Saddle fitter out again? Someone tell me I'm not being silly...

Sol

Sol

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2009
Messages
4,133
Location
Shropshire, England.
Visit site
I want to get the saddle fitter out again, and every time I mention it my mum just looks at me like I've got two heads. It's only been about 3 months since Dan's saddles were last checked, BUT the woman who came out was the one my instructor had warned wasn't exactly brilliant, and she didn't exactly seem very thorough.
At the time she did say part of the problem was the saddles were too far forward - ok, shuffled back... yes they looked better. However she just sort of seemed to glance at them and deemed them 'ok'. I'd be far more confident if they were perfect :p
I wasn't there when she came back to check my dressage saddle (it had to have the tree fixed) but she did say it wasn't great, and I should use a sheepskin pad or something under it... and that I should probably use a thick numnah under the jumping saddle anyway as Dan's only young?? O.o I found this a little odd and would rather not have to use the sheepskin to be honest. She also said my dressage saddle had to be girthed up really tight which I don't believe in doing, so don't do and have never had a problem...
Basically, I really don't trust her opinion... but then, I no nothing about saddles. hmm.


He's been working harder & more consistently in the last few months anyway, and I've just found he's being funny at times eg. blowing out when being girthed up and his saddle has been slipping a bit & seems to be more off his back at the back again...

I think I answered my own q. here!!

*hands out ice cream & drinks with ice cubes* :D
 
Not that I am qualified as one but the golden rules of saddle fit are to be found in plenty of places on the Internet.

Length - weight-bearing part of saddle must not extend beyond where the last rib joins the spine - which, if you look at a skeleton of a horse is forwards of its furthest extent as it curves round and back towards the wither.

When sitting in the correct place (three fingers width behind the shoulder)
1 - the saddle should be in balance and if a marble were to be rolled down from the pommel or the cantle, it should stop in the middle of the seat and
2 - there should be a clearance of the spine and daylight visible when looking through (along) the gullet.

* When girthed and sat upon, this clearance should not be any less than that which allows roughly three fingers edge on, inserted beneath the front arch.

The angle of the shoulder should be within 10 degrees of the angle of the point of tree, ideally parallel with

There should be no bridging along the panel - the underside of the saddle should touch the horse's back with equal pressure along its length, nor rocking - ie the saddle touches only in the middle and see-saws happily forwards or backwards when the pommel and cantle are pressed on.

I think this is the final thing - the saddle needs to accomodate the rider - backside and hip to knee.

When ridden on for a while, the warm patches beneatht the saddle should be equal - or some part/s of it are not touching properly or consistent with the rest. As a rider, you should feel positioned well and comfortably and not tipped in any direction.

A small amount of bounce at the back it permissible, but much of a waggle would suggest the wrong width and rocking to be occurring.

I'd say if you feel there's something amiss, there likely is. Don't be intimidated into accepting everything they say - these people are being paid for a service. If you don't get it, politely ask again.
 
If your not happy and have had bad press about your saddle fitter I would defiantly be getting another out, also about the girth thing, mine are always done tight, rather not be out and have an accident.
 
brighteyes - thank you! The length of it is another thing I worry about... both saddles I have are 17", but they do look very long on him (he's only 15.1 & relatively short backed) but as I'm very long knee-hip this is a bit of an issue if he does need a shorter saddle! It definitely feels odd at times, and it's not like him to be silly about being girthed up :/

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite - Thanks! Will check out the website now :)

RSL - Thank you, definitely looks like I will be doing just that.
About the girths - I always have them 'tight' as in /snug/ however I disagree with having a horse girthed up so tightly that it cannot hardly breathe, and you struggle to unfasten the girth afterwards, which is basically what she wanted me to do. I wouldn't want to run around with something stopping me from breathing, so wont do that to my horse ;)
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite - you are kidding aren't you:confused:

OP, it does sound like you need to find a different and better saddle fitter - but not the one suggested!!
 
Sol said:
brighteyes - thank you! The length of it is another thing I worry about... both saddles I have are 17", but they do look very long on him (he's only 15.1 & relatively short backed) but as I'm very long knee-hip this is a bit of an issue if he does need a shorter saddle! It definitely feels odd at times, and it's not like him to be silly about being girthed up :/

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite - Thanks! Will check out the website now :)

RSL - Thank you, definitely looks like I will be doing just that.
About the girths - I always have them 'tight' as in /snug/ however I disagree with having a horse girthed up so tightly that it cannot hardly breathe, and you struggle to unfasten the girth afterwards, which is basically what she wanted me to do. I wouldn't want to run around with something stopping me from breathing, so wont do that to my horse ;)
Click to expand...

True, I am the same, sorry I took it as you have yours really loose.
 
RSL - np. The funny thing is I have actually ridden in that same saddle with the girth a lot looser than I'd like (before buying shorter girth!!) and at the time it was the most stable saddle I ever sat on :p certainly wouldn't do it again though :o
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top