9 minute read
Saddle Up: When to Call the Fitter
Saddle balance low behind (chair seat). All images courtesy of The Saddlefitter.
SADDLE UP
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When to call the fitter
If you’re unsure whether you, your saddle, and your horse are a good fit for each other, it may be time to call the saddle fitter. KATHRYN SULLIVAN-BUTT shares her expert advice on some saddle fitting basics.
Horse ownership is a demanding and complex pursuit. As responsible horse owners we must ensure the wellbeing of our charges, which encompasses everything from the worming regime we use, foot care, pasture management and more. And if we choose to ride our horses, we must also ensure that they are comfortable in their saddles.
Research from the UK suggests that to achieve optimum saddle fit, saddles should be checked a minimum of three or four times a year to address the changes in our horse’s shape through the seasons, the needs of the rider, and the wear of the saddle. If you’re not calling on the expert advice of your fitter quite so regularly, then as riders we need to
ABOVE: White hairs in the trapezius are a sign your saddle may need adjusting or is wrong for your horse. ABOVE: Uneven sweat patterns or ruffles.
know: a) how to assess any changes to saddle fit that might have occurred; and b) when an appointment with our saddle fitter is necessary to prevent small concerns becoming big issues.
So what aspects of saddle fit should we be checking before calling out our saddle fitter? These indicators fall into three categories: the horse, the saddle, and the rider.
The horse
Saddle fit problems can manifest as behavioural issues on the part of the horse, biomechanical restrictions, and pain due to focal pressure points. The following are signals to be aware of as they may indicate your horse is having issues with the fit of your saddle (although it’s important to note that most of these can be unrelated to saddle fit, and may therefore require further investigation if saddle fit proves not to be the cause):
Uneven sweat marks with ruffling and dry patches.
‘Girthiness’ – when the horse becomes agitated on girthing up and saddling: shifting weight, trying to bite, pulling back, unusual stretching, and facial expressions that exhibit pain. Soft swellings on the spine which occur after saddle removal.
Muscle atrophy, especially at the trapezius and where the rear of the saddle panel sits.
Muscle hypertrophy especially at the loin.
Rub marks, swelling, and galls in the girth region.
Short stepping behind or lack of lateral shoulder movement.
Inability to bend around the rider’s leg.
Tail swishing, head tossing, kicking out behind and bucking.
Holding their breath under saddle while ridden.
Stopping and refusing to go forward.
Unable to rein back in diagonal pairs.
The saddle
Our saddles are a reflection of both the horse and rider. If your saddle is being worn unevenly (either in the seat, the panel or in the flaps) it could be an indicator that the saddle is not sitting square, or that changes need to be made. If your saddle is wearing quickly, your saddle fitter can advise on correct leather care to ensure the longevity of your valuable purchase, and can also check the safety of your stirrup leathers, points and stitching. Saddle balance from front to back
changes for many reasons: our horse’s
weight fluctuations, panels packing down on the saddle, and even a change in stance due to injury to the horse. As a rider, standing back and assessing your saddle balance (girthed up) when your horse is on a flat surface and is standing
BELOW: Uneven panel contact affects both horse and rider and can be improved with correct saddle fit.
Lateral postural issues in the saddle can be addressed with saddle fit.
square is a good habit to acquire, because your saddle balance will need to be addressed if it changes. Ask your fitter to help you develop an eye for that optimum balance. A saddle sitting low in front or behind will affect the comfort of horse and rider.
In the same way a saddle that is sitting off to the side will lead to pressure inequality and focal pressure points for the horse, as well as an uneven platform with potential long term issues for the rider.
The rider
Riding is a sport that increases core strength, and good riding should allow us to build fitness and strength. However, if riding leads to back soreness this may indicate that our saddle balance is incorrect, and that the compensatory action of our position to maintain balance is fatiguing us and causing pain. Lower back pain is particularly common with
saddles sitting low in front. A collapsed postural position and ‘chair seat’ is typically associated with a saddle sitting low behind. The wrong twist (the narrow waist in the saddle seat), seat size, and knee block can all greatly affect how you sit as a rider, as well as your comfort and your ability to effectively and safely ride your
Lower back pain is particularly common with saddles sitting low in front.
horse. An experienced saddle fitter can help you to select the correct saddle shape for your body type.
For riders who are returning from injury, your saddle fitter can assist you to balance correctly in the saddle so you will not adversely affect your horse. Riders recovering from injury often shift in the saddle and sit to one side, and there are techniques that help to keep the saddle straight so the horse will not be hurt while the rider recovers.
The effect of incorrect saddle balance on rider posture. Rider balance point forward and even.
Discomfort in the saddle
Many riders suffer in silence with pubic and seat pain. The right saddle, sometimes even just the right adjustments to your current saddle, can make all the difference to comfort in the
pelvic region while you’re riding.
For women riding through pregnancy, or for those who are postmenopausal there are significant changes that can affect comfort in the saddle – and ladies, if you are experiencing discomfort then it is definitely time to call your saddle fitter.
Rider position is intrinsically linked to the balance and fit of your saddle. We all aspire to the willowy strength and classical position of the top riders, but if the saddle is not working for you optimally then achieving an ideal position will be hard, if not impossible to achieve. Without an optimal position from the rider, the horse will be compromised and unable to perform at its best.
Finally, choosing the right fitter is an important consideration. Selecting a fitter who is experienced in your brand of saddle, and who carries the correct hardware to address required changes makes a significant difference to the outcome for both you and your horse. The right fitter becomes an important part of your team as you work together to ensure maximum comfort and
optimum performance.
Kathryn Sullivan-Butt is an EA & AHRC coach with over 20 years’ experience, an Australian and internationally trained saddle fitter, and a Society of Master Saddlers Qualified Fitter. She can be found at www.thesaddlefitter.com.au
The HERO program is a Harness Racing Victoria initiative established in 2015 to assist in creating pathways for retired standardbreds and provide support in their transition from the racetrack to pleasure or performance horses. With over 10 HERO Recognised Retrainers based all throughout Victoria the HERO program is well equipped to provide ample opportunities for standardbred life after racing.
To learn more about HERO, visit www.hrvhero.com.au or follow HRV HERO on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For all inquiries please email hero@hrv.org.au or phone 0411 499 051.
The HERO program is proudly supported by
Below are just a few of our off-the-track standardbred horses currently going through the retraining process. For further information on any of these horses, please contact their retrainer.
JASMINE $2,500
Age: 14
Location:
Katatmatite Height: 15.2hh Sex: Mare
Retrainer:
Marzel Park Contact: Nicole Touzel 0409 646 390
Jasmine is the ideal all rounder. She is unraced with an established trot and canter. Working kindly in a frame with a beautiful soft mouth, happy to jump and enjoys going out in the bush. She is easily handled and ridden by a 12yo girl. Standing at 15.2hh & 14yo, this eye-catching girl with a beautiful way of going is sure to get noticed in any discipline or out on the trails.
MAJESTIC REIGN “REIGN” $2,000
Age: 12
Location:
Garfield Height: 15hh
Retrainer: Forest View Thoroughbreds Sex: Mare
Contact: Amanda Porter 0417 622 329
Majestic Reign retired from her successful racing career after having 14 starts for 8 wins. She is a sweet, kind little mare, well put together, has scarring on near-side hind but this does not affect her. She had 3 foals after her racing career before moving on to her new life under saddle. Reign is currently green broken to saddle and deserves a family to love and dote on her. She is wonderful with other horses, very gentle to be around.
BIG GUN JOHNNY “JOHNNY” $2,000
Age: 7
Location:
Mount Duneed Height: 16.1hh
Retrainer:
Shory Park Sex: Gelding
Contact: Nikki Cook 0421 506 215
Formerly trained by Mitch Fox of Fox Equestrian Johnny has been started professionally and correctly from an extremely well-regarded show stable. Johnny has attended a number of shows and always brings home a ribbon. Johnny was put out for a short spell and has been brought back into work by the team at Shory Park. Johnny is a very good doer, it would be fabulous to see this boy continue with his show career, already winning broad sashes at just his first outings. Johnny would best suit a confident rider wanting a performance horse. He is not a beginner or nervous rider’s type. A lovely chunk of horse looking for a special home.
All HRV HERO horses come with two complimentary riding lessons with the closest HERO Recognised Retrainer to the purchaser, a FREE membership to Standardbred Pleasure and Performance Horse Association of Victoria, and horse registration for the first year.
