The three diagrams in the above left column illustrate identical
tree angles
with various tree widths. The three diagrams in the right column illustrate identical tree width, with different tree angles.
gullet plate/tree width and angle. So a medium wide tree would be a medium angle with a wide width. What your horse would likely need is a narrow angle to accom- modate the high withers, but a wider width to ensure the shoulders still have enough room to move upwards and backwards when the horse is in motion.
The gullet plate is parallel to the shoulder blade.
I
In addition, it is important to note that the tree should be adjusted to accommodate the angle of the shoulders, not the withers, in order to ensure the tree fits at this crit- ical area. You can determine the shoulder angle using the Sprenger gauge, but you can easily tell if your saddle tree has the right angle by using your crop (or another straight edge) and line it up against the piping of your saddle.
have a high-end saddle with an adjustable headplate. With it I use a saddle pad with adjustable shims. Since switching to this setup my mare, who has a sensitive back and high withers, is no longer sore from the saddle. Can you comment on the pros and cons of this system of adjust- able equipment?
DIY (do-it-yourself) adjustable gullet plates are unfortunately only adjustable in angle, not in width. If your saddle was bought in the first place to fit her high withers, presumably the width will have been deemed appropriate to fit her and it’s only the angle which needs to change to accommo- date her shoulders and
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muscling. You always want to ensure that the angle of the gullet plate is in line with the angle of the shoulders, while leaving enough space all around the withers/trapezius to accommodate the horse during movement (we suggest 2–3 fingers). Adjustable shims in a saddle pad are a good temporary
expedient to alleviate poor saddle fit, but ideally you will want to ensure your saddle panels are fitted to accommo- date your horse’s back. (Pads are really only there to protect the leather of the saddle against sweat and shouldn’t be more than a thin cotton pad). Ensure your saddle pad has the ‘wither relief’ profile.
I
just brought my new Schleese saddle home; now what? I understand the need for a saddle refit as the saddle will need to settle and my horse’s back will change due to
his work regiment. What sort of things should I be mindful of regarding potential adjustments I might handle myself? Any tips on changes I should look for between now and my next saddle fitting?
We suggest you watch “Saddle Fitting in 9 Steps” on our YouTube channel, which will take you through the various areas of saddle fit on your horse’s back and allow you a DIY assessment of any potential problems arising. There are no adjustments to be made on your saddle that you can make yourself; at best you can use a pad with shims as a temporary fix until one of our certified saddle fit technicians can see you onsite and do a static and dynamic fit evaluation with you. If there are ongoing issues that need immediate attention, we offer a ‘long distance fit kit’ on our website that will allow you to send us your saddle with accompanying pictures and instructions. Unfortunately, sometimes our professionals are in high demand and scheduled (depending on your area) for regular visits of between three, six or every twelve months to each area. The fact that you are aware of the possibility that your saddle will need ongoing fitting and service is already a huge advantage—some people still have the impression that buying a custom saddle means that the saddle will fit them and their horse (without service) forever. We always use the analogy of buying a car—would you drive it without having the oil changed or the tires checked regularly? And with a saddle you are working with the interface between two living, breathing, changing beings! If your horse is experiencing a well-fitted saddle for the
The distance between the under- side of the pommel and the top of the withers should be 2–3 fingers. This same roominess should be evident along the sides of the with- ers as well, above where the panel of your saddle starts.
first time, after a couple of days he may start to move even worse than he did before. Suddenly he will be using muscles he didn’t know he had, so the lactic acid buildup will cause some soreness. The saddle is now fitted to exactly accom- modate his conformation, especially at the withers, shoulder, spinal processes and length. Think of being able to run prop- erly in high-quality, well-fitted running shoes for the first time; I guarantee you will be stiff for a few days. But it’s actu- ally a good thing, because it means the muscles are engaged and working!
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