RED DEER – One saddle does not fit all horses or riders, says a saddle maker, horse trainer and show judge from Penhold, Alta.
Todd Bailey told the Mane Event horse show held in Red Deer April 25-27 that improved education about horse movement, comfort and performance has prompted changes in the way saddles are made.
He said he often see problems with poor fitting saddles that hinder a horse’s ability to perform.
When Bailey is hired to build a saddle, he asks the customer what kind of riding is done, what kind of horse is used and the size of the rider.
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The foundation of the saddle starts with a frame called a tree. The length and width of the seat can be adjusted because a 100 pound person sits differently than someone weighing 250 lb.
A tree can be custom built or ordered based on individual horse measurements.
“They can be custom made to fit the horse,” he said.
A wooden tree covered with rawhide or fibreglass can be manipulated while polyethylene-poured trees, although cheaper, have less flexibility and cannot be changed.
The bars along the sides can be lengthened or shortened to fit different lengths or widths of horse backs. Bailey advised against using a tree with a back bar that comes in contact with the lumbar-loin area. The horse cannot stride as well if it pinches.
“When you set a saddle on a horse, the bar needs to set behind the shoulder blades, not on the shoulder blades,” he said.
Bailey said setting the bar on the shoulder blades could inhibit proper movement because it hurts.
“It would be like if you have a size nine foot and tried wearing a size seven for a couple hours. After a while you wouldn’t be walking normally.”
Bailey said he wants to see equal pressure on the bars of the tree to evenly distribute the rider’s weight on the horse’s back. A rocking effect from the saddle means it is poorly fitted.
He also checks the gullet, a V shaped opening at the front of the saddle below the horn. The height and width of the gullet determines how the saddle sits on the horse. There should be two fingers width between the withers and the top of the gullet. This space will keep the ground seat off the horse’s spine and prevent irritation.
“If you have a gullet that doesn’t fit the horse properly then it is going to sit down too low and cause the ground seat to come in contact with the horse’s back,” he said.
A horse needs to be able to twist and round its back during high performance events, which can’t be done if the saddle hurts.
He also recommended taking the breed of horse into consideration. For example, Arabians and Morgans tend to have shorter backs.
Gaited horses have a lot of movement in the shoulder and hips. They cannot walk properly if the saddle bothers their shoulder blades.
A common mistake is putting the saddle too far up the front of the horse’s back. It should not rest on the shoulder blade but behind, so that movement is freed.
The finished saddle should first be fitted without a pad because a pad cannot correct a poor fit. Pressure in the ground seat area without a pad means trouble with the fit.
Bailey will slide his hand under the front and sides of the saddle to check for correct spacing to avoid improper pressure. There should still be two fingers worth of space at the gullet area.
He repeats the same assessment with a pad and again when the saddle is cinched on. He also said the cinch should be closer to the horse’s elbow rather than in the middle of the body.
Bailey also recommended cleaning the saddle regularly using water and saddle soap. Water will not dry out the saddle because leather is like skin, but it needs to be allowed to dry for 24 hours and then treated with a non-animal byproduct oil to keep its texture.
