The Right Answers to Saddle Fitting Questions

 

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 their trainers. In this uniquely informative article, 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…….

 

 Learning more about saddles and a correct fit for your horse will never be time wasted and now you can do that in your own time with Kay's informative 2-part video series for all Riders and Trainers. 

 

In it she presents a wealth of knowledge, distilling her 50 years of experience into what is an unrivalled resource.

 

If you've read this far, you're someone interested in this fascinating and important area of equine knowledge, so find out how you can 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 don't forget to join in the conversation on Facebook

Research and Its Relevance to You and Your Saddle Fitter

Many of you will follow the work of Dr Russell Mackechnie-Guire of Centaur Biomechanics and be justifiably amazed at the information that he has uncovered through his research, as am I, says Master Saddler and Master Saddler Fitter Kay Hastilow (pictured left).

Although most of us are aware of his work as he generously publishes it on social media, gives many talks, presentations and webinars, he is also part of a team of talented and knowledgeable people similarly involved in research.

Mark Fisher, MS MSF, Dr Jane Nixon MRCVS  and many others are all busy working on different aspects of saddlery – note, no longer just saddle fitting but also girths, bridles, pads and many other items. Mark works regularly with Russell, top class vets and of course, the video operator, as all of this research has to be covered from every angle and to strict protocols. Such research is expensive, so we have to thank Fairfax saddles, in particular Vanessa Fairfax, for really getting the ball rolling with their work on girths, work that has since been continued across their range.

The research is great for design and development, but does this have any advantages for the saddler or saddle fitter working in the front line? You bet it does! Apart from knowing the proven facts of many products, there are many little pieces of information that have been a real help to us.

For example, experienced saddle fitters know that too wide a tree will not work very well, and that horses will not ‘grow into it’ as some have claimed – in fact the result was often the very opposite, but we were a voice crying in the wilderness if we tried to say this. Now we can point to the validated and widely available research done by Russell, Mark and their team that PROVES this. However, we have also found that the odd horse, not all by any means can alter width from the static fitting to the dynamic. Some go wider when working, but some go narrower. Many just stay the same.

It has become glaringly obvious that a horse fitted when static can completely change once ridden, in that a saddle in balance static can tip forward or back once the horse is ridden, often to a considerable degree. I used to fit a good dressage horse where I had to remember to set the saddle at a 30% angle tipping back, because as soon as his rider picked up the reins he would engage his quarters and lift his back so much that the saddle would then be level. If I fitted it level when static, the rider would have been tipped forward so much that she just couldn’t ride him.

Thanks to the research done by all, we now know that the horse’s gait and shape can change when ridden, affecting the fit and balance of the saddle. If your saddle fitter only ‘fits’ your saddle static, you will know that this is a job only half done. Unless there are justifiable reasons for not seeing the horse ridden in the saddle, do not accept this.

You will have seen that I mentioned Dr Jane Nixon in an earlier paragraph , widow of the late and much-lamented Stewart Hastie. He was the veterinary advisor to the Society of Master Saddlers and had been a font of knowledge for the Society when they initiated the qualified saddle fitter course and qualification 25 years ago. I am happy to say that Jane has continued his good work and now advises the SMS on relevant veterinary matters.

However, Jane’s main interest is in soundness, feet, shoeing and the influence of this on gait – an area where she has done a great deal of research. Is this relevant to saddle fitting? Oh yes! Amongst many other things, over long toes can give your horse a sore back! Who knew? And how does this help the saddle fitter? Hands up now. How many people have their horses shod regularly with a space of no more than 4 to 6 weeks between shoeing? Not that many I’m sure, and yet it is so important. Badly balanced feet, different heel depth or a host of other problems can all affect a saddle’s performance. In fact, it is becoming more and more obvious that we really have to look at the horse ‘in the round’, with every aspect of his care, comfort and welfare vitally important as they are all  interlinked.

The research work done by these people has given us so much helpful information and, whilst many of the longer serving fitters knew that back pain was as often as not a symptom rather than a saddle problem per se, we now have the research evidence to which we can refer. In view of this, the SMS has set up a research group who look out areas of saddlery, fitting, design and other areas where research might enhance our knowledge and therefore the comfort and welfare of your horse.

I have just touched the tip of the iceberg with this topic, but at least now you know that much of the information your SMS qualified saddle fitter tells you is research led, verified and available for you to look up yourself. Different days indeed from when you just had to believe what you were told!

___________________________________________________________________________________

Building your knowledge will benefit both your horse and your riding – and help you work more effectively alongside not only your saddle fitter, but also other professionals in your equine support network.

Kay explains; “I have spent more than 50 years working with saddles and fitting them to horses and ponies. Having now having retired from actively fitting saddles, I am focused on sharing what I’ve learnt to help develop knowledge and understanding of what goes into achieving a correct saddle fit. I feel that video enables me to do that much more effectively than would be possible in a book and have produced two videos that I am sure you will find both informative and interesting. Ienjoyed the project immensely and am delighted with feedback from those who have bought my 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 these unrivalled and informative videos at  

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/saddlefittingknowhow  

Your horse will thank you in more ways than one - and your riding will benefit too!

Click to buy videos for streaming or download

Is Saddle Fit A Welfare Issue?

Wow! What an amazing response! Well into ‘four figures’ of you answered our question “Is saddle fitting a welfare issue?” reports Master Saddler and Master Saddle Fitter Kay Hastilow. I am delighted to say that out of all of these responses, only one person didn’t think that it was so. This has really cheered me, as many of you will know that I have been doing this job not just for many years but for a frightening number of decades and sometimes it felt that I was trying to push a heavy boulder uphill. This poll, however, shows that now the message is out there and that horses will really benefit as a result.

For many years we had people that said “It isn’t necessary. I can tell if a saddle fits or not.” Sadly, in the past this was sometimes the instructors, and their clients would ask them for their opinion. This was often to buy the saddle that they personally liked with absolutely no understanding of the intricacies involved in saddle fitting for both the horse AND the rider. Happily I believe that this is not so widespread as it once was and instructors understand and value the depth of knowledge that a saddle fitter has, and often fitter and instructor will work together to obtain the best possible fit for horse and rider. This really is as it should be, respecting the knowledge and abilities of other people and uniting for the best outcome.

If you employ a properly qualified saddle fitter such as The Society of Master Saddlers Qualified or Master saddle fitter you will know that they will have been fitting saddles under the guidance and support of a  well- qualified and experienced saddle fitter for a minimum of 3 years before they could even sit the exam, to ensure that they had plenty of experience as well as knowledge. Sadly, this is not so with many other qualifications. They also have a strict to code of conduct to which they should adhere, and there is a complaints procedure should you have a problem. Nothing is perfect but I believe that these are the best fitters that you can engage. Also, because I believe every SMS qualified fitter is either totally independent from any saddle manufacturer, or works for a retailer that is likewise totally independent, you can be sure that the fitter will be looking for the best saddle for you and your horse, not just the best from their manufacturer’s range. You will find that most fitters favour one brand over another, but all will hold a selection of brands and styles. It may well be that for that fitter they will know that the range from brand X suits the average type of horse, riding standard and budget within their area, but they are in no way tied to selling just that one brand. Nor do they have a sales target that they have to reach each month for any particular brand. That makes a big difference.

The depth of knowledge that a good saddle fitter has is incredible; our clients often having no inkling of many of the factors taken into consideration by them. Here are but a few.
Tree SHAPE, not just width.
Tree point length. (did you know that shorter points give less support to the panel, so with a high withered horse these are often fitted narrower than the horse’s shape, just to give clearance to the wither? We all know how that could end don’t we?)
Panel shapes and their suitability for various shapes of horse.
Girth strap options that may be necessary to keep the saddle straight for you and your horse. Ever wondered why a fitter is not showing you mono flap saddles with long girth straps? That might be the reason.

Perhaps these will be topics for further blogs. Please let me know if there is something of particular interest to you, or a factor of fitting that you would like explained as I would be happy to write blogs on the most often asked questions.

Stay safe and enjoy your riding. ___________________________________________________________________________________

Increasing your own knowledge of saddles and saddle fitting will help you work more closely with your saddle fitter and your horse will benefit  ...

Kay says; "Knowing when you need to book your saddle fitter is an important aspect of managing all ridden equines. Having spent more than 50 years working with saddles and fitting them to horses and ponies, I have retired from actively fitting saddles and I am now focused on sharing what I’ve learnt to help develop knowledge and understanding of what goes into achieving a correct saddle fit. I feel that video enables me to do that much more effectively than would be possible in a book, I enjoyed the project immensely and am delighted with early feedback from those who have already bought these two videos which are specifically to help Riders and their Trainers understand a little more about saddle fitting and why it is so important for every ridden horse and pony.”

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 these unrivalled and informative videos at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/saddlefittingknowhow 

 

Your horse will thank you in more ways than one! 

Click here to buy videos for streaming or download