IN SEARCH OF OPTIMUM SADDLE FIT It’s an old truism in saddle fi t ing that if you
ask four diff erent fi t ers the same question, you’ll probably get at least three diff erent answers. Each fi t er’s theories and methods will be a lit le diff erent from another’s, and each has their own way of doing their job. But one thing most fi t ers will probably agree on is that one of the most useful tools in our box is a set of shims. Shims are pieces of felt, leather or open cell
foam that can be used to correct fi t ing issues; they can be inserted between the panel and the tree of the saddle, or more usually, into the pockets of correction pads. T ey come in a variety of shapes, for use either under the front, middle or rear of the saddle; they vary in thickness from 1/32 of an inch to a full inch (or more). Shims can be used as a diagnostic tool, as a short-term “band-aid” or as a long-term solution. First, though, I’d like to state very clearly what
shims cannot do: if your saddle truly does not fi t your horse, there is no shim or correction pad in the world that will help. If the tree is too nar- row, if the tree is the wrong shape or if the panel confi guration is completely incorrect, pads won’t
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help. I know there are a lot of “saddle fi t ing” pads out there that claim they can alleviate any fi t ing issue and make any saddle fi t any horse, but trust me—it just ain’t true.
AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL So, what can shim pads do? I mentioned their
use as a diagnostic tool, so let’s look at that aspect first. One of the most challenging problems I encounter as a fi t er is lateral slip. If the saddle is going off to one side, it can be hard to determine just what adjustments need to be made; sometimes what appears to be the logical answer turns out to be the exact opposite of what really needs to be done. So rather than making fl ocking adjustments that I think are correct—and that I may have to undo if I’m wrong—I use a shim pad to fi nd the answer before I ever touch the fl ocking (Photo 2). I can put up to three shims in each of the pad’s pockets (there are two pockets on each side of the pad, one in front and one in the rear) to fi nd the exact confi guration that corrects the issue. T en I re-create the eff ect with a fl ocking adjustment.
AS A BAND-AID If your saddle needs a fl ocking adjustment but
your fi t er can’t get to you quickly, a shim pad can be a lifesaver. It will keep you in the saddle, keep your training on schedule and keep your horse from get ing sore. For example, if the fl ocking in the front of your saddle has compressed a bit, your saddle may be sit ing pommel-low, as in Photo 2. T is increases pressure under the front of the saddle,
under the tree points, and can—in extreme cases— bring the underside of the gullet into contact with your horse’s spine. It will also throw you forward onto your crotch/pubic arch, which will make the pressure worse and make you very uncomfortable. Fortunately, you can use shims under the front
of the saddle to mimic the addition of fl ocking and correct the issue until your fi t er can make the necessary adjustments. How thick a shim or how many shims you’ll need to use will depend on the type of shims and the amount of correction needed, and you’ll probably have to experiment a lit le to fi nd the right solution. It’s easy to over-correct, as we did in this picture; we tried a 1” Skito foam shim, which liſt ed the pommel too much (Photo 3). So we tried the ½” Skito foam shim, which corrects the balance of the saddle nicely (Photo 4). Shims are also a useful tool when you’re dealing
with a horse whose back is in transition. Perhaps your horse has been experiencing chiropractic or shoeing issues that have created an asymmetry like the one in Photo 5. T ese issues have been corrected, and the muscles that had been wasted and atrophied are starting to grow. You’ll need to accommodate these changes, and shims are the best tool for the job: You’ll be able to make minute changes imme-
diately, without having to wait until your fi t er can schedule an appointment. Having the ability to instantly accommodate muscle growth will keep
continued page 58 2
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A selection of shims, from the very thin felt shims used in Mat es correction pads (bot om), to the thicker foam shims and inserts used in Skito pads (top).
T is saddle fi ts well but is sit ing pommel-low and needs a fl ocking adjustment to correct the issue.
56 | December 2011 •
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