3D Equine Back Profiling System Good saddle fit starts with a good fitting tree; a good fitting tree starts by measuring your horse’s back with our 3D equine back profiling system is designed to classify the horse’s back, identifying measurements of the width, angle, and twist. You can use our 3D equine back profiling system…
Achieving the proper Western saddle fit between the shape of the saddle tree, horse and rider are essential for overall comfort and performance.
Saddles for the Hard to Fit Horse A lot of horse owners think their horse is very unusual when in fact this is becoming more common to have trouble finding saddles for the hard to fit horse. They have gone from shop to shop and tried a number of saddles with no success. In general,…
What are the main body parts of a horse? A wither is the bony ‘bump’ if you like, at the base of your horse’s neck, above and in between the shoulder blades. When you run your hand over it, it feels rather bony and lumpy, but it is also made up of many muscles, three…
How do you know if your saddle fits correctly? When you start assessing the horse, rider and saddle most people are unaware of signs of soreness and saddle fitting problems. The rider could have had riding issues for years and not realized it could be because the horse is sore. The instructor could be constantly…
Western & Cowboy Dressage Saddles
New Mexico State University Study revealed Ill-fitting saddles can cause training and behaviour problems as well as unsoundness in the horse’s back
Correct Body Position For Western Riding A functional body position can help you stay functional in the saddle all day long. Functional body positioning can make all the difference when you spend an extended amount of time in the saddle. From working cattle to spending hours in the saddle, your body can take a toll…
Part IV: Confounding Variables Dr. Joyce Harman Of Harmany Equine Clinic Presents A Four-Part Series On Saddle Fitting. Correct saddle fitting is as important to the equine athlete as correct shoe fitting is to the human athlete. The present design of saddles has been primarily for the comfort of the rider; riders want close contact…
Understanding Saddle Fit, Part III: Is It a Fit? Correct saddle fitting is as important to the equine athlete as correct shoe fitting is to the human athlete. The present design of saddles has been primarily for the comfort of the rider; riders want close contact with the horse. However, in trying to achieve that…
Correct saddle fitting is as important to the equine athlete as correct shoe fitting is to the human athlete. The present design of saddles has been primarily for the comfort of the rider; riders want close contact with the horse. However, in trying to achieve that effect, manufacturers have removed most of the support the…
Understanding Saddle Fit, Part I: An Overview Dr. Joyce Harman introduces us to the basics of fit. Correct saddle fitting is as important to the equine athlete as correct shoe fitting is to the human athlete. In the last twenty years, great strides have been made in the running shoe industry, while the saddle industry…
various sizes and shapes withers can take, they have always been one of the biggest challenges in fitting the saddle to the horse.
Just replacing the saddle with a “better” one is usually not the answer. Even if it is a $5000 saddle. “Asking the horse” is also a very poor method. Even if the horse initially seems comfortable it may not be at all suitable.
SADDLE FIT AND HORSE ANATOMY If you learn the basic bone anatomy of your horse it will help you understand saddle fit and horse anatomy. Even before you buy a saddle just trying it on your horse using these landmarks you can tell if the saddle is going to fit before you buy. Learning these…
If you know the basic muscles of your horse’s back and shoulders you can assess if your saddle could be making your horse’s back sore. If you know the basic muscles of your horse’s back and shoulders you can assess if your saddle could be making your horse’s back sore. Anatomy can be a little…
Horse anatomy in Motion
DVD featuring Dr. Joanna Robson Too often people don’t recognize horses in Pain. Short and choppy strides, loss of topline muscle, bulging shoulders, hollow-back – these are all symptoms of a horse in pain. “Stall Rest and Bute” is mistakenly the treatment when the underlying cause cannot be found, and joint injections don’t treat the underlying cause…
GOOD FITTING SADDLE Everything begins with a good fitting saddle tree. It’s the foundation for the saddle; the frame upon which everything else is built. Without a proper fitting tree, you’ll never have a good fitting saddle. Tree Fit Horse backs are like snowflakes, no two are the same. The job of the saddle tree is…
SADDLE FIT AND FENDER POSITION We are all taught to make sure we ride with the correct length of stirrups. Stirrups that are too long or too short could mean we can’t effectively balance and use our legs. How Does The Fender Position Affect My Leg Position? Unless the fenders are adjustable forward or back…
LANGUAGE OF SWEAT MARKS When buying my first saddle all I had to give them was the height, high withers and the breed. They sent me saddles that they were sure to fit, a height withered 16 hh thoroughbred. None came close. Understanding the language of sweat marks helped me find a saddle that fit….
By Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA It’s the equine back that might seem most essential to the rider. It’s where we put all our weight, where we place our ffavourite(and most expensive) riding gear, where we connect—directly, physically—with our mount, and where we communicate with subtle cues. But for all its importance, equine researchers say the equine back…
When horses were the chief mode of transportation, they were bred to a somewhat uniform conformation within breeds. A saddle was a big investment and often had to last many horses. A horse that didn’t fit your saddle was usually put to work in harness. After WWII horse use began to transition from working animals…
By Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor If you’re a runner, you’ve probably noticed that after a 45-minute jog your calf muscles seem a bit swollen or enlarged. They are responding to post-training fluid shifts, fibre hypertrophy (thickening), and the general strain of exercise. Horses’ muscles, particularly along the back, respond to exercise in the…
SIGNS THAT YOUR SADDLE DOESN’T FIT YOUR HORSE A horse that goes around with his head up, ears pinned, and tail swishing could be signs that your saddle doesn’t fit your horse. One that’s commonly overlooked, however, is poor saddle fit. When professional saddlers evaluate a horse’s saddle, they look for telltale signs of a…
Wearing boots or shoes that don’t fit properly can be both uncomfortable and painful. So much so, in fact, that few of us will tolerate the condition. Instead, we quickly will locate or purchase footwear that is comfortable. The good news is that as articulate humans with, generally speaking, enough disposable income available, we not…
By Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor
Exercise’s Effects on Horses’ Back Dimensions and Saddle Fit
If you’re a runner, you’ve probably noticed that after a 45-minute jog your calf muscles seem a bit swollen or enlarged. They are responding to post-training fluid shifts, fiber hypertrophy (thickening), and the general strain of exercise. Horses’ muscles, particularly along the back, respond to exercise in the same way. Have you ever thought about what effect this might have on your saddle’s fit as your horse works?
Western Saddle Sweat Marks There is a great deal of misunderstanding in the equine world with respect to dry spots and what they indicate. Not all dry spots are bad, but you have to understand the mitigating factors and learn to read what the dry spots are telling you. Much has transpired over the years…
WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL ABOUT CUSTOM SADDLE FIT? Saddle fit is a big deal! Horse backs are all unique along their length and many angles; they change throughout their life-cycle, degrees of fitness, and many are not symmetrical. If your saddle doesn’t fit your horse he will likely be cranky and sore, and may…
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