22/01/2026
🐴🐴Regular saddle checks🐴🐴
Why are regular saddle checks important?
🐴 horses change shape - many things can influence a horses weight and shape. A few examples are the weather/time of the year, amount or changes to the work they are in, changes in environment/home, illnesses and age.
What happens if my saddle doesnt fit properly?
🐴 if a saddle doesnt fit correctly the balance will be wrong causing uneven pressure points. This in turn can cause muscular soreness.
For example, a saddle that is too wide will load more pressure to the front of it - extra weight/ pressure at the front may impede the horse's shoulders, restricting their movement and allowing them to fall on the forehand. The saddle being out of balance can also have an impact on the rider's balance - down in front may cause the rider to tip forwards and struggle to maintain a stable lower leg.
Why do saddles 'bed in'?
🐴 'bedding in' refers to the wool flocking that sits inside a panel. Each time the saddle is ridden in, the wool gradually compresses causing the panels to become flatter. Sometimes panels bed in unevenly. This may be down to asymmetry in the horse's build/shape, possibly from an injury or ailment. The rider can also influence a saddle bedding in more on one side if they are stronger down one leg, putting more weight down one stirrup. So that sideways saddle slip might not be just down to the saddle🤔.
With all the above variables that can influence how a saddle fits, this is why we say to book saddle checks at least twice a year (this is subject to the type and amount of work your horse is doing - more work/harder work = more regular checks. Youngsters who are still changing shape because they're at the beginning of their ridden education will also need more regular checks as they'll likely change shape more).
Better to be proactive than have to fix a sore back from a saddle not fitting correctly😬.
Pictured below is one of my lovely regular clients and her gorgeous (but sassy) mare Fudge. 1st check of the year last week 🤎
