Home checks
QAre there any checks that owners can perform themselves on saddles to ensure they remain a good fit all year round?
Harry O’leary, Berkshire
Kay says... This is a good idea but only if the saddle has been fitted by a qualified saddle fitter initially, and they come back to check it every six months. These people will be looking at aspects of the fit that you are unaware of, and they are better placed to check for safety issues and possible damage to the saddle.
Simple home checks
However, there are a few simple checks that you can carry out between visits:
1 Clearance
The first check is clearance, although there are some interesting ideas as to how much clearance there should be. When speaking to groups, I will ask this question and am told “three or four fingers” or “a fist”, and various other ideas. I follow this by asking why? Why so many fingers, and whose fingers? A man’s fingers would be much wider than most women’s, so this is no useable guide.
Instead, think about what we are trying to achieve, namely clearance of the spinous processes at all times, with a rider and at all paces. If the clearance at these times is never less than half an inch, that is enough — but it must be right through the saddle, including under the cantle.
2 Balance
The next check is one that is rarely considered and really should be picked up by any professionals involved, such as trainers. The saddle should balance front to back so that the rider will sit correctly without stirrups and without having to tip forward to keep their balance.
The easiest way to check this is by someone taking a photo of you side-on at halt, walk and trot. Look to see if the saddle looks level or if it is tipping back or forward. Both of these will cause the rider to tip forward in an effort to keep their balance, so don’t assume that if the rider is tipping forward the front needs lifting. It is just as likely to be the opposite.
3 Behaviour
I suggest you also take notice of what your horse is trying to tell you. If he moves to the back of the box when you go in to tack him up, this might be a sign that he is worried about something. It might be the saddle itself, but it could also be that the bridle, bit, girth or saddle cloth isn’t comfortable, or that his feet are hurting. Many saddle cloths have fancy piping around the edges and it is essential that this piping does not sit under any part of the saddle, or under the girth.
Horses will tell us if they have a problem, but you do have to learn the language. Don’t always be in too much of a hurry, and if he doesn’t seem to be going as well as he could or is downright naughty, do take the time to make sure that the behaviour isn’t related to pain.