Everything You Need to Know About Saddle Fitting
the front of the shoe while running because there is nothing holding your foot in the correct position.
2. Weight Distribution and Saddle Length
Balance is one of the most important factors in saddle fitting. Having a saddle that fits well at the withers with even contact down the back is vital. Saddle bars are meant to support your weight and distribute it over your horses back muscles but a horse that is undermuscled or overly fat might experience the bars pressing harder in some places causing stress.
According to Schleese an English saddles bars begin at the front Dring and extend all the way down the saddle. On a western saddle which is designed to have things attach to it for trail rides and ranching needs the weightsupporting bars begin at the first concho and end where the seat connects to the skirt.
The bars should sit between the end of the mane where the shoulder blade often ends and the ring of light which is where the hair glows in a curved line on the back. The ring of light signifies a transition from the horses full ribs to his lumbar lower back vertebrae which have flat transverse processes that are not connected to the sternum with a rib and should not bear weight.
To check a saddles length Schleese marks a horse with chalk where the mane ends and the ring of light begins puts the saddle on without a pad and sees where the bars of the saddle end in correlation to the chalk marks. The bars should be within the marks
3. Bar Angles
As horses age they change shape. Starting with round barrels horses become more angled as they work and build muscle. This is because their rib cages are suspended by muscles instead of a skeletal structure. Their posture changes as
they grow and learn to use their bodies to support weight and carry themselves well. Their shoulder blades move upwards and back as they build muscles.
When fitting a horse consider age and level of work. A young horse will likely need flatter bars while a welltrained older horse will need a saddle with steeper bars.
Saddle Fitting to the Rider
Fitting a saddle can often take a horsefocused turn but remember that you are an important part of the equation for a more thoughtful saddlefitting process.
The anatomical differences between a man and woman make for some surprising saddle seat variations. Sitting in a genderinappropriate saddle is uncomfortable and if youre protecting yourself from discomfort you will experience tension and a jerky rhythm will translate down to the horse and affect his performance.
Men have straighter lower backs longer tailbones and lower buttocks. This means they need a flatter saddle seat that will allow them to keep their heels under themselves while riding.
In contrast women have more lower back curvature a shorter tailbone and higher buttocks. The higher buttock muscles mean that in a flat saddle seat a womans pelvis will rotate backwards giving the appearance of a rounded back. A saddle made for a woman will have more rise in the back of the seat giving the buttocks a comfortable boost and allowing the spine to remain in its natural position.
Jochen Schleeses Motivation
Jochen Schleese has been working to build better saddles for both horse and rider since 1982. His passion stems from a personal experience with his Hanoverian gelding Pirat. A threeday eventer Schleese and Pirat qualified for the 1984 European Championships. Unfortunately due to lameness in the left shoulder Pirat and Schleese dropped out of the competition.
He started to have a little bit of an irregular step says Schleese. And when you
compete for your country youre under a microscope. Disqualification happens because the horse is not 100 percent sound.
The team veterinarians tried everything to help Pirat stay comfortable but he was eventually retired. Looking back Schleese is certain that the saddle caused Pirats pain and his experience helped him start a new chapter in his saddlemaking career.
Through his educational company Saddlefit 4 Life Schleese teaches hundreds of people every year about saddle fit and certifies equine ergonomists independent experts who use precise measurements and science to analyze the fit of a saddle to horse and rider. The Schleese team has helped over 200000 horses worldwide over the years and they believe that education is key to making the necessary changes in the industry.
