Saddle fit opinions

[sbloom]

Both too narrow I think, the Albion might actually be just as bad or worse....so if you widen that it would absolutely be a disaster...but I see them fitted to shoulder angle (the Saddle Fit 4 Life approach) which I don't agree with, but possibly works for some. I see a LOT Of fitting as narrow as is needed to hold the front up in balance, no regard to the actual width at the front or, possibly more important, the angle of the rails under the twist. By the by, but obviously could be relevant...

What adjustments have been done to these saddles? Albions aren't best for adjusting their traditional trees, they don't play well with Saddle Devils etc. Ideal may stand up to it better, but depends on age (I don't generally narrow a saddle older than 5 years, and at 10 years I seldom even widen them) and the history of adjustments. Best consult your own fitter as we all have our own ideas on this and he/she is the one who may be liable if it goes wrong.

 

[onemoretime]

Ooh please don't.

I know I'm only commenting from photos but there's so much there to unpick I think it's highly unlikely that it was ever a *good* fit. Red is right that saddle asymmetry is more common than it should be, and TPOs helpful arrows show the detail, but regardless of that I think you need a different saddle altogether that fits your horse properly and sits you in balance. Just maybe use a different fitter as well.

Do you have an Andrea Hicks saddle fitter near you. I have 2 AH saddles, one dressage and one VSD which I call my GP. My Pro rider uses the dressage saddle for schooling and competing, I can no longer get my leg over the cantle of a dressage saddle as my old hips aren't great so use the GP. My mare is quite wide as half WB half ISH. These saddles fit her brilliantly and are very comfortable for the rider. They are not over priced and are of good quality leather.

 

[Elno]

...but I see them fitted to shoulder angle (the Saddle Fit 4 Life approach) which I don't agree with, but possibly works for some. I see a LOT Of fitting as narrow as is needed to hold the front up in balance, no regard to the actual width at the front or, possibly more important, the angle of the rails under the twist. By the by, but obviously could be relevant...

Can you elaborate on why you don't agree on fitting the angle to the shoulder, please? ? I follow a saddlefitter on instagram who fits that way also, but genuinely interested why you don't agree with that approach? I thought that if you fit too narrow the points will dig in below the wither and if you fit too wide you will have pressure on the side of the withers?

Btw I agree on the saddles being too narrow, and the tree on the Albion seems too curvy?

 

[sbloom]

Can you elaborate on why you don't agree on fitting the angle to the shoulder, please? ? I follow a saddlefitter on instagram who fits that way also, but genuinely interested why you don't agree with that approach? I thought that if you fit too narrow the points will dig in below the wither and if you fit too wide you will have pressure on the side of the withers?

Btw I agree on the saddles being too narrow, and the tree on the Albion seems too curvy?

Shoulder angle is the actual scapula, Saddle Fit 4 Life is about the only school of saddle fitting that uses it and the Schleese saddles are designed around the concept, I believe that Stride Free could be (not sure if they are) fitted that way and Louisa Cuomo Saddles are also fitted that way, though are fairly standard English saddles in construction unlike Schleese.

I'm talking about fitting to the angle of the ribcage directly under the tree points, the SMS way of fitting (though the width I fit is actually slightly different to many SMS fits I see). Schleese etc disagree with this. I think this is what your fitter does. I actually find that it's even more important to make sure the rails and therefore panels, under the twist, is the most important area to fit closely to the horse's shape. In many cases the width at the front can be slightly off if everything else works.

 

[Elno]

Shoulder angle is the actual scapula, Saddle Fit 4 Life is about the only school of saddle fitting that uses it and the Schleese saddles are designed around the concept, I believe that Stride Free could be (not sure if they are) fitted that way and Louisa Cuomo Saddles are also fitted that way, though are fairly standard English saddles in construction unlike Schleese.

I'm talking about fitting to the angle of the ribcage directly under the tree points, the SMS way of fitting (though the width I fit is actually slightly different to many SMS fits I see). Schleese etc disagree with this. I think this is what your fitter does. I actually find that it's even more important to make sure the rails and therefore panels, under the twist, is the most important area to fit closely to the horse's shape. In many cases the width at the front can be slightly off if everything else works.

I think we're talking about the same thing then. I've learned that you fit like you decribed. Didn't know some fit according to the actual scapula.

 

[sbloom]

I think we're talking about the same thing then. I've learned that you fit like you decribed. Didn't know some fit according to the actual scapula.

A lot of people call it the shoulder but of course it's the ribcage, so we need to differentiate. The Schleese way of fitting addresses the scapula quite a long way down too, lower than where the points sit. It's why I say that his Youtub videos shouldn't be used as the gospel for fitting all saddles. It's just one school, and a very unusual one too.

 

[Red-1]

Aaaagh, it was a long shot, but my fitted to template saddles aren't right and are going back. I am cancelling camp, am unlikely to find someone to take my place at this late stage and will lose my money, and horse will be out of work until I get a saddle fitter to come in person to fit. :-(

I hate saddle fit issues!!!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Aaaagh, it was a long shot, but my fitted to template saddles aren't right and are going back. I am cancelling camp, am unlikely to find someone to take my place at this late stage and will lose my money, and horse will be out of work until I get a saddle fitter to come in person to fit. :-(

I hate saddle fit issues!!!

Oh no! Sorry to hear that. What a nightmare

I’ve been to the saddlers with both my saddles. Both been checked over, both medium wide. She said they wouldn’t widen the impala as it’s too old and the Albion as we know can’t be widened any further.
They have a 6 week lead time and offered £300 for the Albion More for the Ideal but I’m not really up for selling that.

 

[Red-1]

Oh no! Sorry to hear that. What a nightmare

I’ve been to the saddlers with both my saddles. Both been checked over, both medium wide. She said they wouldn’t widen the impala as it’s too old and the Albion as we know can’t be widened any further.
They have a 6 week lead time and offered £300 for the Albion More for the Ideal but I’m not really up for selling that.

It is a nightmare. Only a couple of weeks ago I was entirely satisfied with the fit!!!

 

[poiuytrewq]

A friend has asked if I want to borrow her Torsion saddle which fits anything to keep riding til this is sorted.
Do I? I have no idea, it looks so weird ?‍ They are not something I’d ever even look at or consider.
Can they really fit anything?! Surely not

 

[sbloom]

They don't "fit" in the traditional way, you just have to get them in balance and see if they're stable, so in those terms in theory they could fit anything, in practice they may not be stable or may not facilitate the rider to ride correctly (affecting the horse) or be comfortable. May be worth a try, making sure you do have it in balance and enough padding underneath it as per recommended guidelines (slightly different for each brand).

 

[poiuytrewq]

They don't "fit" in the traditional way, you just have to get them in balance and see if they're stable, so in those terms in theory they could fit anything, in practice they may not be stable or may not facilitate the rider to ride correctly (affecting the horse) or be comfortable. May be worth a try, making sure you do have it in balance and enough padding underneath it as per recommended guidelines (slightly different for each brand).

If it enables me to just keep him going out for a wander round the village that’ll be better than just giving him weeks on end off.