Fitting a saddle depends on the horse, the rider and their relationship.
The concept is simple. The saddle acts as a bridge between rider and horse. A horse’s back is like a river of energy, dynamic and ever changing. A balanced rider directs and supports this movement and the saddle allows this communication to occur.
The importance of this fit varies, as do the expectations of an endurance rider from an occasional pleasure rider.
High performance human athletes who take care to ensure their shoes are of the highest calibre and fit may go to an evening gala wearing shoes with questionable support even for standing. It’s the same with saddle fit. A saddle that might be acceptable for a Sunday afternoon trail ride may not be acceptable for a performance horse. Aspects that are mildly uncomfortable after an hour of riding may become intolerable day after day or after long hours of riding.
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I encourage riders to offer their horses the most balanced saddles possible. I emphasize how important their own balance is to the balance of their horses.
I have watched many riding instructors tell their students, especially children, to balance themselves on their riding position when in fact it is the saddle that is unbalancing the rider.
Children are so truthful about their balance. If the saddle unbalances them and puts them out of position on the horse, they instinctively attempt to compensate for this feeling. This often results in them overusing their hands and occupies a large amount of their focus, whether consciously or unconsciously, as their body reads a dangerous situation and uses whatever means it can to bring it back into balance.
This isn’t desirable and even the most persistent teacher can’t overcome the body’s instincts.
The simplest way for riders to learn about their balance on a horse is to ride it bareback, but they may have to release some of their control issues because optimum balance may not feel like the most control.
If you have ever carried a backpack, you will have instinctively shifted it upon your back until it felt the most balanced. The horse, if given a chance, will do the same.
I believe horses have as much potential to launch us in a Western moment as it does to strategically place us on its back in perfect balance. Being aware of this position of balance is fundamental to a saddle fitting.
Saddles that unbalance the rider will continually send confusing messages to the horse. Unfortunately, this confusion is labelled as a problem with the horse rather than good information that requires an adjustment.
The saddle is made up of three systems, seating, skirting and rigging, which are anchored around the saddle tree.
When the seating system is balanced, the lowest part of the saddle seat falls along a plumb line running perpendicular through the rider’s shoulder, hips and back of the heel. In this position, the rider’s pelvis is in a stable grounded position that feels good to the horse.
The rigging holds the saddle quietly in place and is best accomplished with a three-quarter girth position, which allows the horse’s shoulders to move freely.
The skirting system lies between the quiet rigging and the moving stirrups and also serves as a base for the sheepskin, in which each fibre is a microcoil capable of absorbing and redistributing uneven forces.
The tree is responsible for distributing weight from the rider to the horse. Its bars are sculpted panels that redistribute the weight of the rider from the top of the spinal column to the muscles that parallel the spinal column.
The column is bony and weight that bears upon it is uncomfortable.
Riders can correctly assess saddle fit by placing it on the horse’s back without padding. If it fits well it will follow the horse’s back contours, bearing weight along the parallel back muscles, freeing the spinal column and sparing the withers. It should also allow freedom of movement of the shoulder blades.
Reducing saddle fitting to the fundamental basics helps riders ask specific questions about fit and find answers that are most applicable.
Carol Shwetz is a veterinarian practising in Westlock, Alta.
