How to know if your saddle fitter is doing a good job?

[Sandstone1]

Has anyone got any basic tips on ways to check your saddle fitter is doing a good job? I know its hard to say as they have a lot of training etc, I am not asking for a in depth lesson on how to fit a saddle as thats what we pay a professional for! Getting a good fitter seems to be a nightmare with good and bad reviews for most of them!
Would just like a few basic tips on what to look for in a well fitting saddle. Thanks.

 

[milliepops]

I think its reasonably easy to get a general high level feel if you're perceptive and especially if you can practice on some different horses and saddles.
Things like assessing the width, the fit down the spine, does it tip forwards or backwards, does it bridge or is there even pressure under the length of the panel etc

If you get a few different horses and swap saddles round you can practice that.
You might not know the actual tree shape it was built on etc but you can tell which are fundamentally wrong and which might be right. There are some videos on YouTube to give some ideas and them hands on practice is useful.

Ultimately, then for an amateur I think feedback from other sources can give you extra assurances... is horse going well, does physio report sore spots or has the horse developed asymmetries, or has its muscle development improved, does the rider struggle to maintain their position etc.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Ask the horse, is the best advice I can give. If the horse isn't comfortable s/he will let you know but you might not understand the signals. Some horses will make it very clear, others will be more subtle. It's about knowing your horse, really.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

As Pearlsasinger has said, the horse will move better in a well fitted saddle.

You can also ask an equine therapist to check for any subtle signs of muscle ache or changes in way of going. Mine gets massage with a therapist every couple of months.

My saddler suggested running my hands down his back, where the saddle would sit, and looking for any sign of discomfort as I press on his back.

 

[soloequestrian]

1) Is your horse comfortable - doesn't mind having saddle put on/girthed up; happy when mounted and ridden (e.g. happy to stretch neck down so back comes up into the saddle).
2) Are you comfortable.

 

[cremedemonthe]

I'll send you an article on what to expect when a saddler or saddle fitter fits a saddle for you, hope it helps, Oz

 

[Zuzan]

All the above and just to add to MP's post above learn as much as you can about saddle fit / backs etc

There's a great book about saddle fit which I've found v helpful over the years.. The Horse's Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit book by Joyce Harman (vet)

 

[LEC]

I follow a page on Facebook called Saddlefitting.us and it’s great as has lots and lots of learning. Looking at what fits and what doesn’t and why.

 

[Lois Lame]

An excellent book (booklet) on saddle fitting is:
Allen Photographic Guides
Saddle Fitting
by
Kay Humphries

Terrific book. Got it sitting in front of me from my bookshelf. If you read it and digest it you can 'check out' your saddle fitter a little better.

 

[Bonnie Allie]

By the time you are standing watching your saddle fitter it really is a bit late to determine whether or not they are good at what they do.

#1 - check for formal qualifications
#2 - check references
#3 - are they are saddle “seller”, ie will they push their products on you?

Many can fit a saddle but their alteration skills are lacking.

Again, by checking qualifications and references you can determine how good they really are.

 

[Kaylum]

My friend had 4 qualified saddle fitters out. Tried to sell her saddlers one she even got made to measure but it didn't fit. She got her money back. It's difficult to find one that is really good.

Although one at beta told me they always use a sheepskin half pad so there you go it's hard to find a good one.

 

[Red-1]

1. Is the horse more comfortable.
2. Are you more comfortable.
3. Does your physio like the effect.
4. Did the saddle fitter examine the back of your horse, did they also watch the horse move before and after saddling, watch the saddle be ridden in?
5. Did the saddler identify any issues you have been having, such as one leg being weaker?

 

[sbloom]

Saddle fitting is just a really odd industry and profession. However, a lot of that comes from the fact that you can invest a lot of money in a saddle, and from the fitting and going forwards there are a ton of variables that can affect fit, and you need a system, not just a saddle, to keep everyone happy and healthy long term.

Once you start looking at the interplay between rider straightness, weight, ability, geometry (and budget!) and try to match it to a horse that also has its own set of straightness, weight, ability, geometry and more variable factors, that will also change over time, it's no wonder there's a million different approaches.

There are differences in approach, and you need a fitter whose system works for you and who you can work with, on a personal level, over time. You need to develop your own understanding of what YOUR obligations are as a rider and a client, and if you don't understand something, ask, and feel that your fitter can provide you with an explanation, and if they can't, that they will find out and come back to you or refer you on.

So much of what is on the web about how to fit saddles is from one perspective, there are some brilliant books, websites, blogs, but I won't agree with everything on even those that I think are up there with the best. A link above to a Stubben fitter, I know the way I fit will be a million miles from what they do, and what I do differs from most SMS fitters (though some refer to me for the sorts of fits I do).

A few thoughts:

A horse can be more comfortable in a saddle that has shifted the pressure points away from the problematic area but sadly that doesn't mean it will work longer term.

Wherever possible a horse should be ridden in the saddle, especially after adjustment, and by the usual rider. If more than one rider it's ideal to have both, or all, present, as they can affect the fit.

I don't believe it's possible to say a saddle is perfect. If a horse is unhappy it's not usually going to be helpful to simply say "it's not the saddle". I would always recommend trying another one or two, even if they're not a perfect fit, like I said above, shifting the pressure points may show you that there IS a pressure point in the usual saddle. Equally a horse not going well in a saddle doesn't mean that with a small tweak it won't go great in it.

Fitting with a sheepskin isn't a bad thing and in fact many fitters and bodyworkers are big fans, but it can affect the fit if not taken into account. It's old fashioned to say a well fitting saddle should only ever need a cotton numnah.

Go mainly on reputation, there are plenty of us, especially the specialists, who aren't qualified, and a whole world of alternative saddles, and saddle fitting approaches, that fall outside of the SMS and MSFC.

Even basic things like "is the channel the right width" don't have one answer - Saddle Fit 4 Life for example will usually recommend a wider channel, especially in the related brand Schleese, and they also look at width differently, fitting to the shoulder not the ribcage angle, based on their own very flexible trees. Most fitters would argue that their system of judging fit can't be applied wholesale to more traditionally made and fitted saddles.


Saddle fitters get a bad rep but I would say two things, that almost all are in it for the very best reasons, to help horses firstly. Secondly that I have personally heard from SO many top bodyworkers that technically we have the hardest job in the industry, and that in terms of customer expectations/understanding/buy-in we also have it the hardest, and they wouldn't want our jobs for all the tea in China!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

She with MP. I’ve gotten a general feel over the years of playing about with my own saddles and having a saddle fitter friend years ago teach me the basics (on my own horses) so you can get a feel of a saddle fitting or not.

I know enough to be able to tell if I’m being told BS and to adjust my own saddles. I’ve Cast an eye over some friends as well as to what might be wrong and to get a certain thing checked. I suppose it’s one of those things that’s not an exact science

 

[Flame_]

Saddle fitters get a bad rep but I would say two things, that almost all are in it for the very best reasons, to help horses firstly. Secondly that I have personally heard from SO many top bodyworkers that technically we have the hardest job in the industry, and that in terms of customer expectations/understanding/buy-in we also have it the hardest, and they wouldn't want our jobs for all the tea in China!

I think farriers have an even harder time and a more "make or break" precarious job. I think nearly all these professionals have the very best of intentions, many fall short on the actual skills though.

OP, just put loads of saddles on your horse's back. With most it will be immediately obvious that they're wrong, with the closer-to-right ones, it's just feel and practice.

 

[sbloom]

I think farriers have an even harder time and a more "make or break" precarious job. I think nearly all these professionals have the very best of intentions, many fall short on the actual skills though.

It's more about the financial jeopardy if a saddle doesn't work out, that there's a high chance, if you move to another fitter, that they will say it's never fitted and you have to dig out at least several hundred pounds to start again. And riders and owners have more things they need to keep on top of to get the best from their saddle and their fitter, yet if they don't, it often looks like any resulting issues are the fault of the fitter.