Saddle fit, saddle pads and gels

Correct saddle, pad and girth fitting not only will turn into poor performance, but also affect muscle function.

Ill fitting saddles can also paradoxically result in lameness becoming apparent.

When is the best to fit the saddles?

To correctly fit the saddle, it is suggested to do it straight after proper work, because the back muscles will expand during the training. It's because that's how the horse will be using his back during the exercise. If the horse is working well, it will be slightly flexing the thoracic region so then the back is coming up. And the saddle should be able to accommodate that.

So in fact we might say there could be slight bridging of the saddle during the static evaluation of the saddle. But if we at rest stimulate the horse to lift its thorax, does the back come up to fill that space? And if the answer is yes, that's probably a good thing because the saddle is allowing what's going to happen when the horse is ridden if assuming the horse is working correctly.

If the saddle is too narrow - they tend to be too tight in the front and tip the riders seat backwards.

If the saddle are too wide, they tend to have low pommel and tip the rider forward.

Back muscle dimension increases with lighter weight riders.

How often?

The answer is every 3 months. Horses change shape all the time, depending on weight, fitness and muscle development, meaning the fit of their saddle can change throughout months. Also you should consider riders asymmetries that can affect the saddle shape as well.

How to check the tree point?

Tree point tightness - you should be able to run your fingers between the saddle and the horse freely. As well with the rider on and standing in the stirrups. If you can't slide your fingers freely between the tree point in both situations with and without the rider - the tree point is too tight.

Also you should be able to fit 2 fingers between the withers and saddle with the rider on. 

Saddle slipping on one side

1. Asymmetric back muscle development of the horse

2. Asymmetric flocking of the saddle

3. Crooked rider

4. Most common cause - horse hindleg lameness

If the saddle slips, the rug will also slip on the same side. 85% slipping on the side of the lamer limb. 

Saddle fit for the rider

The rider must be able to sit centrally in the seat, not tipping forward or back. The rider’s seat bones and thighs should have even contact. The rider’s position is influenced by the type of saddle (dressage, jumping, general purpose), the position of the stirrup bars and any knee or thigh rolls and the balance or otherwise of the saddle.

Irrespective of saddle design, when the rider’s legs hang they should not drift forward or backward. The rider should be able to stand in the stirrups and maintain their balance, both when stationary and when the horse is moving.

Saddle pads

If they are too small, they will give the sores. 

If the hair pattern is changed and the saddle is slipping, it means that the saddle pad is stiff.

Check the saddle pad after riding - if the saddle pad has sweat marks equally on both sides. If there are dry spots - that means excessive pressure from the saddle. So the saddle doesn't fit.

Gel pads

They are not for direct use on the skin! They generate excessive heat and can even create burns.

In research it was found that gel pads even increase the pressure in the front.

Compared with foam or wool pads, where they create slightly reduced pressure on the back, but its huge variation between horses.

Source: Prevention is Better than Cure, Dr Sue Dyson