The Saddle-Fitter Visits the Farm
As many of you know, I am an avid horseback rider and love to go out for rides on my Friesians. An important part of riding is making sure the horse has a well-fitted saddle. A horse’s comfort and happiness as well as a rider's proper positioning all depend on the fit of the saddle. An improper fit can cause a rider's weight to be distributed unevenly, which can result in pressure points, rub marks, and soreness on the horse's back. Saddles should be checked once or twice a year.
Yesterday, second-generation saddle fitter and owner of Synergy Saddle Fit in upstate New York, Trish Baker, came to the farm to check my saddles and make adjustments where needed.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- This is my stable tack room where we keep many saddles, bridles, and harnesses. All the equipment is stored on specific racks when not being used.
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- We also keep equipment in my stable manager’s office. Everything is always ready for the next ride.
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- Here’s the patriarch of my stable, my handsome Friesian, Rinze. Rinze is first to get checked.
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- Rinze is taken out of his stall and safely secured to cross ties so saddle-fitter Trish could check out his back and top line. A horse’s top line includes all the musculature that runs from the poll, down the horse’s neck, over the back, and into the hindquarters.
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- Trish has been saddle-fitting for more than eight years not including her time apprenticing under her mother who is also a master saddle fitter. Trish’s company, Synergy Saddle Fit, is located just outside Albany, New York.
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- Here is Trish from the other side of Rinze – focusing on the structure of his middle back. She also makes sure Rinze is standing square on stable, even ground.
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- Next, Trish places the saddle on Rinze’s back without any saddle pad. This is my saddle and the one I use most whenever I ride.
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- Trish feels closely and uses her fingers to measure the space between the saddle and where it sits on Rinze’s back. She also feels the padding of the saddle to determine if it needs any adjustments. Some of the signs that a saddle doesn’t fit correctly include one that sits too far forward or too far back, a saddle that is too short or too long, too wide or too narrow, or a saddle that has too much space underneath it causing “bridging.” This means the saddle makes more contact at the front and back but not under the middle.
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- Trish wants to adjust the saddle slightly. The saddle is taken off and brought to Trish’s work station in the back of her car. Here she is pointing to the hole of the saddle where it is flocked, or filled with padding material.
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- Under all the leather that makes up a saddle is the tree, or the wooden form. That tree is padded with wool – either real sheep’s wool like this or synthetic wool.
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- Occasionally, the saddle may need more wool or slight adjustments to make sure it is still padding the tree correctly. Trish’s main tool is a flocking iron, which is used to insert wool into the hole of the saddle.
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- Trish uses her other hand to feel how it is sitting once inside the saddle.
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- What one doesn’t want is an “egg” or balled up wool inside the saddle. This makes the saddle uncomfortable. The wool must sit flat and cushion the saddle properly.
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- After flocking the saddle, it is placed on Rinze once again to re-check its fit.
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- Here, one can see that it sits quite level and straight on Rinze. A small adjustment like this could make a big difference to a horse. Rinze will be much more comfortable on our next ride.
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- She also rotates the stirrups – this is good to do a couple times a year to ensure equal wear.
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- Rinze is all set and quite proud of himself. Yes, Rinze, you get a cookie.
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- After examining the others, Trish recommends changing a saddle out for one that fits the horses better. Trish checks all the other saddles to see which is best.
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- The front of the saddle should sit behind the horse’s shoulder blades, allowing good swing motion. The back of the saddle should also be the right length. And the saddle itself should rest nicely on the back. This saddle looks good on Hylke.
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- Bond is up next. He is a 14-year old Friesian with an excellent and friendly temperament. In the end, all the saddles were in good shape and very few adjustments were needed.
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- And here I am on my steed, Rinze – ready for a ride. A well-fitting saddle gives the horse freedom of movement without any discomfort. It also helps the rider to find a correct and more effective riding position. If you ride and have your own equipment, don’t forget to have your saddles properly fitted – it’s good for both you and your trusted mount.
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