Throughout her many years of experience as a Master Saddler
and Master Saddle Fitter, Kay Hastilow has been asked innumerable different
questions by horseowners and here she gives brief answers to just some of the
most frequently heard enquiries....
Q. What is the difference between a saddler and a
saddle fitter?
A. A Qualified saddler is a skilled craftsman who can
sit at a bench and make saddles, bridles or other items of leatherwork. A
saddler (referred to in the trade as a bench saddler) might have
absolutely no knowledge of how a saddle should fit, nor recognise good or bad
fit.
A saddle fitter understands how the saddle should fit, will
understand which tree, panel design and girth strap arrangement is needed for
each individual horse and why, and how well the saddle fits for the rider.
However, they might have no bench skills and so not be able to make, nor to
adjust an existing saddle to fit the horse.
The finest saddle fitters have both the skills of a saddler
and a saddle fitter. Ideally, they will also be horsemen and be able to ride,
but this is not always the case.
Q. Why is good saddle fit important?
A. We need the saddle to give us security, balance and
position and all of this will help the horse to perform to the best of his
ability, be it in competition or out hacking. If his saddle is uncomfortable
(or in some cases downright painful), we shouldn’t be surprised if our horse is
less than enthusiastic or blatantly 'naughty' when we ride him.
Q. What should we look for in a good saddle fitter?
A. The Society of Master Saddlers has been training and
assessing saddle fitters to the Qualified Saddle Fitter (QSF) qualification since
1995, so has more experience in this field than other qualification awarding
bodies. If the fitter is good, you may well have to wait up to six weeks for a
visit, but he or she will be worth waiting for.
Q. Where can you find out about good saddle fitters?
A. The Society of Master Saddlers website has all of the
qualified fitters listed by county. There are symbols to show what
qualifications each holds, so that you can see if the fitter is also a qualified
saddler. Whilst there are other fitters, both with or without qualifications
out there, the SMS QSF gives you an assurance that the fitter knows what is
what, and you have the Society to turn to if you have any problems.
Q. How often should I get my saddle fitted?
A. It rather depends on the age and breed of your horse and
the work that they are doing. Young horses especially, from being backed at
three to being in a regular routine by the age of six to nine, can change a
great deal in a very short space of time. I have seen horses change by more
than a width fitting in a matter of weeks. For this age group, every three to
four months is ideal. Older horses can change dramatically as well, so four to
six months for them.
A middle-aged horse with a regular stable routine and in
regular work will need checking once every six months, but if the horse has
changes to his routine, such as eventers, hunters, or horses kept in during the
winter but turned out to grass 24/7 in the summer, they will need more regular
visits.
Of course, ANY horse showing discomfort or changes in their
way of going should have the saddle checked as soon as possible.
Q. What should I look for in a good saddle fit?
Ask the horse! He should not go to the back of the stable
when you walk in with the saddle. The saddle should just slide into place on
the horse’s back and want to stay in the right position. When ridden in, the
saddle should be level so that you do not need to lean forward to maintain your
balance. It should be stable, not lifting or bouncing at the back. There should
be sufficient clearance to the top and sides of the spine right through the
length of the saddle so that there is no pressure from the saddle anywhere in
this area. Note, we do not say 2/3/4 fingers, as this can be very misleading.
The tree of the saddle (shorter than the panel) should not go beyond T18 (the
position of the last rib), although it is okay if the panel extends beyond here
by an inch or so. The panel should be smooth and giving, not hard and lumpy.
There should be an even contact between the saddle and the horse’s back.
Q. How can I tell if my saddle needs checked?
A. If your horse does not seem happy to be tacked up, or is
not going as freely and as well as normal, this might indicate discomfort. If
you are finding it difficult to sit still or in balance, or you feel as if you
are going to be tipped forward or back, this will indicate that the saddle is
out of balance. Get a friend to film you riding and look to see if you are
riding in a good position, legs in the right place and that you are upright.
It is good practice to measure your horse’s girth each week,
especially when the grass starts coming through, or in the middle of winter.
Measure in centimetres (all weight tapes have this measurement, and it will be
the same whichever tape you use, whereas the weights shown will differ) A gain
or loss of 5 cm. is roughly equivalent to 40 kg. weight change, which can
totally alter the way the saddle is fitting. A 3 cm. change will signify the need
to get the saddle fitter in to check.
Q. What affects saddle fit?
A. This could be a long list!
Putting the saddle too far forward. (My pet bug bear)
Using very thick numnahs or pads with a saddle fitted using
something thinner.
Different girths.
Using different girth straps (say 1 & 2 rather than 1
& 3)
Uneven stirrup leathers.
Weight gain or loss. (time of year)
Change in the type or level of work.
A different rider.
Lameness.
Injury.
Crooked riders.
Riders carrying an injury.
I could go on…….
Kay presents an informative 2-part video series distilling her 50 years of experience into what is an unrivalled resource for all Riders & Trainers interested in Saddles and Saddle Fitting. Find out how to get copies of SADDLE FITTING KNOW HOW - FOR RIDERS AND TRAINERS at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/saddlefittingknowhow
Find out more by visiting Kay Hastilow’s website at www.khsaddlery.co.uk, check out
the Educational Films
page and join in the conversation on Facebook
