Every Young Horse's First Saddle MUST Always Fit Correctly

“I’m not going to get my young horse’s saddle fitted yet as he will change shape so quickly.”

Add to this “ I need an old saddle to back my youngster. Doesn’t matter what.”

I have been asked many times to provide the latter and regularly hear the former statement ...... 

confirms author Kay Hastilow, Master Saddler and Master Saddle Fitter (pictured above).

HONESTLY?

The most important saddle that you ever put on your horse’s back is the first one – this will tell him from the start that; ‘this is nothing to be frightened of. It won’t hurt you’ or ‘this may well hurt but you are just going to have to learn to cope with it.’ Surely, if we want and expect our horses to be biddable, have manners and, in the future give generously of their spirit so that we can achieve our aims, then the least we can do is to start them in a comfortable saddle.

With the wide variety of adjustable saddles available these days you lessen the risk of the horse rapidly growing out of it one way or the other. Something like a Thorowgood T4 really isn’t very expensive, is pretty tough, is adjustable, comes in different tree shapes so that the saddle fitter can choose the correct one for your horse’s conformation, and they fit well. I have been told that a saddle to back a horse ‘doesn’t matter if the tree is broken as he might roll on it anyway.’ 

Now, I have backed a fair few horses in my time and have watched many others start horses and I have never yet seen a horse that has been started quietly and patiently do this. Horses with a problem that have come to be ‘sorted’ or ‘re- backed’ yes, but never one bought on quietly, and if that is the situation one might ask why he is like that. Don’t think that putting several pads under the saddle will make it okay. All this does is to make the saddle unstable and as one of the the hardest thing for a young horse is to learn to balance himself with you on top it won’t help if the saddle moves around on his back.

You see that I mentioned the saddle fitter there.  Yes, even just to back the horse get the fitter in. Of course, they will not be able to see the horse ridden in it at this point, but they will be able to select the right tree shape and width fitting for you, plus carefully and gently place it on his back so that they can tell you which girth straps would be best to use. Many will also supply a bar one fitting wider and one narrower than they have fitted into the saddle. They will also show you how to check the bar width as he starts in ridden work. It is at that point that the fitter should return and check that everything is correct and that the saddle is comfortable, which should be done once he is walking around the school ridden. It is a check that doesn’t want to be delayed as so much can happen during this short time. Once the horse is working under saddle happily at trot on both reins, check again.

If you intend to keep him in work (many people back and ride away, then turn the horse away again for another few months), then get the saddle checked about every three to four months ideally, as changes will be considerable and rapid. If your fitter suggests sooner than this, they are expecting a lot of change in a short period of time and want to keep the horse right. Please listen to them – they have the interests of you and your horse in mind.

If you turn him away for a length of time after backing, then remember to get the saddle checked before starting him again. A lot can happen with a young horse in a few months.

Once your youngster is in regular work you may want to get a saddle that is more suited to your chosen path – more jumping orientated or more for flatwork. That’s fine but please stay with well-designed adjustable saddles, as few horses are really mature before the age of seven and some, especially warmbloods may well be nine or 10 before they finish growing. A nice, adjustable leather saddle will be just right for them through that time and, in all honesty is probably a good bet for the lifetime of your horse, as it is so much easier for your fitter to keep the fit spot on and you and your horse comfortable. It’s just good horsemanship. 

Understanding more about saddles and saddle fitting has the potential to help you improve your horse's comfort, performance and also long-term soundness - and you can now do that whenever fits into your busy lifestyle.

With online learning and training credibly established as 'the new normal', Kay's highly acclaimed and informative 2-part video series continues to sell around the world since its launch in 2019. Aptly titled Saddle Fitting Know How - For Riders and Trainers, the two videos distil her 50 years of experience into over an hour of what is an unrivalled go-to resource for all Riders and Trainers interested in saddles and saddle fitting. They contain a wealth of information that will be of practical relevance to everyone serious about improving their riding, competing with more success or at a higher level and for those whose career is focused on training riders to develop their horses correctly.
Watch a brief trailer and buy securely online for unlimited streaming or downloading to your device at
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/saddlefittingknowhow

 

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

 

Kay Hatilow Delivers Course at North American Saddle School in Maryland

As both a Master Saddler and Master Saddle Fitter, Kay Hastilow lectures around the globe and recently accepted an invitation to join the team delivering a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course for Advanced Saddle Fitting at the North American Saddle School in Clear Springs, Maryland. The topic was ‘Pain In The Ridden Horse’.

Kay reported after the busy programme; “I had a fantastic time helping to deliver this CPD for advanced saddle fitting, where the topic was 'Pain in the ridden horse'. 

“Sue Dyson very kindly allowed me to share her work 'Pain ethograms in the ridden horse' with the group, highlighting areas that are of particular relevance to saddle fitting.  It was well received; we all learned a lot and a vote of thanks was sent to Sue for her generosity in allowing us to share this work.

“Annette Gavin, the school's founder and partner, highly qualified in both knowledge and experience, spoke on various subjects relating to pain in the horse, discussing areas that can be affected, problems that can arise from conformation defects, injury, illness and of course, poorly fitting tack. We also had an excellent talk from Moira Nasbaum, a very experienced equine veterinarian who is a very engaging speaker.

“With Amber Markley, the other partner in the school, three horses were brought out for the candidates to study and comment on their confirmation,  along with possible problems that could arise from this. The school has a round pen and above it, a balcony where you can get an aerial view of the top of the horse. This shows asymmetry in quarters, hips, development either side of the spine, shoulders, neck and head.  Very illuminating.

Many other topics were covered including Social Licence to ride our horses and this led to lively discussion. The appreciative candidates (pictured above) certainly had plenty to think about on their journey home.

It was a real pleasure to be involved in such an informative and interesting course. Thank you N.A.S.S.”

 

You Don't Have To Ride Your Horses To Enjoy Them!

Recently there has been much discussion around rider weight and along with my own post ‘The Elephant In The Room’, there have been several interesting replies, writes Master Saddler and Master Saddle Fitter Kay Hastilow, pictured left.

 Many have recognised the problem and have taken steps to remedy this, which is a perfect example of the mantra ‘RECOGNITION, RESPONSIBILITY, ACTION, SATISFACTION’ and my congratulations to all of those that have acted on this and succeeded in shedding weight and getting fitter, to their own benefit as well as that of their horse.

Many though have said that they simply found it impossible to lose weight despite having tried just about every diet known to man. It certainly isn’t easy and as several have said, sometimes it just isn’t possible as health issues and conditions can mean it is unachievable. I have felt a great deal of  sympathy for such people and have the greatest respect for those who have stopped riding, having recognised that this is a welfare issue for their horse. Heart-breaking, but you don’t have to ride your horses to enjoy them as there is much that we can do that will give pleasure to both horse and rider.

Let us think about horse ownership and what it entails. Yes, there is lots of boring stuff like poo picking, mucking out, turning out and bringing in but you can get great satisfaction and pleasure from grooming your horse. Most  horses will enjoy it as well, so long as it isn’t rushed and you do the job well. It can really build a bond with your horse that is equally as strong as any that you could have built by riding him or her - and the horse will look fantastic.  

I had one client who didn’t ride at all (I fitted saddles for him so that others could ride his horse occasionally so that she didn’t get out of the habit) but he and she would go for long walks together. Good and enjoyable exercise for both as they walked over hill and dale, through woodland and fields. A pause so that she could pick at some grass and admire the scenery. I don’t think that any of my clients have been happier than this pair.

There are many games that you can play with your horses, training them to be very responsive to your voice. So long as you have a safe, enclosed area (a small field if you don’t have an arena to use), you will find that horses just love playing with large balls, rather like yoga balls, and will play tag, learn to come and back away from you, move away or towards you, all to voice command. It really is amazing just how much horses recognise and respond to voice commands. The possibilities are huge.

Some will mention driving, but this will have a number of safety-related factors to be considered. I wouldn’t consider driving where I live because although this is a country lane, we have so many drivers going too fast, cutting blind corners with no thought that a horse and trap might be just around the bend. Likewise there are many tractors and a lot of farming machinery and whilst the drivers are great when I’m riding and we get out of each other’s way, this really wouldn’t be possible with a horse and trap. Also, this can be a very costly pursuit as you need safe harness (synthetic is fine if well-made but it’s still expensive) and some form of cart or trap. You also need to learn properly how to fit and put the harness on, put to (that’s attaching horse to cart) and actually drive. Your horse will need to be suitable too, as I don’t think that an ex racer would take kindly to this but if of a suitable type, your horse will also need to be taught– two novices together in this setting is a recipe for disaster. This would ideally mean the horse going away to be broken to harness then some training for both of you at that yard.

If you have the money and suitable facilities to do this, then go for it and I believe that both of you will enjoy it, which should be what this is all about, but it really is not the easiest option.

I am certain that there are many more things that can be enjoyed by both parties in this partnership and I hope that you will mention what you enjoy doing in the comments but be assured that horses can be enjoyed and enjoy life without having to be ridden - and so can you.

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 informative 2-part video series continues to sell around the world since its launch in 2019. Aptly titled Saddle Fitting Know How - For Riders and Trainers, the two videos distil her 50 years of experience into over an hour of what is an unrivalled go-to resource for all Riders and Trainers interested in saddles and saddle fitting. They contain a wealth of information that will be of practical relevance to everyone serious about improving their riding, competing with more success or at a higher level and for those whose career is focused on training riders to develop their horses correctly.
Watch a brief trailer and buy securely online for unlimited streaming or downloading to your device at
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/saddlefittingknowhow

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

Stirrup Bars; Why Design and Position Are So Important

There are lots of different ideas about stirrup bars - which are the bars on the saddle from which the stirrup leathers are attached. Master Saddler and Master Saddle Fitter Kay Hastilow explains more ...

For many years, the most common type of bars in use were the ones with a ‘thumb bit’ at the end (pictured), which could be ‘closed’ or ‘up’, or left down so that they continued a straight line beyond the main body of the bar. Opinions were many and varied as to which was correct, so let me run through the options.

Originally, the thumb bit was designed to be ‘closed’ or ‘up’. This was in the days when the bar laid across the leather of the flap, which had no recess for the bar and leather to sit in. The bulk of the leather and buckle could be felt through the skirts of the saddle. It was expected that the bars would be regularly cleaned and oiled, so that the thumb bit would drop down and release the leather in the case of a fall. Then came the recess for the bar, which greatly improved the comfort for the rider, but not necessarily the horse, especially as the manufacturers often turned the bars in so that there was even less bulk under the rider’s leg.

Few people knew how important it was that the joint of the thumb bit to the bar should be regularly cleaned and oiled, so this was rarely undertaken. Unfortunately, this usually meant that the thumb bit, usually left down, put excessive pressure onto a small area of the horse’s back. Small sore areas would eventually end up as white patches, and these were commonly seen when saddle fitting in days past. 

Happily, our manufacturers, led by our knowledgeable and growing army of SMS qualified saddle fitters, now turn the bars out, so that the pressure is largely removed from the horse’s sides. However, they are still recessed and this necessitates the thumb bits being down for safety, as the stirrup leather is fractionally slower to slide off in the event of a fall. Just occasionally, the bar might be turned out too much and the leather will keep coming off whilst you are riding- a very unpleasant experience. This can be corrected by a bench saddler (a craft saddler who makes and repairs saddlery). 

Often now though, you will see hook bars used instead. To my mind, these are a great improvement on the bars with the thumb bit. The leathers come off easily if the rider falls, but the shape holds the leather in place whilst riding and jumping. The ends of the hooks on some designs are very slightly turned out, and, although the rider is not affected by this, there is little chance of this end causing any discomfort to the horse.

Do bear in mind that the bulk of the stirrup leather is now probably the main pressure point against the horse’s sides, so whilst choosing quality and safety in your leathers, please avoid very thick leathers purely for the horse’s comfort.

Find out more about this and much more from Kay Hastilow’s series of expert videos on

http://www.khsaddlery.co.uk/educational.html

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Building your knowledge will benefit your horse and your riding – and help you work more effectively alongside your saddle fitter ...

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 and 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 the 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