The bestselling author and saddle fitting expert shares tips with the average horse owner on fitting a saddle for horse and rider.
Is your horse's back free from pain? How can you tell? Is he moving in a relaxed manner, happily complying with your aids? Or, is he stiff, moving crookedly, or resistant and disagreeable about his work? If he falls into this latter category, chances are his back hurts. Astoundingly, Joyce Harman, DVM, MRCVS, reveals that seventy-five percent of horses showing poor movement and exhibiting a bad attitude do so because of pain caused by an ill-fitting saddle.
In this most thorough, comprehensive book, Dr. Harman, veterinarian and respected saddle-fitting expert, educates the reader about the horse's conformationāparticularly the shape of the back, withers, ribs, and shoulders; saddle constructionāthe tree, pommel, seat, panels and gullet, placement of stirrup bars and girth billets; and the rider's conformation. She explains how all these variables must be considered in order to keep the horse comfortable. Because many of these aspects change over time according to exercise and training programs, she offers a section on the use of pads and shims for temporary problem solving, as well as invaluable information on caring for the horse's back, both short and long term.
Dr. Harman emphasizes that good fit is not determined by the brand, cost, or style of a saddleāan expensive model can cause just as much harm as its cheaper cousin. Good fit is determined by a saddle that allows the horse's back to function correctly, while, at the same time, keeping the rider in a well-balanced position.