How to Tell If Your Saddle Doesnt Fit Your Horse

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, it’s important to know how to tell if your saddle doesnt fit. This will ensure your horse’s comfort and safety, as well as your own enjoyment of riding.

A poorly fitting saddle will cause a variety of problems for your horse, even leading to behavioral issues. A faulty saddle can also cause serious injury to your horse’s back, which is why it’s important to spot any signs of a poor fit early on.

The first sign of a bad fit is that the saddle sits too low on your horses withers, which can be uncomfortable for your horse and can even lead to pain. This pressure can cause permanent nerve damage, so it’s essential to check for a properly fitted saddle if your horse has these symptoms.

Another way to tell if your saddle doesnt fit is that it doesnt stay centered on your horses back as you mount and dismount. This can happen if the saddle is too long or too short, which is a common problem in western saddles.

To test for a good fit, start by lining up a pen at the top of your horse’s spine, facing down, and line it up two pen lengths from his shoulder on each side. Then flip the pen over and check that both angles of the tree points appear to be parallel and match up with the angle of your horse’s widest shoulder (hint: one should always seem larger).

Next, run your hand under each panel on each side of the saddle, feeling for an even amount of pressure on the front of the panels, without pinching your horse’s withers. If your hand feels too far away from the point on any of the panels, it’s a good sign that they are not fitting correctly and may need flocking or shimming.

A second way to test for a good fit is to check the channel or gullet clearance, which is an area between each of the panels that runs the length of the saddle. This space will allow air to circulate under the saddle and for your horse’s spinal processes to work properly.

Once your horse is able to stand comfortably in the saddle, he should move freely and smoothly, without rubbing or being distracted by anything. If he starts to pin his ears, shake his head or refuse to go forward, this is usually a sign of discomfort, which can be prevented by determining what the problem is with the saddle.

Finally, if your horse becomes fidgety when you put the saddle on or is constantly moving around when he’s in it, this could be a sign of discomfort as well. This is a common behavior for a horse that doesn’t have a good fit, so it’s vital to get the problem corrected as soon as possible.

There are many subtle signs that you can look for to determine if your saddle doesn’t fit your horse, but the most common are these six. If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to consult a professional saddle fitter. They can make a recommendation for you and your horse that will result in both a better fit and a happier, healthier horse!