saddles & tack How often should you check saddle fit?
As the season gets underway in earnest and optimum levels of fitness are achieved, horses and ponies will develop muscle and topline, along with losing any excess weight, so checking saddle fit becomes an important consideration to help maintain long term soundness and performance. So what should you expect from your chosen saddle fitter?
A correctly fitting saddle is essential to ensure that your horse is comfortable and working correctly and is of a design appropriate to the type of work and competitions you’re doing. You should plan to get the fit of your saddle checked every three to six months, depending on your horse’s workload and how he is potentially changing shape. You can get an idea of change yourself by using a flexi-curve to measure his back; the first measurement should be two fingers behind the shoulder blade, the second where the middle of the saddle would be and a third one just before the back of the saddle, so you have three measurements. If you also take a weigh tape measurement, then you will know if your horse’s shape had changed and when you need to call the saddle fitter. A good saddle fitter doing the job
well needs to assess your horse in the stable, or tied quietly on the yard if it’s a fine day, along with a good quality surface to watch you ride. If you know your horse has a recent injury, let the saddle fitter know and perhaps even have one or more of your vet, chiropractor, physiotherapist and trainer there to discuss possible problems. We all know riders who either don’t bother to get the fit of their horses saddle checked, or only do so very infrequently, but it can be a false economy to think in that way. Just imagine going for a run in a pair of shoes that don’t fit well, or working out in clothing that rubbed you continually. Soreness definitely, injury perhaps and decreased performance without any doubt! Keeping a horse correctly costs money and ignoring the importance of correct saddle fit is both a health issue and a wellbeing concern that could easily end up costing you much more than the saddle fitter. So think – when was the fit of your horse’s saddle last checked? If it was more than six months ago, you do need to call a good saddle fitter. You can find one in your area by recommendation; do check both their skills and experience and don’t rely on the opinion of well-meaning but untrained friend or yard owner.
Checking the fit of a saddle
Bespoke for the perfect fit
Kate Negus’s Padded International Leather Lined Flash is made from top quality English leather and created bespoke, to fit your horse first time.
The bridle comes with a regular headpiece, and raised and lined browband and pull back fastening flash noseband as standard. The size and style of all the component pieces can be selected at the time of purchase, so the bridle fits your horse perfectly first time. You also get the option to upgrade, so the regular headpiece supplied can be changed to the Grand Prix Padded, or the supplied browband
changed for the SR Diamante for extra sparkle. Available in black and chestnut, in sizes cob and full, priced from £210.
The high ring Grackle Bridle is beautifully made and also created bespoke for the perfect fit. Made from English leather, with a padded browband and a grackle noseband, with sheepskin where the straps cross. The size and style of all the component pieces can be chosen at time of purchase, so you get a bridle that fits your horse and your style first time. The bridle benefits from brass fastenings and has a Union
Jack bridle stud proudly displayed on the browband. Available in black and chestnut, in sizes cob and full, priced from £195. This bridle is also available with Grand Prix Headpiece as an upgrade.
The Jumping Breast Girth With Clips is simple, effective and very easy to fit.
Made from a combination of specially selected elastic with just the right amount of stretch, English leather, and brass fastenings to match other Kate Negus products. The leather straps that attach to the trigger clips are highly adjustable, and the trigger clips make the breast girth easy to fasten and undo. The breast girth helps to prevent the saddle slipping backwards, so it maintains optimum position.
Available in black and chestnut, in sizes cob and full, priced at £70.
Add some superior sparkle to your horse’s bridle with an SR Diamante Browband. It has a gently curved shape and is available in wide and narrow widths. It’s made using English leather and encrusted in diamante crystals, which are glued and stitched to ensure they stay in place. It’s finished with a Union Jack bridle stud. Available in a range of designs, on black and chestnut leather. Priced from £90. Bespoke colour combinations can be created.
To find out more, visit
www.katenegus.com
Equine Page 14
www.theequinesite.co.uk
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