CHECKING A SADDLE FOR FIT Return to Saddles Listing
| The most important part of fitting a saddle is making certain that it is placed on the horse behind the shoulder. The saddle cannot be on the shoulder in any way. Press on the point of the shoulder below and behind the withers to locate the end of the shoulder. The angle of the saddle panels must be the same as the horse's back at the lock in point behind the shoulder.(The end of the shoulder is shaped like a canoe paddle. You need to find the lower back edge of the shoulder.) |
| With Bates, Wintec or Collegiate Convertible saddles USE A GULLET AS A GUIDE,(the gullet gauge is thin and hard to read since the edge is often hidden by the hair or soft flesh on the horse,) placed on the horse to see if the correct gullet is in the saddle. The end two inches of the gullet on each branch must be parallel to the horse's back, the gullet being placed three fingers behind the end of the shoulder for Dressage models(depending on size) and three to five fingers(depending on saddle size)back of the shoulder for All Purpose or Jumping models. With the saddle fitted at the front, and placed behind the shoulder, the saddle panel must lay on the horse along the front, middle and back of the panels. If the saddle bridges and does not touch in the middle(stand on a stool and look through the head of the saddle and look to see if any light is visible under the panels at the middle - under the stirrup bars), then we can adjust the saddle for you by increasing the rocker shape. The back of the saddle(cantle) should be about two fingers higher than the front(pommel) when you are sitting in the saddle. If the saddle is too high at the front or back, we can adjust this for you with Bates Shims in the Bates and Wintec saddles and with flocking adjustments in the Wintec flocked saddles or the Collegiate Convertible saddles. If the saddle rocks(Place one hand on the pommel and one hand on the cantle. If the saddle can be rocked front to back with only medium pressure, this is too much rocker) front to rear(seems to feel bouncy at the trot), then we can easily reduce the amount of rocker in the saddle for you, with modified shims or flocking added in the front and rear. If the saddle is too close to the withers, we can shim or flock the whole saddle up as much as the width of two fingers. If the saddle slides back when you ride, the saddle may be too narrow(check again for the correct gullet) or you have it on the shoulder and the horse's shoulder action drives the saddle back. If the saddle slides forward, then it may be too wide or have too much rocker in the bottom and require shims front and rear. Horses that are uncomfortable with the saddle or are tense because of lack of fitness will often drive the saddle forward at the trot or canter. |
| To see what the saddle will fit like after being shimmed or flocked, take two hand towels with you to fit the saddle. If the saddle is too low at the front or back, place a folded towel under that area of the saddle. If you tell us the amount of towel and where they are placed to make the saddle fit correctly, we can then shim or flock the saddle to fit your horse properly. |
| On short backed horses, the saddle may place the rider behind the 8th vertebra.(The centre of the saddle should be at the 8th vertebra.) The cut(shape or profile of the saddle) may be wrong for this horse, or the horse may require a smaller saddle. A dressage saddle will fit further forward on a horse than an all purpose or a jumping saddle. An all purpose toward dressage(VSD) will be between the dressage and all purpose profiles. Endurance saddles have longer panels than other designs, however, the extra is out behind the seat so the centre of the seat is not back any further(These saddles usually have the profile of an all purpose to allow the rider a comfortable two point position). |
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I have successfully fitted over nine hundred of the Wintec, Bates and Collegiate Convertible saddles to all different breeds and shapes of horses and have not found a horse yet that could not be fitted beautifully comfortable, with one of these saddles after adjustment. For problem fittings, please take a few digital pictures of the horse's back and withers, with and without the saddle, as well, a few with the rider sitting in the saddle. Get close to the horse for taking the pictures and have the light behind you. A picture of the gullet on the horse from the side and behind is very helpful. E mail the pictures to alan@foxhunter.on.ca Should you have any questions about changing the gullets or have any fitting questions please call me at 1 800 668 0304 or go on line to the BATES or WINTEC web sites for gullet directions. |
| MANY HORSES CHANGE THEIR SHAPE AFTER USING THESE SADDLES FOR A FEW MONTHS. CHECK THE FIT USING A GULLET, ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. |
| Alan |
| For saddle fittings on site, our prices are as follows: | |
| Farm Call | $1.00 per Km. one way(Minimum $25.00) - may be split if there are other horses at the same barn or in the area. |
| Saddle fitting | $45.00 per saddle. |
| Labour on Saddle | $60.00/hour - calculated in 10 minute segments(the average saddle requires about 1/2 hour to 3/4 hour of labour) |
| Flocking material | Usually $5.00 to $10.00 |
| Parts | Gullets $25.98 each - Shims $11.98 a pair |
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