horse’s back without a girth and check it is the right size – not too long to reach past the last rib and put pressure on the loins. Next check that the angle of the tree is roughly the same as the angle of the horse’s shoulder (this is the tree that you can see going in to the pockets under the flaps, not the leather of the saddle). Check that there is sufficient clearance between the pommel and the horse’s withers, not just a t the top but also at the sides of the withers, and also that you can run your hand easily under the flap all the way down each side of the shoulder. Does the saddle fit levelly all the way along the horse’s back? Does it rock from front to back or side to side?
Next do the girth up and check everything again and then put a rider on and do the same. Finally, after working the horse, check the clearance at the front again and also look at the sweat marks which should be even across all the load bearing surfaces. I hope this helps, but really want to stress that you shouldn’t buy saddles without trying them on your horse and, preferably, getting them checked by a qualified saddle fitter.
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pepper93
02 Sep 2009 16:54
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I would agree to get it fitted by an experienced saddler although the reply above has a good explanation that you can do yourself.
When i got my ponys saddle fitted we used a wire hanger to mould to the shape of the back and then brought it with us when we took our pony to get the saddle fitted.
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Giovanni
03 Nov 2009 16:48
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Even if you get a qualified saddler it is a good idea to do the checks yourself to make sure you are not being conned saddlers seem to be very good at selling and not so much on customer service. Obviously good ones and bad but at the end of the day they are a sales person.
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Cluny
28 Nov 2009 17:17
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"Even if you get a qualified saddler it is a good idea to do the checks yourself to make sure you are not being conned saddlers seem to be very good at selling and not so much on customer service. Obviously good ones and bad but at the end of the day they are a sales person."
I wholeheartedly agree! IMHO there seem to be more bad fitters out there who are willing to try and sell the unsuspecting owner a more expensive saddle that does not fit (or just fits the rider) than maybe a cheaper better fitting saddle.
However, I do believe that it is up to us, the horse owner, to gain enough knowledge to know what is right and what is wrong.
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Fiona Price
28 Nov 2009 17:44
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You'll all be pleased to know we recently filmed a session on how to fit a saddle which is yet to be published. It's highly informative and coming soon (in Dec '09).
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joallan
13 May 2010 20:55
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I always use a 17 inch saddle, and I feel I am on the limit re my comfort and balance, but I see girls with far bigger bums than me with a 17 inch saddle, to me they must be most uncomfortable. My instructor (age 19 and well built) rode my horse and told me that she could not sit up straight at the canter in my saddle, but did not seem to appreciate my comment (I was reasonably subtle) that she would be a far better rider if she lost a stone!.
I always thought that a bigger saddle would be required for the rider, assuming that the horse can take it (most girls seem unwilling to accept that they are oversize (as I see it), and that this very much inhibits their athleticism).
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Horse Hero Guru
14 May 2010 00:35
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I agree that it is important for the rider to feel comfortable in the saddle if they are to ride effectively, but remember that the rider only sits on the saddle – the horse has to wear it.
The main priority has to be that the saddle fits the horse and so the length of the tree should be appropriate to the horse. If the rider is too large for the saddle that fits the horse, they are probably too large for the horse as well.
Few of us are the shape we would like to be – it is a shame that riding and mucking out does not seem to be sufficient exercise to overcome the joys of food – but I agree that many of us would be far better riders if we shed a few pounds and inches!
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