Monica Goold 00 - 33 - (0) 613165012 [email protected]
The Importance of Saddle Fit.
Saddle fit and evaluation
This page is to provide information about what an incorrectly fitting saddle can and will do to your horse.
It is also to help the owner identify whether their saddle may or may not fit.
Please take the time to read this page ........for your horse!
Horses do not display pain like we do, they suffer silently.
Would you go hiking or jogging in ill fitting shoes ??????? probably not !
You would prefer comfortable , secure fitting foot wear enabling you maximum performance,
plus, then, the jog/hike would be a pleasurable experience, one you might like to repeat !
A badly fitting saddle can cause pain and muscle wastage.
Some horses when feeling back pain will raise the head and have an upwards banana shape.
Horses which have had back pain for a while may have a hollow on top of the neck, and or a hollow triangle within the neck.
In extreme cases of muscle wastage and pain, it is sometimes better not to fit a saddle to the horse but to first work on a program of equine massage, including ground work and a break from being ridden.
This allows the horse time to recover physically and for the muscles to start rebuilding again in atrophied areas.
Once the muscles are repaired it will be easier to find the correct saddle fit.
Another possiblilty would be to fit a very well padded treeless saddle and work with a profesional to eliminate scar tissue and build muscle in the atrophied areas.
SIGNS FOR POOR SADDLE FIT INCLUDE;
Dry areas under the saddle
Newly acquired white hairs under the saddle
Swellings in the back after riding
Sensitivity in the back area, a dislike of being groomed
Bad tempered during grooming or tacking up
Girthy behavoir : horse puts ears back, bites, kicks , or ducks when girth is tightened.
Anxiety during saddling: wide eyes , tight mouth, hollow back, ducks away from saddle , kicks or bites
Cold backed, horse is ouchy when first saddled or mounted but seems to work out of it.
Horse does not want to go forward
Has difficulty flexing from left to right
Hollowing of the back
Moving along with head up in the air evading the bit.
Horse short strided
Unexplained tripping
Headshaking
Bucking and bucking after a jump
Rearing
Moving or resisting when trying to put saddle on.
Moving when mounting
Painful in saddle area
Horse seems fine for months , then has an explosion!
No indication from the horse what so ever, horse stoic and tolerant
Of course the above symptoms can also be caused by many other issues, including training issues, mouth problems, unsympathetic riding etc.......... but then that's for another page :-)
THREE MAIN SADDLE FITTING ISSUES ARE:
Bridging.
Shoulder, impaired movement.
Saddle length.
Tree width.
Uneven Flocking
SOLUTIONS:
For the evaluation of existing saddles or pre-purchase tests, the service I offer is to come out to you and your horse for a consultation including the use of a Port Lewis Impression pad.
Together we can see if the saddle fits. If not, then we can discuss different variables of adjusting or finding the right saddle for you and your horse.
The consultation can take anything from 1 to 2 hours.
Cost is 45 euros plus a displacement charge of 0.30 cents per kilometer.
Please take the time to watch:
on youtube
Saddle fitting in 9 steps and How to tell if your saddle hurts your horse by Schleese Saddlery Service.
Preventing Equine Back Injuries (Written by Don Doran)
To build a successful equine athlete, it is imperative that the health, strength and flexibility of the back be maintained. Back pain in horses, as in humans, is probably one of the most debilitating factors in performance.
Back pain can create an entire chain of events that impacts multiple muscles, the skeletal system, the nervous system and the horse’s entire way of moving.
Horses coping with unrecognized back pain generally have one of three “behavior” problems:
(1) They become aggressive
(2) They become nervous and unable to focus on their work
(3) They simply shut down and move as slowly as possible
The unknowing, but well-intentioned owner then puts a label on the horse such as “Girthy,” “a Grump,”, “Crazy” or “Lazy.”
A few tips to assist in keeping your horse’s back healthy and supple:
Learn the basics of equine anatomy. Learn what healthy muscle tissue feels like and what “problem” muscle tissue feels like. Learn how to evaluate your horse’s muscular tissue. Healthy muscles don’t hurt. If you apply firm finger pressure
along your horses back to either side of the spine and he drops his back or shies away from you, that is not normal; common, yes, but not normal.
STRENGTH EXERCISES
Incorporate into your regular training program exercises that will strengthen and maintain the health of the horse’s back without a rider on board. I prefer to work the horse in straight lines rather then longeing. Working in straight lines requires the horse to fully engage the main back muscles, especially the Longissimus Dorsi.
- Ground driving and power walking a few times a week are effective in developing back muscles and keeping them fit.
- If you can perform the ground work on a varied, rolling terrain, rather than a flat arena, you will increase the stability of your horse’s core muscles and his muscular proprioception.
- Incorporate cavaletti work in straight lines and serpentines to help build strength and suppleness of the back muscles and hindquarters.
- As the horse becomes fitter, add some properly distributed weight to a surcingle or saddle to begin the transition to carrying the rider.
Gradually increase the length of exercise and the amount of weight. A heart monitor works great in all phases of this exercise routine to really fine tune it.
Do these exercises on a regular basis. I am a strong advocate of this policy for every type of horse whether it is a young horse just starting out, a horse in training, a horse recovering from injury or an older horse.
BE A FIT, FLEXIBLE AND BALANCED RIDER
Weak riders can cause sore backs. Fitness of the rider is of paramount importance especially at upper levels of competition.
Developing core muscle balance should be a goal for any serious rider. Upper level riders have a well developed set of core stabilizing muscles. This usually comes about through many hours in the saddle with a variety of horses.
In addition to core balance, rider flexibility and suppleness need to be maintained. Incorporating flexibility and strengthening exercises into everyday routines should be a goal of every rider.
SADDLE FIT
The saddle and its proper placement are key factors in maintaining a healthy back. Enough cannot be said concerning the proper fit of the most important piece of equipment, the saddle. At the end of the day, the ultimate authority on saddle fit is your horse.
Often the reason for back pain in horses is one of two situations:
(1) The saddle is placed where the rider wants it rather than where it is designed to be.
(2) The saddle design and construction do not provide adequate protection for the horse’s back.
Saddle Fit evaluation requires methodical, detailed analysis. No single measurement determines whether a saddle fits or not. The saddle must be evaluated systematically from front to back to determine how well it suits the horse.
The top part of the saddle belongs to the rider and must support the rider’s needs. The underside belongs to the horse and must protect his back by disbursing the rider’s weight over as great an area as possible, while keeping all pressure away from the horse’s spine.
REGULAR MASSAGE
Massage is one of the most effective modalities for relieving sore or tight muscles. Learn how to perform some basic equine massage strokes and perform them regularly on your horse’s back. Remember, healthy muscle tissue does not hurt!
Avail yourself of the services of a good professional equine massage therapist to evaluate and work on your horse’s back on a regular basis. This can keep you posted on any changes in the back while benefiting your horse.
Incorporating these recommendations into your daily program will greatly benefit the fitness level of your horse. Your horse will feel better, present a better attitude and deliver better performance. This hard work will translate into a big smile on your face at the end of the day.
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Monica Goold
+33 (0) 613165012
+33 (0) 613165012