A comfortable, secure ride is a result of a properly fitted saddle. Your horse will behave properly, remain healthy, and have fun. Your riding abilities will be developed and strengthened. You don’t need to be an expert to determine whether your saddle isn’t fitting you and your horse properly. Your body or your horse will typically give you a clear warning most of the time. If you’re quite certain that the saddle you have has the proper gullet size for your horse, you may determine if you have the ideal fit by just observing how your horse behaves and how your body feels. Continue reading to learn how to tell if a saddle fits a horse.
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Wither Clearance
Take a glance at the horse’s saddle. The distance between the saddle’s gullet and your horse’s withers should be no more than two fingers wide. Even contact between the saddle and the bars on both sides is ideal. Your saddle shouldn’t tip up or sag down once you’ve girthed it; it should appear even on the horse’s back.
Even Contact
After saddling the horse, take him for a short ride. Remove the saddle after and look at the sweating pattern. There shouldn’t be any strange dry patches, as this would show that the saddle and the horse’s back aren’t making touch. It might also mean that too much pressure is accumulating in one area and preventing the sweat glands from working.
From front to back, the saddle should be level with the horse’s back; however, certain saddles may be built higher at the cantle to allow the horse’s back to rising up during engagement.
Examine Your Horse’s Body Language
Observe your horse closely if they exhibit strange behavior while riding in a new saddle. Though it could potentially be an indication of a fitting issue, sometimes it is simply a sign that the horse is becoming accustomed to the new saddle. The following are some of the more typical behavioral indicators that something may be wrong with your horse: When your horse walks away when you try to gird him or mount, saddle bites, gets irritated when you touch his back, and It’s difficult to unwind while riding.
Billet Alignment
In order to ensure that the girth is correctly positioned and not tilted either forwards or backward, the billets should hang perpendicular to the ground. The narrowest part of the rib cage, behind the elbow, is where the girth will always be located.
Final Thoughts About How To Tell If A Saddle Fits A Horse
It’s not necessarily true that the most pleasant ride for you will result from a properly fitted saddle for your horse. One thing to keep in mind is that a proper saddle fit will feel better as you gain riding experience. In order to ensure that your saddle fits properly, especially if you are a new rider, have a veteran check it for you. Your discomfort may actually be related to how you ride, not the saddle.