Years ago, if you owned one saddle, chances are it would fit most of your horses, at least well enough. But this is no longer the case. What’s changed? For one thing, the variety of horse breeds that people commonly ride has changed. When I was growing up the most popular breeds were thoroughbreds, Arabians, and quarter horses. Nowadays, lots of people have draft crosses and other large breeds, and warmbloods are the preferred dressage horse. These horses are built much differently than the narrow breeds. According to independent saddle fitter, Jay McGarry of Saddle Fitting and Repairs and owner of Trumbull Mountain Tack in Pittsford, Vermont, whom I interviewed for this blog post, the gullets of most older saddles are much narrower than newer saddles – about 1 finger-width vs. 3 to 5 finger-widths today.
I believe that saddle fitting is an underappreciated aspect of horsemanship. It sounds like something that only rich people can afford or only serious professional riders need. But if we think about the fact that the connection between us and our horse is the saddle, there are not many other things that could so drastically affect our horse’s performance and comfort. Yes, horses are very expensive and adding yet another expense is out of reach for many people; it’s a stretch for me too. But knowing how to recognize that your saddle might be causing problems and consulting with a professional saddle fitter before you sink money into a new saddle – at the very least – could save you from a lot of frustration, as well as money for vet bills or another new saddle.
How do you know if your current saddle is causing problems? Your horse’s behavior is the best clue. The signs include reacting to being girthed up such as biting at the girth or jumping around, bucking when ridden, stopping dead, humping the back away from the girth or dropping away from the saddle, stopping dead at jumps, jumping flat, or refusing to bend or pick up canter leads. His back might be very tight, or you cannot develop a good topline despite training. There could be sores on the back, white spots, atrophied muscles, decreased range of motion in the limbs, or he might react when the spine is palpated or even appear lame. Jay has even seen a horse sit down on its haunches due to pain caused by an ill-fitting saddle.
If these problems occur after you have used a saddle for some time, you might think it can’t be the saddle. But if your horse’s body has changed – for example, she’s gained or lost weight or muscled up due to training – it could be the saddle fit. It could also be a physical or training issue; it’s best to rule out each possible cause in a systematic manner.
I’ve seen folks sit in a saddle in a store and if it’s comfortable, they buy it. Yes, we want the saddle to fit the rider, but there needs to be a marriage of the needs of the rider and horse. The rider can’t offer proper aids if the saddle doesn’t fit her, but a saddle that doesn’t fit the horse is a non-starter. There are many factors to consider that you might not even be aware of. For example, if you have a very wide horse you might prefer a saddle with a monoflap because there is less bulk between the legs. Your own anatomy plays a role, such as how your legs fall from your hips. Riders with a narrower base often prefer a narrower twist. A saddle fitter can help find a saddle that meets your horse’s needs as well as your own.
What happens when you hire a professional saddle fitter? With Jay, the first step is to send her information about yourself, your horse, your riding style, and your saddle, as well as photographs of the horse with and without the saddle from a variety of angles. She uses this information to get to know you horse, see how well your current saddle fits, and, if you are wanting to get a new saddle, to select several saddles to bring to your barn (new or used).
When she comes to the barn, she examines your horse for any back soreness or asymmetry, makes tracings of his back, and watches him move without a saddle and with the saddle and rider. Jay will check your current saddle fit without a pad, with and without a girth, and under a rider. If you are looking for a new saddle, she will try out a few for fit and leave them with you to try out or suggest other brands to try. If your current saddle is a relatively good fit, she can make adjustments to take care of any problems or improve the fit, including flocking the saddle, changing the gullet of an adjustable saddle, recommending a pad with shims, or moving the billet location.
For trail riding, there are some special considerations. If you use an extra thick pad, it can change the fit of the saddle. The saddle must be stable, especially if doing a lot of hills. You might need to add a breast plate or crupper to keep the saddle from sliding forwards or back. A full front gusset can also help anchor the saddle (read what gussets are here). For the rider, a fairly open seat, blocks that don’t restrict the legs, and a stirrup iron with a wide base will improve comfort. For endurance riding, there are additional technologies to improve comfort, which a saddle fitter can assist with.
I asked Jay if there a differences in fitting English vs. Western saddles. In many ways the principles are the same, but these saddles have different trees, and Western saddles are usually longer, stiffer, and cannot be flocked like many English saddles can. But fitting a Western saddle to avoid pinching and other problems is equally as important.
How often should you have your saddle fitted? If you ride regularly, twice a year is ideal because your horse’s body will change over time. If you ride less in the off season, have the saddle fitted at least once a year if you can. Get to know your saddle and if you notice the flocking is getting compressed, have the saddle fitter reflock it. If your horse starts showing behavioral changes that occur when saddling or riding that don’t have another obvious cause, you should definitely consider having a saddle fitter out. And if you are looking for a new saddle, have a saddle fitter help you choose and fit it. He or she can help you avoid a costly mistake.
At the very least, consider at least once having a professional fitter make sure you have a great-fitting saddle that both you and your horse will be happy with. Saddle fitting is much more complicated than you think. Some really experienced horse people (who are great at their professions but were not trained in saddle fitting) told me that my previous saddle fit my horse, but it turned out it didn’t and was part of the reason he was so stiff laterally. Professional saddle fitters exist for a reason.
How do you find a good saddle fitter? Word of mouth is one of the best ways. The Society of Master Saddlers lists certified fitters around the world. The Saddle Guy, a US-based saddle fitting program also lists fitters. Most saddle manufacturers employ fitters to represent their brand. The benefit of these folks is that they know the manufacturer’s saddles extremely well and can pick just the right style for the horse. The downside is that some brands just don’t fit some horses. So, unless you already have a saddle you want to get a better fit on or know which brand of saddle is best for your horse, I suggest using a fitter who either represents several brands or is completely independent. The Saddle Geek has a great article on how to tell if a saddle fitter is any good.
Jay McGarry, whom I interviewed for this article, got her training through the Society of Master Saddlers in England and the North American Saddlery School, and also holds a certification in saddle flocking. She is based in Vermont and travels throughout the region to provide saddle fitting services. Her shop, Trumbull Mountain Tack Shop, offers hundreds of new and used saddles as well as other tack, and her website has a lot of useful information to help you understand your own saddle better, including saddle terminology, the purpose of the various parts of the saddle, what to do if you have a very wide horse, and how to care for your saddle.
Happy trails!
Monica
Thank you for sharing your insights on the importance of saddle fitting for horses. It’s crucial for horse owners to understand that an ill-fitting saddle can cause problems that lead to a decrease in performance and even discomfort for their horses. In addition to consulting with a professional saddle fitter, supplementing your horse’s diet with the best calming supplement for horses can also help alleviate stress and anxiety, which can lead to a more relaxed and cooperative horse during the fitting process. Taking these steps will ensure that your horse remains healthy and happy while also enhancing your riding experience.
Monica did you know that ALL horses are built asymmetrically? In fact, 85% are “hollow” left-meaning they have a steeper , smaller shoulder on the left, less muscle over the rib cage on the left, and the left hip is dropped. 15% are hollow right. Less than 2% are equal! It has absolutely nothing to do with being on the race track, or, even the lie of the foal in the womb. Just like you, and I, horses are born either right handed or left handed. My mentor, MSF and Designer Danny Kroetch, is the only saddle fitter in the world to have his name published in The Veterinary Journal. He has been invited to participate in numerous research studies on equine anatomy and biomechanics conducted at the prestigious University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Lmk if you’re interested in learning more about saddle fitting, or girths, or pads☺️
Hi there, i loved you information about the asymmetric horse and the way saddles would be affected by this. how can i reach you for more info?
Heidi, thanks for you message. I am not a saddle fitter so I cannot advise you on any specifics – I just know that having a properly fitted saddle is very important. But I love talking about horses so if you want to chat, reach out by email to monica@horsetrailchicks.com.