Saddle Fit
Saddle Fit:
Saddle fit is one of the most important parts of riding. If your horse is uncomfortable under saddle, you are not going to get a very good ride. An ill fitting saddle may result in the horse kicking, rearing, and bucking. This being said, the horse is not at fault for its actions. Not only should the saddle fit the horse, it needs to fit the rider. If the saddle is not the right fit for the rider, it can result in sloppy riding. Knowing all the proper parts of the saddle and how you are supposed to properly fit are all parts of good equitation.
When fitting the saddle one should consider:
-Withers: height and width of the withers
-Back: length= will the saddle interfere with the loins and hips and shape= is the back narrow or wide
-Shoulders: will the saddle give movement to the shoulders
-Barrel: will the saddle slip forward or back due to the underline of the barrel
How to fit the saddle:
-Make sure you horse or pony is standing on level ground
-place the saddle with no pad properly on the back of the horse. (the saddle tree should be just behind the the shoulder blade)
-step back and look at the saddle: is it level or running up hill or down hill
--running up hill: pommel is higher than cantle
--downhill: cantle is higher than pommel
-check the wither clearance: you should be able to place 2-3 fingers (width wise) between the withers and gullet
-look where the skirt lands on the horse
--will it interfere with the hip
--will the rider be sitting on the loins of the hip
--the skirt should not extend beyond the horse’s loins
-place your hand between the front of the skirt and run it to the shoulder of the horse. Can you do this without pinching. If the horse turns its head towards you, does it pinch?
--stand behind the horse, you should see light from the pommel end
-place saddle pad on horse and cinch up saddle. The back should not rise up
Saddle fit is one of the most important parts of riding. If your horse is uncomfortable under saddle, you are not going to get a very good ride. An ill fitting saddle may result in the horse kicking, rearing, and bucking. This being said, the horse is not at fault for its actions. Not only should the saddle fit the horse, it needs to fit the rider. If the saddle is not the right fit for the rider, it can result in sloppy riding. Knowing all the proper parts of the saddle and how you are supposed to properly fit are all parts of good equitation.
When fitting the saddle one should consider:
-Withers: height and width of the withers
-Back: length= will the saddle interfere with the loins and hips and shape= is the back narrow or wide
-Shoulders: will the saddle give movement to the shoulders
-Barrel: will the saddle slip forward or back due to the underline of the barrel
How to fit the saddle:
-Make sure you horse or pony is standing on level ground
-place the saddle with no pad properly on the back of the horse. (the saddle tree should be just behind the the shoulder blade)
-step back and look at the saddle: is it level or running up hill or down hill
--running up hill: pommel is higher than cantle
--downhill: cantle is higher than pommel
-check the wither clearance: you should be able to place 2-3 fingers (width wise) between the withers and gullet
-look where the skirt lands on the horse
--will it interfere with the hip
--will the rider be sitting on the loins of the hip
--the skirt should not extend beyond the horse’s loins
-place your hand between the front of the skirt and run it to the shoulder of the horse. Can you do this without pinching. If the horse turns its head towards you, does it pinch?
--stand behind the horse, you should see light from the pommel end
-place saddle pad on horse and cinch up saddle. The back should not rise up