Is my horse in pain?

Dizzyblonde99

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Had a comment made about the fit of my lads saddle and now got myself a little worried! Do you think his movement/ jumping looks restricted or uncomfortable? Saddle was fitted (at great cost!) by a master saddler at the beginning of the summer so surely it should be a good fit... Please excuse my horrific riding we go to lots of lessons and clinics alays got lots to work on.

Any opinions greatly recieved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IdLfnUOPPM
 
Just because a saddle was fitted at the beginning of the summer does not mean it will fit now one horse I was working needed refits monthly for six months and at one point I had to have the Saddler back after a fortnight because the horse was developing so quickly.
He had three saddles in eighteen months .
 
He has been in the same work load, don't think his muscle development has changed a whole lot. Want to check his measurement against when I got the saddle for gullet but I don't think he has changed much shape wise.
 
It's very hard to tell from a video whether or not your saddle fits. Different horses react differently to being uncomfortable, one horse may just put up with it and another may buck and rear.

I would suggest getting the saddler out again to check if you are worried, only they can tell you if it fits.
 
As has been mentioned having a saddle fitted at the 'beginning of the summer' does not mean that it will fit now. A horse's build can change significantly in that period of time both with feed & work. Muscle development can alter fit as well. Unless a saddle fits horrendously it is unlikely you can tell the fit from watching a video. If the saddle is a little tight on him there are things a saddler can do you adjust the saddle to fit. Don't assume that if it is a little tight that you have to buy a new saddle because you often don't.
 
Probably should have said, the comment was made having seen him do his show without actually seeing his saddle up close which is why I posted a video of it... Had it reflocked a month after getting it to to ensure the fit had stayed the same.
 
Probably should have said, the comment was made having seen him do his show without actually seeing his saddle up close which is why I posted a video of it... Had it reflocked a month after getting it to to ensure the fit had stayed the same.

Did the person say why they didn't think it fitted? Maybe not tracking up properly, stiff through his back etc?

This could be a number of issues, not just saddle.
 
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