how much does horses condition dictate width of saddle needed

[clancysunny2]

i have a new saddle which was fitted by master saddle mid january. The horse wasn't parti fit when saddle was fitted. it was only used for 6 weeks, when the horse had to be on box rest for a couple of weeks. We then resumed work, but after 3 days of riding i realised the back was v sore, checked the saddle, and i could see it was too big. he now hasn't been ridden for over a wk, and still counting. i am being told that it could be down to his change of topline and the saddle did fit when i bought it, but another person has told me that the saddle width fits the horses frame, and this doesnt really alter that much regardless of horses condition. Any opinions?

 

[windseywoo]

Would be interested with commits on this also as I'm planning on getting a new saddle, but horsey so fat at moment do think any saddle fitted now would be too wide when he's (hopefully!!!) a bit leaner. Have started the fittening programme as he came out of the winter way to well.

 

[Luci07]

Talk to your saddler but unfortunatley the person who told you that the saddle would fit the horses frame regardless of condition was talking cobbers! My gelding had to have a completely different saddle once he had lost some of his baby fat and muscled up - but I am suprised your saddler didn't suggest a temporary fit while your horse was changing shape. Mine (master saddler) will always fit around what I have while the horse is changing shape (ie pads etc if needed)

 

[soloequestrian]

Unless they are obese, horses don't carry much weight in the saddle area, so I would agree that the saddle should be appropriate for the horses frame and muscle development. A healthy back will not change shape particularly with the horse's fitness - the muscles under the saddle don't hypertrophy in response to ridden exercise. What happens in most horses however is that a traditional saddle will impede development of the muscles under the points of the saddle, usually to the point that they atrophy. This is why many horses change shape with fitness. For saddles that don't cause this to happen, look at Balance International - they have a different philosophy towards fitting saddles compared with traditional saddlers, and it works. My 19-year old mare has a very healthy back (no dips behind her withers), and has had the same saddle and pad combination through summer, winter, and recently after a period of box rest, for many years.

 

[nikkimariet]

Agreeing with Luci07 - Whoever said saddles fit regardless of condition is talking a load of BS.

Bruce has gone down from M/W Albion SLK to a size 0 Bates Innova.... He has lost an EPIC amount of weight, from being grossly obese to being at nearly full fitness.

When your horse is back in full work, will he put on muscle/topline etc....or will he being losing weight as he comes back into exercise?? If it's the first one - ask your saddler what he would think of using a thick saddle pad/sheepskin riser etc temporarily (*not* long term basis obvs). If it's the second one, ask him if he thinks the saddle needs extra flocking for the meantime??

In any case, ask your saddler for advice - last thing you want to be doing is making your horses back sore on a regular basis.

 

[Honey08]

I agree with Lucio too. My horse changes drastically from winter when she is roughed off, to summer when she is event fit. Luckily my gelding's saddle fits her in winter! She is not obese in winter, but soft. Aa well fitting conventional saddle does not cause muscle atrophy. Event horses have worn traditional saddles for decades and managed to keep their muscle when fittened. Anyway, returning to the original topic, I must add that my gelding does not change shape half as much as my mare, so it obviously varies from horse to horse..

 

[soloequestrian]

My horse changes drastically from winter when she is roughed off, to summer when she is event fit. She is not obese in winter, but soft.

Aa well fitting conventional saddle does not cause muscle atrophy. Event horses have worn traditional saddles for decades and managed to keep their muscle when fittened.

These two statements seem mutually exculsive to me..... it it's not muscle atrophy in the summer time which is causing the change in shape, what is it? Have you ever tried anything different to see if what you believe is actually the case?

 

[marmalade76]

Interesting thread for me as I have a pone who gets quite fat in the summer and is a bit leaner in the winter.

I had a saddle fitter out yesterday and explained this to her, her answer was that the saddle was adjustable so I could have it changed at any time. Does anyone on here have their saddle adjusted twice a year to siut summer weight and winter weight?

 

[clancysunny2]

i think my question answered. i am pretty sure that when i meet saddler, he is going to tell me the horses shape has changed so there is nothing wrong with the saddle he sold me.
he'll take a template and show me? but i think in my case that's wrong, as horse whilst not in prime condition was hacking fit when saddle bought in mid jan, and in the 6 wks of using the new saddle i would like to think that we had improved the topline, but nothing drastic, and his condition did not change that much from 2 wks box rest. then 3 days hacking (1st at a walk) before realising saddle too wide and low. he's now had best part of 2 wks off. my saddler couldn't come out for 3 wks, so i called someone else who explained that just reflocking wouldn't work do - that's what i had hoped, and that i needed a narrower fitting saddle, and i have to say i agree.