For want of a saddle the race was lost". Few people realise how much difference a saddle can make to a horse's performance and how important the fit of the saddle is to each horse. Saddles, like horses, come in a wide range of shapes and sizes and the following guide should be a useful aid to anyone wanting to fit a saddle for the first time or to a new horse.

Firstly the saddle must fit the horse and not you. This may sound daft but many people buy a saddle because it is "so comfortable" and overlook the fact that it is causing the horse discomfort. The main purpose of the saddle is, apart from securing a safe place for the rider, to take the weight off the horses spine and onto the muscles that run down its back. There are a few exceptions to this rule but these are for specific purposes and not in use by the day to day rider.

A saddle should stand clear of the horses spine, the rule of thumb is you should be able to insert two or three fingers between the horse's wither and the front of the saddle and see a line of daylight between the front of the saddle and the back, showing clearance of the spine. Once you are happy that this is the case check the width of the saddle against the horse's withers and shoulders. The saddle should sit neatly on the horse's back below the withers, if you struggle to slide your fingers between the leather and the horse, or if it is gaping at all then is isn`t a correct fit. Saddles come in standard widths, narrow, medium, wide and extra wide. A thoroughbred horse will normally need a narrow whilst a cob type will need at least a wide. There are now saddles with adjustable trees allowing the horse owner to fit the saddle on different horses or as the horses change shape.
The length of the saddle is where you come in; contrary to popular belief the length of the saddle does not vary because of the size of the horse but to accommodate the size of the rider. A wide fourteen inch saddle will fit a wide fitting horse of any height, it just may look out of place; it would cause no damage to the horse, but would not accommodate an adult rider.

A good guide for measuring the width of the saddle is to take an old wire coat hanger and bend it across the wither of the horse, this will give you the horses shape and can be taken along to the saddle to match up with any potential purchase. >
An ill fitting saddle can cause damage to the horse, not only by rubbing and causing sores, but by pressing on nerves and causing long term damage. Saddles come in different cuts, the General Purpose being the most popular as it is suitable for most types of riding. Again the type of saddle you chose should be suitable for what you intend to do. A dressage saddle will not be comfortable on a long ride or a day's cross country and a standard GP may not have enough leg room for serious show jumping. A racing saddle is designed to sit close to the horse's withers and is not intended for long periods of use, free horse racing tips will give you more insight into this unique branch of the horse world. Whatever saddle you decide to go for make sure it suits both you and your horse and enjoy many happy hours in it.

More articles from Used Saddles and Bridles UK:

The Different Saddle Types

Taking care of your saddle

The Parts of a Bridle

Types of Horse Bits

The Parts of a Saddle

Comments:

On 04 February 2011 rachat de credit meilleur taux wrote:

I seldom leave comments on blog, but I have been to this post which was recommended by my friend, lots of valuable details, thanks again.

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