There are many myths that have been going around with regards to saddlery and the use thereof. In this series of posts, I endeavour to show most of them are without foundations and can, in some cases, be the opposite of the actual facts.
Pictured left is author Kay Hastilow, Master Saddler and Master Saddle Fitter.
'My coach / trainer says that I should get the same saddle as they ride in as they find it perfect'
I am sure that the trainer means well with this, but it really isn’t a good way to choose a saddle. Firstly, that type of saddle might be totally unsuitable for your horse – wrong tree shape. Wrong panel or girthing arrangement, and although many such people claim to know how to fit a saddle, the fact is that often they haven’t got a clue about how much they just don’t know. They might say ‘the horse will tell us if he doesn’t like it’ and in many cases this is correct, but some horses are long suffering and rather than shout out ‘I DON’T LIKE THIS SADDLE!’ will whisper quietly and the subtle signals may be missed. Add to that the fact that damage from an incorrectly fitted saddle tends to be cumulative, you risk the very real possibility of causing significant damage to your horse before you realise it.
Then, to the rider. Many such trainers are competitive, young and fit and often male. Let’s take a look at our pupils now. More often than not they will be female, not quite as talented as the trainer, probably older, less fit and juggling 10 things at once in their lives. As a generalisation they will be less supple, have much less core strength and be a totally different shape to their trainer. Why would you imagine that a saddle that suits our tall, slim and fit male trainer is going to work for a shorter, middle aged, less fit and stiffer rider, probably female so a totally different shape. Of course, this is a generalisation, but many will recognise this scenario.
How do we deal with this conundrum? The best answer is to employ a qualified SMS saddle fitter who holds a wide range of makes and styles of saddles. A representative from a saddle company (sorry, these people aren’t saddle fitters, they are saddle sellers) will only have their own saddles to sell, often have little understanding of fitting and they may sell you something that really isn’t suitable in many cases, either as they need to make sales because they work on commission or they just don’t realise how wrong that saddle is for that horse / rider combination. Is a flat seated close contact saddle with minimal support from knee or thigh rolls really what is needed for - say- the middle- aged lady who has come back to riding after raising a family, has just bought herself a horse and has found that her fitness and balance aren’t quite what they were when she was competing, aged 21? Your SMS fitter should have a range of shapes, makes and styles to suit both them and the horse, along with a wealth of knowledge as to what is needed. It’s not for nothing that it takes a minimum of three years to qualify as a SMS fitter. There really is an awful lot to know.
So long as your trainer doesn’t have a financial interest in selling his particular make of saddle (and many do) and is open minded enough to listen and work as a team with your fitter, it is very helpful to have them come and see the fitting. It can be very useful if they can discuss with the fitter about the rider’s ability and faults and watch the client ride in the saddle so that they can see how both horse and rider ‘go’ in the saddles you are trying. They should know both quite well so will see any subtle changes. This way, a suitable saddle that everyone approves of can be purchased. You would think that all trainers would want the very best for their clients and see the sense of a well thought out saddle fit, but sadly this is not always the case.
I am sure that our trainers would not expect fully qualified saddle fitters to come in and start training their clients. They might well say that they have no qualifications to do this (although many saddle fitters are also qualified instructors), but the fact is that everyone should recognise another person’s abilities and qualifications, and work as a team for the good of the mutual client, rather than be at odds with each other.
Here's to a more harmonious future!
Like many riders and trainers, you've probably thought at some point that understanding more about saddles and saddle fitting would have the potential to help you improve your horse's comfort, performance and also long-term soundness - and not only are you right, you can now do that online, whenever and wherever fits into your busy lifestyle.
With
online learning and training now much more familiar to us all, Kay's highly acclaimed and
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its
launch in 2019. Aptly titled Saddle Fitting Know How - For Riders and
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the two videos distil her 50 years of experience into over an hour of
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Watch a brief trailer and buy securely online for unlimited streaming or downloading to your device at
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If you are working as a saddle fitter or in training for a career in saddle fitting, Kay's 8-part video series titled Fitting Saddles: The Essential Guide will support your learning and help you develop a more in-depth knowledge of the subject and include invaluable insights into running a successful business as an SMS qualified saddle fitter.
Watch
a trailer and invest in one or more of the series that together form a
definitive resource to enhance your understanding of saddles and saddle
fitting.
Buy securely online for unlimited streaming or downloading to your device at
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/fittingsaddles
