MochaDun
Well-Known Member
I confess I was probably a year to 18 months late for a saddle check recently, the saddler had done a repair for me in that time but had not seen the saddle on the pony.
The saddle needed some more stitching seen to and due to some extra kgs on board (horse not me) I thought the saddle was not fitting or sitting as well as it used to. Also had a lesson 3 weeks ago where after jumping the pony was slightly bucking in canter afterwards as we rode away. I already had a saddler visit appt booked for the day after my lesson. He confirmed saddle was tipping back at an angle and was a bit splayed on his back as needed reflocking in back of the panels and also due to the extra weight the girth where it was sitting was tending to pull saddle forward where it was interfering with pony's shoulder blade (which might have explained what was happening on landing after jumping if saddle coming forward).
So with saddle seen to and advice from saddler to swap to using an existing Stubben string girth I've got on the first and third girths straps until we can get more weight off we are sorted and - what a difference! Pony just feels so much more comfortable and free-moving in his back and shoulder and jumping today was not reacting after the jumps. So bit of a big slap on the wrist to myself to have more regular saddle checks and without being preachy to say to never rule out the effect a not correctly fitting saddle can have. End of sermon
The saddle needed some more stitching seen to and due to some extra kgs on board (horse not me) I thought the saddle was not fitting or sitting as well as it used to. Also had a lesson 3 weeks ago where after jumping the pony was slightly bucking in canter afterwards as we rode away. I already had a saddler visit appt booked for the day after my lesson. He confirmed saddle was tipping back at an angle and was a bit splayed on his back as needed reflocking in back of the panels and also due to the extra weight the girth where it was sitting was tending to pull saddle forward where it was interfering with pony's shoulder blade (which might have explained what was happening on landing after jumping if saddle coming forward).
So with saddle seen to and advice from saddler to swap to using an existing Stubben string girth I've got on the first and third girths straps until we can get more weight off we are sorted and - what a difference! Pony just feels so much more comfortable and free-moving in his back and shoulder and jumping today was not reacting after the jumps. So bit of a big slap on the wrist to myself to have more regular saddle checks and without being preachy to say to never rule out the effect a not correctly fitting saddle can have. End of sermon