Does your horse’s saddle fit?

A horse that is happy, comfortable and a pleasure to ride are three ticks on any owner’s checklist. When your horse’s saddle fits, assuming there are no other issues, they’ll be comfortable, unrestricted and able to perform their best. Here’s what to look out for.

Does my saddle fit my horse?

Horses change shape throughout their lives, meaning their saddle needs to be regularly checked. Knowing the signs of an incorrectly fitting saddle means you can quickly resolve any issues before your horse becomes sore.

Signs of an incorrectly fitting saddle

Antonia suggests that if you experience any of the following scenarios, it could be a red flag for poor saddle fit.

• Your horse has a sore back. Apply pressure over where the saddle sits on your horse’s back, and if your horse reacts more than they normally would, it's likely to indicate soreness.
• Your horse isn’t going as well as they normally do. This change could be subtle and over time.
• Your horse’s manual therapist (physiotherapist, osteopath, sports massage professional or similar) picks up on soreness, stiffness or tension.
• Your saddle slips forward, backward or to either side.
• When observed from behind, the saddle lifts up and down, following your movement in trot.

Does my saddle fit me?

After checking how your saddle fits your horse, it’s important to check it fits you and is suitable for the disciplines you ride in. ‘If a saddle is too big for a rider, they’ll be unable to ride effectively,’ Antonia explains. ‘Likewise, if the saddle is too small, the rider won’t be comfortable and balanced – and being balanced is extremely important.’

Look out for these signs:

• You feel tipped forward or pushed to the back of the saddle.
• You don’t feel totally centered. When you sit in the saddle, your ear, shoulder, hip and heel should naturally be in line.

Working with a professional saddle fitter

Checking the fit of a saddle is quite complex, so it’s important to work with a qualified saddle fitter. To find a fitter in your area, check the Society of Master Saddlers website. It takes at least three years of training to become SMS qualified, so you can be sure the members are professional, knowledgeable and keeping up to date with the latest developments.

Using a badly fitting saddle can lead to your horse developing pain or ongoing back issues, which may need to be treated by your vet. If your horse is insured, some of these costs may be covered.

How to fit a saddle for a horse

When assessing the fit of your horse’s saddle, be sure to check these four elements.

Balance

Place the saddle on your horse’s back, without a pad. The pommel and cantle should sit level and at the same height as each other. A correctly fitting saddle won’t move much from side-to-side or back-to-back. The back shouldn’t lift, either.

When riding in the saddle with a pad, check the hairs on your horse’s back, underneath the saddle area. The hair should be lying smoothly and in the same direction. Any rubbed hair pointing in a different direction could be a sign of a badly-fitting saddle.

Clearance

Check there’s sufficient clearance between the saddle pommel and your horse’s withers – three to four fingers width is ideal. There should be plenty of clearance once the saddle is girthed up and the rider is on, too.

There should also be clearance on either side of the withers, to avoid pinching or rubbing. The gullet should be wide enough to avoid sitting on your horse’s spine. You should be able to easily run your hand down the front of the saddle to make sure it doesn’t restrict the movement of your horse’s shoulders.

Briding

Bridging happens when the saddle doesn’t sit evenly across your horse’s back. This means there are points of contact at the front and back, but not in the middle. Run your hands under the saddle flaps, along the panels. Feel for any obvious gaps between the panels and your horse’s back. A correctly fitting saddle will have a smooth, even contact along the entire panel.

Girthing

The girth and its impact on the sensitive area behind your horse’s elbow is a crucial part of saddle fit. Antonia firmly believes that the right girth is an important factor in saddle fit.

‘I like to fit girths that are wider, as this distributes the pressure over a wider area, and I like them to be made of a soft material,’ she says. ‘Elastic girths are not ideal, especially ones that are only elastic on one side, as they are very easy to over-tighten.’

How often should you check your horse’s saddle?

Changes in saddle fit are natural and can be caused by:

• Age
• Diet
• Weight
• Seasons
• Workload
• Management

These factors can all alter your horse’s muscle development and topline, but can also cause weight gain or weight loss – all of which will affect the fit of your horse's saddle. Using a pad or numnah under the saddle is recommended because these help absorb sweat and keep your horse more comfortable – but if you need to use a riser or additional shims, that’s a sign the saddle doesn’t fit your horse properly. A saddler may be able to fix this by flocking your existing saddle to adjust the shape, or you might need a new saddle.

‘When you buy a new saddle, it needs checking 8–10 weeks later, as in this time the new flocking will have compressed,’ Antonia explains. ‘After that, aim for six-monthly checks if you can, but at least annually. For young horses, the more regular six-month checks are particularly important because they’re changing shape at a faster rate.’

Antonia also advises getting a saddle checked when it comes with a new horse. ‘When your new horse moves from their previous owner to you, their management, workload and diet are likely to change, which will alter their shape and musculature, and consequently the fit of their saddle.’