How can I make my saddle fit better?

If a saddle is sitting low in the front, causing it to rock or bounce behind, siding in shims in the front on either side will solve the problem. If a saddle is putting you in a chair seat or tipping back onto the horse’s lumbar, sliding in shims in the rear on either side will help get the saddle leveled out.

What do I do if my saddle is too wide?

When a saddle is just a bit too wide all over, using a thick saddle pad can improve the fit. A thicker pad will help to fill in the space between your horse’s back and the saddle, resulting in a snugger, and usually more even fit.

What to do if your saddle doesn’t fit your horse?

“If the saddle doesn’t fit the horse properly at the withers and the shoulders, every time the shoulder comes back, it will hitch against the tree point and push the saddle forward.” Solution: The saddle needs to be properly adjusted at the gullet plate (if possible); otherwise, a different saddle would be the answer.

How tight should your saddle be?

Do not over tighten the cinch. The tighter you cinch the more pressure YOU create before you even sit in the saddle. The front cinch should be about as tight as your belt; if it’s comfortable for you, then it should be comfortable for the horse. Do not over tighten the cinch to compensate for a saddle that rolls.

What happens if your saddle is too narrow?

If the saddle is too narrow, the pommel will be too high at the front throwing the rider’s weight to the rear and putting weight and pressure through the loin area of the horse. The rider will also be unbalanced tipping forward in consequence. The panels (the soft pads under the saddle) will probably also ‘bridge.

Will a breastplate stop my saddle slipping?

BREASTPLATE FOR SAFETY The breastplace prevents saddle from slipping back on horse. But be sure it fits: snug enough not to catch a hoof when jumping and not too tight to cut into the horse’s muscles.

How do you tell if your saddle is too small for you?

If you find that your legs come so far forward on the flaps that they hang off the front, or if your seat moves up or off the back of the saddle, then you’re riding in a saddle that’s too small for you.

What’s the best way to fit a saddle on a horse?

It’s best that you take a step back and take a close look at your horse while he is saddled to determine fit. Your saddle fits just right if it sits level on your horse’s back and the bars of the tree do not pinch. The front of your saddle should be positioned behind your horse’s shoulder blade, allowing him freedom of movement.

What happens if your saddle fit wrong on your horse?

Your horse’s comfort, happiness and your proper positioning as a rider all weighs on your saddle’s fit. An improper saddle fit causes your weight to be distributed unevenly, which can result in pressure points, rub marks, soreness, or the development of white saddle spots on your horse.

What makes a good fit for a horse?

Your saddle fits just right if it sits level on your horse’s back and the bars of the tree do not pinch. The front of your saddle should be positioned behind your horse’s shoulder blade, allowing him freedom of movement. Your saddle is too narrow if the front of the saddle sits high.

What does a shoulder relief girth do for a horse?

The girth that started the functional girth movement. The Shoulder Relief Girth redirects the billet line of your saddle to minimize the forward pressure applied to the saddle by conventional girths, which allows for incredible shoulder freedom of motion.