Research
Importance of a Balanced ride
The importance of being a good rider for your horse’s back, and use a well fitted saddle!
Menu
The importance of being a good rider for your horse’s back, and use a well fitted saddle!
Wet your horse’s back and saddle area with water before riding. Saddle your horse without using any pads. Ride through
Most horses have 18 thoracic vertebrae—the bones we’re essentially sitting on when we’re riding. They’re also the bones from which the ribs flare. Five vertebrae make up the sacrum area, and these are usually fused together. Between these two spinal sections is the lumbar area, with numbers of vertebrae varying from one horse to another.
Wouldn’t It Be Great to Know Your Saddle Really Fits? More and more we are hearing from riders that they
Seventeen years of collecting data on gait analysis for dressage horses in the equine laboratory at the McPhail Center at
In my experience, even in the best of stables, not enough emphasis is placed on saddle fit. The shape of
Sue Dyson & Line Greve Although sports horses are becoming increasingly valuable, there has been little objective investigation addressing the
Sue Dyson and Line Greve Correct saddle-fit is important for optimal function of the equine back. A saddle that does
Sue Dyson & Line Greve Recommendations concerning saddle-fit are empirical and based on anecdotal information. We know that the saddle
Sue Dyson & Line Greve The tendency for a saddle to persistently slip to one side is a well-recognized problem
Find out how veterinarians diagnose and treat this complex condition. By Jackie Hill In this back X-ray, note the lack of
Here’s how to choose the right saddle for three equine body types that are especially difficult to fit. Many of
Do you know the proper method for saddling a horse? Correctly fitting a saddle is probably the most important part
The realization of the vast range of physical evolutionary changes that occurred in the horse began in 1825 with the
WHAT IS A WITHER AND WHERE CAN I FIND IT ON MY HORSE? A wither is the bony ‘bump’ if
Signs of an ill-fitting saddle When you start assessing the horse, rider and saddle most people are unaware of signs
When a muscle of a horse decreases in size, seemingly melting away, it’s known as muscle atrophy. When this occurs,
Learn to recognize the subtle signs of saddle-fit problems, and how you can prevent them. BARB CRABBE, DVM When was
By Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA Where do you place your stirrups? We know stirrup length affects your position, forces, and contact
Dr. Kerry Ridgeway Take time to educate yourself because an ill-fitted tree will cause permanent, long-term damage to your horse.
Being knowledgeable about tack is part of our journey as a horseman. Yet when it comes to saddle fit, confusion and
DRESSAGE FOR EVERYBODY WITH LIDIA TAYLOR·SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 I often get asked if a particular saddle would be OK
By Dr. Sue Dyson A British study has raised the possibility riders are saddling their horses with problems, many may not
By Erica Larson Ensure there’s consistent contact between the panel and the back. Uneven contact could result in pressure points.
By Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA Being attentive to horses’ behaviour and postures can help improve both the horse’s welfare and the
Something that saddle fitters know but that’s often the last thing riders think of: it’s their riding position as much
Anne Bondi, October 2016. Today, considerably fewer people grow up with the horse as part of their daily lives and
New Mexico State University Study revealed Ill-fitting saddles can cause training and behaviour problems as well as unsoundness in the
Don’t Forget the Feet! Equine conformation and more particularly pathology of the feet affect greatly the way the saddle is
Canadian Junior competes at the Western Dressage World Show in Oklahoma Maverick is very sensitive and my first Western show
AQHA Professional Horseman Brent Tincher describes appropriate body positioning that is practical in the western world. By Holly Wilson A
Manifestations of laterality or crooked horse syndrome Dr. Kerry Ridgway Dr. Kerry Ridgway had, in the last three years, been working
Low Heel / High Heel Syndrome Dr. Kerry Ridgway Introduction The commonly observed condition where the heel of one front
Part IV: Confounding Variables Dr. Joyce Harman of Harmany Equine Clinic presents a four-part series on saddle fitting. Correct saddle
Correct saddle fitting is as important to the equine athlete as correct shoe fitting is to the human athlete. The
Correct saddle fitting is as important to the equine athlete as correct shoe fitting is to the human athlete. The
Dr. Joyce Harman introduces us to the basics of fit. Correct saddle fitting is as important to the equine athlete
various sizes and shapes withers can take, they have always been one of the biggest challenges in fitting the saddle to the horse.
by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA An old style of riding could bring new benefits to modern-day endurance racing. Endurance could head
In the spring of 2015, Larry & I attended Equine Touch Foundation Whole Horse Dissection Clinic with Dr. Ivana Ruddock at the
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.
Case Study #7: Winona – Equine Wellness 2013 with Dr. Ridgway and Manolo Mendez
Case Study #6: Quamby – Equine Wellness 2013 with Dr. Ridgway and Manolo Mendez
Case Study #5: Ty – Equine Wellness 2013 with Dr. Ridgway and Manolo Mendez
Case Study #4: Jazz – Equine Wellness 2013 with Dr. Ridgway and Manolo Mendez
Case Study #3: Dante – Equine Wellness 2013 with Dr. Ridgway and Manolo Mendez
Case Study #2: Spyder – Equine Wellness 2013 with Dr. Ridgway and Manolo Mendez
Dr Ridgway Discusses Laterality Equine Wellness 2013 with Dr. Ridgway and Manolo Mendez
BASIC EQUINE SKELETAL ANATOMY If you learn the basic bony anatomy of your horse or pony then this will help
If you know the basic muscles of your horse’s back and shoulders you can assess if your saddle could be
DVD featuring Dr. Joanna Robson Too often people don’t recognize horses in Pain. Short and choppy strides, loss of topline muscle, bulging
Good Fitting Saddle Everything begins with the saddle tree. It’s the foundation for the saddle; the frame upon which everything
We are all taught to make sure we ride with the correct length stirrups. Stirrups that are too long or
Who has never had a saddle fit issue is one lucky person! When I was buying my first ever saddle
By Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA It’s the equine back that might seem most essential to the rider. It’s where we put all
When horses were the chief mode of transportation, they were bred to a somewhat uniform conformation within breeds. A saddle
Optimal saddle fit is the key to equine performance. Dr Kerry Ridgway made key observations in the relation of the
By Erica Larson Your horse’s diminished performance has you worried. He’s not lame, he’s not injured, but something’s just not
By Alexandra Beckstett, The Horse Managing Editor If you’re a runner, you’ve probably noticed that after a 45-minute jog your
A horse that goes around with his head up, ears pinned, and tail swishing could be indicating discomfort or displeasure
Wearing boots or shoes that don’t fit properly can be both uncomfortable and painful. So much so, in fact, that
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?
By Mike Easton. July 7, 2011 There is a great deal of misunderstanding in the equine world in respect to
Made to Measure Tree Built for Your Horse: To make quality saddles, you have to start with quality trees and
