(Dressage) Saddle fitting for dummies?

Pigeon

Pigeon

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Saddle fitting has always been a bit of a dark art for me!

I was wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of a good book or website that explains the basics? Is a tool like Equimeasure worth it?

I've done my hip in and have found certain saddles have hurt less - so sort of considering buying a new one. However it would have to be second hand, and I am so particular about what I like! I really doubt I can find a local saddler that is selling the brands I want second hand.

Has anyone learnt to fit their own saddles? Had success buying online without the help of a proper fitter?
 
Could a saddle fitter help you with styles and sizes to look out for? Then you could buy yourself and get the fitter back out to check and adjust? Some will work with any makes and charge for advice and fitting as required?
 
Would a fitter be up for doing that if I wasn't going to buy from them? The problem I have had is all of the local saddlers have a particular brand that they sell (which is not what I want) - and the ones who have second hand stuff have a v. limited range.
 
It would be helpful if you could tell us the brand and exact saddle you want followed by pics of your horses back to get a general idea if the tree shape would be suitable :)
 
I can't see why a saddle fitter would not be prepared to help. You would be paying at least two sets of call out. Many don't sell second hand saddles at all, and those who do only do so as a side line, not a main element of profit. You'd cut out a loss of guess work, and potentially save yourself a lot of money, by being about to narrow down your choices.
 
Mine does exactly that. She does have a handful of second hand saddles to sell and can order in brand new saddles,but shes a fitter not a saddle seller. She comes out, spends a good hour at least doing an assessment then tells you exactly what you need to look for. Then when you have something suitable she comes back and tweaks it as necessary. She charges me £40 for a visit :)
 
What brands are you after and have you and your horse tried them before?

You could always ask your saddle fitter to help you source one, they may well come across one on a trade in or similar
 
depending on what you're looking for, but with some practice it's not that hard to learn assess saddle fit on a horse that is a pretty average shape IMO :) it's more difficult to learn to trust yourself! I can't remember the last time I had a saddle fitter out... I have latex and air flocked saddles, not wool flock. The Wow I now adjust the air myself, have always changed my own headplates etc. The latex one is shimmed to fit if the horses change.

Practice with any horse you can get your hands on, to learn to feel how saddles sit on their backs. I'm not suggesting anyone should just throw caution to the wind and ignore professional advice, but you should be able to learn to check how it sits down the front, down the gullet, does it bridge, is it level on the horse's back or tipping forwards/backwards - is the horse straight (is the SADDLE straight!) etc etc.
Then you can check the fit throughout the seasons yourself :) Your horse will also give you the best feedback.
 
milliepops said:
depending on what you're looking for, but with some practice it's not that hard to learn assess saddle fit on a horse that is a pretty average shape IMO :) it's more difficult to learn to trust yourself! I can't remember the last time I had a saddle fitter out... I have latex and air flocked saddles, not wool flock. The Wow I now adjust the air myself, have always changed my own headplates etc. The latex one is shimmed to fit if the horses change.

Practice with any horse you can get your hands on, to learn to feel how saddles sit on their backs. I'm not suggesting anyone should just throw caution to the wind and ignore professional advice, but you should be able to learn to check how it sits down the front, down the gullet, does it bridge, is it level on the horse's back or tipping forwards/backwards - is the horse straight (is the SADDLE straight!) etc etc.
Then you can check the fit throughout the seasons yourself :) Your horse will also give you the best feedback.
Click to expand...

You mean, the way it used to be done before everyone forgot how to do anything? :-)
 
Cortez said:
You mean, the way it used to be done before everyone forgot how to do anything? :-)
Click to expand...

well...yeah,I do think that places like this forum are great for sharing some kinds of knowledge and information, but can be disempowering in other ways - every behaviour related thread, for example, starts with getting saddle fitter, vet, physio and dentist out before proceeding. There is so much that an observant and experienced owner can learn to do for themselves first. I guess the prob on here is you don't know the level of expertise of every possible reader so people tend to answer assuming the OP doesn't know anything :/
 
Haaa that's the thing! My saddler at the moment is very good (but only sells new and his brand is a bit hard/flat for my hip) but I've had bad ones in the past, and feel a bit vulnerable having to rely entirely on a pro! But you're really not encouraged to try to learn yourself!

My horse is enough of a drama queen to let me know if he doesn't like a saddle :p

I like Wow, Devoucoux and Equipe (can you tell why it needs to be second hand?) ;) I want it to be light so probably a monoflap. Equipes seem to fit him well, and they're so light, haven't tried him in a Devoucoux.
 
so you've got a few options -
You could get a fitter in from further afield that has a good selection of second hand saddles of the kind you like (unlikely to find wow in the same group as the others though)

Or try popping different saddles on him (friends, others on yard, trainers?) so you learn how to fit it yourself. Lots of the equipes about, they come up 2nd hand quite often (I've got one you'd be welcome to try if you were closer!) Do you have any experienced bods around who could give you some pointers? or have a google, I bet there's some decent vids on youtube somewhere that would show you where and what to check.

Wows are harder to learn to do yourself IMO because there are so many variables, but not impossible.. it's harder to get used to adjusting the air because you really need to be on the horse to feel how it fits, but trial and error is a good way to learn!

Wow will be nowhere near as light as the likes of equipe unless you go brand new - I've got a leather tree one and it's probably 2 x the weight of my equipe. The brand new ones are comparable to other monoflaps IMO, so something to consider if that's really of any importance.

Even if you get a fitter out, try to learn it for yourself anyway... I had a bit of instruction when doing my BHS stages so perhaps even a decent riding school that does some stable management exams would be able to help you out if you are struggling with it.
 
Thank you :D I think Equipe may be the way to go!!! They are about half the weight of my ideal and way more supportive for my hip. They also seem to hold their value well, and the one I tried on did fit apparently. Pips saddle is a medium but it's fitted with a sheepskin numnah, I would probably keep that on (or maybe switch to an acavallo pad).

Do you like yours? Is it comfortable?
 
I like mine, I have the Emporio. I wasn't looking for a new saddle at the time but I won it in a competition and when the rep came with the trial saddle I liked it so much, I decided to keep it and sell my previous saddle :)

It's very close contact, I found I could feel so much more than before. My friend doesn't like it as she finds the twist too narrow, but it suits me well - the blocks are in a good place for me and I just don't have to give the saddle a second thought. Mine is MW and currently fits Millie without a pad, and Kira has a mattes pad with shims as she's more of a medium width.
 
Equipe, Amerigo and prestige are I am told are all made in the same factory - they kind of all look alike I suppose so if you like equipe then maybe don't rule the other two out

OP I would try and ride in a devoucoux and a wow before you decide, I like wow, don't like devoucoux and think Equipe are OK but I wouldn't personally buy one.

Wow will be difficult to try 2nd hand but why not get a fitter out so you can see if you like them and then look for a second hand one


Devoucoux sometimes come up on saddles direct
 
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