During
lockdown most horses and ponies will be changing shape for one reason or
another, with saddle fit and your horse’s comfort and wellbeing compromised as
a result. So how best to manage saddle fit and other tack issues? Master
Saddler and Master Saddle Fitter Kay Hastilow has put together this checklist
of do’s and don’ts to help you get it right.
Do:- go over your tack carefully looking
for repairs that may be necessary – most bench (craftsmen) saddlers are
working.
Do:- give your tack a good clean. Get all
of the dirt, grease and grime off first then allow it to dry (preferably
overnight) before adding a good leather dressing. I use Oakwood leather
dressing but there are many good ones out there.
Don’t :- expect your saddle to fit when you
start to ride again. For sure your horse will have changed shape if he hasn’t
been ridden for a few weeks.
Don’t:- expect your saddle fitter to be able
to come out to you straight away once lockdown eases. Contact them now so that
your name is on the list when they can start work again. Most are keeping lists
of visits wanted as soon as they can come out again safely.
Don’t:- expect your SMS qualified saddle
fitter to come out to you at the moment. Whilst a couple are doing so, our
advice is that it is not safe to do so and we should not be doing this. It is
impossible to do a satisfactory fit working to the SMS system and abide by the
Government’s rules. We do not wish to risk your health, nor our own!
Don’t:- be tempted to buy a saddle on line.
Even a saddle that looks to be a second hand bargain, if you want to have it
fitted it will be some time before a good fitter can come out to you. If it is
faulty it will then be too late to return it.
Don’t:- buy
a saddle on line. Just that! It’s never a good idea and often leads to tears.
Don’t:- try to re-fit your saddle yourself
without guidance. If you are concerned, contact your saddle fitter. They will
ask for photos – not head shots of your much loved neddy! They will need close
up side on (so full horse but filling the frame, not with a lot of background).
Do this from both sides. Girth fastened but no saddle cloth. Also, from front /
side at the wither both sides. You may need to stand on a mounting block for
this. Finally, take one from behind the horse along his back, also stand on a
block to take this. If it is safe to do so, they might like a video of you
riding (with your saddle cloth back on) to show balance and movement in work,
but ONLY do this if it is safe to do so. Video up quite close please. It’s not
much help when you are away in the distance. Your saddle fitter can then advise
you of how to improve things for the short term. This isn’t a saddle fit as
this can NOT be done remotely. The fitter does need to be there in person, but
this is a short-term fix to keep you going.
Learn what your saddle fitter will ask for from
Kay's two videos - to get copies see the section below
Saddle Fitting Know How - For Riders and Trainers
Don’t:- try to re-fit your friend’s horse
using similar fixes to those advised for your horse. What is right for him might
not be right for your friend’s horse. There is much more to correct saddle
fitting than meets the eye, which is why a good qualification like the Society
of Master saddlers qualified saddle fitter takes a minimum of 3 years to
achieve. You could, with the best of intentions damage your friend’s horse.
Don’t:- ride your horse at the moment if he
is anything other than bomb proof and keep any riding that you do to a minimum
and within a safe area if possible. Some horses just have to be ridden
regularly or there will be a huge spike in visits to A & E once we are
given the go ahead to start again! The general rule is to be sensible and avoid
risk as much as possible.
Stay safe
and let’s all look forward to 2021.
_________________________________________________________________
Improve
your knowledge to help your saddle fitter help you
To support
you during lockdown and more effectively discuss any concerns you have about saddle
fit with your usual saddle fitter, learn more about the information they’ll
need to help you from Kay’s expert videos.
Saddle
Fitting Know How - For Riders and Trainers is available as two videos for
unlimited download or streaming from Kay’s own Vimeo On Demand page for a one-off
charge of just £35 per video – less than the cost of a good quality saddlecloth
or a lesson from a trainer!
The first
video looks at Conformation and Movement of the Horse, Types of Tree and their
Influence, Different Panels and the Position of Girth Straps.
The second
video explains How to Assess a Saddle for Soundness, Straightness and Safety,
Recognising a Good Fit, the Balance of a Saddle, When Saddles Move and finally,
Rider Influences.
These two
new videos contain a huge amount of information and together they provide over
an hour of expert Saddle Fitting Know How. Certain to become a ‘go-to’
resource, one that you’ll view again and again, Saddle Fitting Know How – For
Riders and Trainers uses clever graphics alongside clear explanations and
insight into many different aspects of achieving and maintaining a correctly
fitting saddle.
Find out
more and get access to this unique video resource that will enhance your understanding
of saddles and why it’s vital to achieve and then maintain correct saddle fit.
