
10/03/2025
Why saddle fitting is more than just placing a saddle on a horses back?
Long gone the days where it is acceptable that one saddle fits all horses....
This is an impossible unrealistic expectation, and here's why......
No two horses are conformationaly the same, this means some horses have
🐴High Withers
🐴Croup High
🐴 Short backed
🐴Long backed
🐴Big shoulders
🐴 Forward girth groove
🐴Big moving
🐴Short choppy strides
🐴 Up right shoulders
🐴 Or a combination of some of the things above.
The list can go on and on..... and that is without considering the rider and his or hers conformation.
All these things can make saddle fitting hard, and if not done correctly can cause the horse discomfort when being ridden, and in extreme cases, causing atrophy or musculoskeletal problems to the back and shoulders
Sadly you see this far to offen, and is accepted as the "norm"
In order for a horse to maintain soundness, he must biomechanically be allowed to move his/hers back in an unrestricted way that allows the muscles to develop, support and grow. This is where correct saddle fitting is essential for healthy development for your horse.
Sometimes it isn't until we "get the fit" 110% right we realise how much we have been restricting our horses way of going and development.
Saddle fitting and regular checks should be treated as it is just as important as having your horses teeth done.
See below a lovely young horse who has benefitted hugely from having a well fitted saddle that as allowed the back muscles to change for the better.🐴
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