There is a lot to being a successful equestrian, but as we have already discussed, it is important to have the right horse as well as a healthy horse. In my last blog, the first in a two part series, I discussed the importance of leg health. There is a lot of information out there about equine care, and with the recent wave of "all-natural" equestrians it is often easy to get sucked into using a natural product that has minimal cost, but also minimal results. This blog attempts to show you the importance of a long term saddle investment, and why in some cases spending a little more in the beginning will save you thousands down the road. In this second installment, I will discuss the importance of the right saddle and saddle fit. You will be amazed by the number of problems, which may seem completely unrelated to your saddle, that can be solved by the right fit.
Over my 15 years in the equestrian world I have seen a lot of different horses in terms of health and breed, and a lot of different approaches to supplemental care. The tips and suggestions below are a compilation of what I have learned and have seen to work best.
No matter if you ride english or western, proper saddle fit, and comfort are everything to being a successful equestrian. If you want your horse to be happy, healthy and focused on the task at hand they need to be comfortable, able to move and not in pain.
Saddles are an expensive investment, but some of the most rewarding and effective investments you can make in my opinion. The most common problem with saddle fit is a too wide or narrow swell (western) or pommel (english). If this is too narrow it can pinch your horse's shoulders, not only causing muscle and ligament damage, but preventing your horse from being able to move naturally. When a rider is unknowing of this problem it can lead them to punishing the horse for not properly moving which can lead to only further physical damage and miscues. If the swell/pommel is too large the top of the saddle can drive downward on to the horse's withers, once again causing physical damage. When a saddle is riding too low or too high due to ill fit, in the ways listed above, it is not only detrimental to the horse, but also the rider. If the saddle is not sitting correctly on the horse, the rider has to work 5x times harder to stay in the proper position as well as cue the horse.
Incase you are a little rusty on your saddle anatomy...
Signs of an ill fitting saddle include...
- Dry areas (spots) under the saddle after an intense ride.
- Bruising
- Stiffness and lack flexibility (people often spend hundred or even thousands of dollars on equine massages that would be unnecessary with a properly fitting saddle).
- Behavioral signs of discomfort when tacking up and riding
- Pinned ears
- Biting
- Not moving out, unable to collect
- Refusal to move
- Lameness
- Tail swishing
- Rearing or bucking when under saddle
- Etc.
- Swelling on withers (this would be due to the type of ill fit described above)
- Back pain due to contact (if you run your hand across your horses back and flinch, or react negatively)
Now if you come to realize your saddle does not fit it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to go out and buy a $5,000 saddle. There is often a lot of things you can due to adjust your saddle to make it better fitting.
- Make sure it is sitting in the proper place (see video below).
- Adjust with either front or rear raisers, depending
- Change pads
- You should not only have the appropriate thickness of a pad, but you should have 2 of them.
- You should wash your pads every couple of weeks. If your saddle pad becomes too dirty (with dirt, hair and sweat) it can cause skin irritation and disease.
- Make physical adjustments. Some saddles have adjustments built into them so that they can be more versatile, but there are also people who can often adjust saddles for you. Having someone majorly adjust your saddle might not be cost effective, unless it has a sentimental value.
During my time in the horse world, I could not even begin to tell you the number of horses I have ridden. Over the years I have ridden in many people's saddles and often jumped on someone's horse who has an ill fitted saddle and you can immediately feel the horse's discomfit. When it came time for me to buy my "forever saddle" I did a lot of research on quality, versatility and longevity. I wanted a saddle that would, or could fit the majority of horses I would ride during the rest of my career. In my research, I came across Martin Saddlery (who makes Clinton Anderson's saddles). They have close to 20 styles of saddles from roping, to trail, to barrel to even one they call their "all-around". I spent a long time researching the pros and cons of their saddles and each style. What really caught my eye was the saddles ability to be flexible during movement which to me meant the likely hood of pinching would decrease. They call it the "true fit saddle tree".
What is the Axis Tree?
I soon found a dealer in a rodeo town about 2 hours away from where I lived. I drove there and looked at the few saddles they had on display. I even had the ability to sit in one of them. It was hands down the most comfortable saddle I had ever sat in. In speaking with the manager she shared that a Martin Saddlery rep lived in the area and that he would be able to get me the style of saddle I was looking for. I soon contacted him and he shared that even though I was looking for a versatile saddle that he'd like to see myself and my horse to best suggest measurements. So I loaded up my horse and drove the two hours to his house where he pulled every saddle I could of ever of dreamed seeing. I even got to sit in his wife's discontinued Ostrich seat saddle (I have never, and probably never will again sit in such amazingly comfortable saddle).
When I had pulled up to his house I was determined that I would be buying the all-around saddle. Yet, after discussing with him the majority of disciplines I did and planned to do, the horses I usually ride, etc. we concluded that the barrel saddle would be best fit. He argued that most of his clients who don't even game buy this saddle for trail riding and other low key disciplines due to its security and comfort. I was sold and quickly began my customizing experience.
Martin Saddles are known for their love of shimming saddles to ensure their saddles fit perfectly on the horse. Due to this, the rep argued that I buy a slightly larger saddle then one I would need for my then horse and to shim it to fit her and whatever other horses I rode. I did exactly that and have never looked back. Now I didn't starting shimming without some research. Just like an ill fitting saddle, improper shimming can lead to physical damage and horse discomfort. Yet, with proper shimming a saddle can fit your horse like a glove.
Sherry Cevi is one of Martin Saddlery's number one clients and even has one of her own saddles for sale on their website. She explains her love of shimmy and how they benefit her in this video. 3-Time World Champion Barrel Racer Sherry Cervi explains why she uses a "Shim" to adjust the fit of her saddle on her #1 mount, "Stingray". Sherry also explains saddle placement and how to check for even saddle fit and why.
I have owned my Martin Saddle for almost 5 years, and 7+ horses later, I am just as in love with it as I was the day I picked it up. Martin Saddles are known for some of their specialties, like adjustable rigging and twisted stir-ups. I highly recommend paying the slight extra for these two things. The adjustable rigging allow you to better fit your saddle to whichever horse you are riding and the twisted stir-ups make mounting easier then you could ever imagine (even for us youngins). I have found that even when shimmed, my Martin Saddle gives me 10x the amount of contact control with my horse. I accredit this to their tree, but I swear my horses can feel my seat cues more often and easier in my Martin Saddle than in any of my others. This is yet another one of the huge selling points for me.
Watch as Clinton Anderson Tours the Martin shop to see how quality saddles are made. These saddles are still made with hand detail and highest quality standards.
Proper saddle fit is just one of many necessities to being the most successful equestrian. There are many other aspects and products that can go into making your saddle experience the best possible, this just a snippet of the saddle world. I'd be happy share more products and information with you, therefore please feel free to contact me personally about problems, products or questions that you might have at the link provide, or through one of the below sources.
Until next time, happy riding!