DECEMBER 2021 THE RIDER /15
Beyond the Wither Tracing A Saddle-Fitting Series by Holly Barnett, REMT, CSF
More than Width and Wither Tracings Attempting to find a used
saddle based off a wither tracing alone has been common practice in our industry for quite some time. Thing is, it’s only a 1mm slice of a moving (and weight bearing) 3D scenario… while a simple wither tracing may help you find a saddle that has an ap- propriate tree width, you have no
way of knowing whether the rest of the saddle is the appropriate shape for your horses back. Herein lies the majority of sad- dle-fit woes.
So why do we take wither trac- ings and what are they best used for? Wither tracings are some-
thing I take during every saddle fit consultation. They provide
valuable information beyond what the naked eye can see. Not all wither tracings are taken equally, often the only tracing taken is behind the scapula - where the tree points lie. More advanced tracings will incorpo- rate additional tracings over the base of withers (some fitters use lowest point of the back variable) and caudal thoracics (last rib). A topline tracing depicts the wither and back shape, though it must be properly translated onto paper (we use a level) to be of actual use. If I’ve worked with the horse previously, I’ve an excellent record of their posture and soft tissue development to refer to. Gauging the height of the wither in relationship to the muscle width and set of ribcage offers in- sight as to potential changes to plan for. Tracing thousands of horses over the years has re- vealed a collection of posture patterns and their anticipated changes under saddle. Wither and back tracings are a fast and inex-
Provincial Animal Welfare Services “I want to take a moment to
reflect on how thrilled I am to see the new Provincial Animal Wel- fare Services (P.A.W.S) in full swing. After 18 years of pushing and
bringing issues forward, I finally feel confident knowing that when I am contacted about an animal concern in this province, and refer the individual
to the
P.A.W.S hotline, the issue will be investigated and not hidden or swept under the mat. Any dealings I have had with
P.A.W.S have been extremely positive. They are out there doing a great job. This is a brand new division of the government within the
Ministry of the Solicitor General coming up to the 2 year anniver- sary with newly updated legisla- tion; therefore it will take time to work out the wrinkles and get the program to full capacity. How- ever what I have witnessed to date has been outstanding. We need to educate the public
to understand that after 100 years OSPCA does not look after ani- mal neglect or cruelty, it is the new Provincially mandated or- ganization Provincial Animal Welfare Services that responds to cruelty and neglect complaints. Our animals in ontario now
have protection against abuse and neglect./ If You Have First Hand Infor-
mation Regarding An Animal Being Abused, Neglected Or In Distress Call P.A.W.S HOTLINE at 1-833-926-4625 If you need any assistance
with the reporting process, I am here to help, contact me at
whhr08@gmail.com
Brenda Thompson President, CEO Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue Centre
www.whhrescue.com
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/ charities/whispering-hearts- horse-rescue-centre/
pensive way to track and predict changes while monitoring your progress. When working through horse and rider asym- metries, these scientific meas- urements are invaluable. Interpretation is key when
it comes to translating wither tracings. I’ve often come across saddles that were adjusted to or purchased for the horse’s cur- rent wither width - without in- terpreting muscle condition (atrophy) that was present. (I’m looking at anyone who is riding in a narrow or extra narrow tree here!) If your horse has a seri- ously thin ‘shark fin’ wither that isn’t developing, then it’s time to investigate the fit of your saddle. Simply fitting the tree to the current wither without eval- uating condition is a massive disservice to the horse. You must take muscle development into account. Have a clear un- derstanding of where your horse is at and whether the sad- dle can follow their anticipated development – otherwise you stunt their muscle growth, in- hibit performance and may end up in the same situation (need- ing a different saddle) a few months down the road. If you’re armed with a
wither tracing and on the hunt for a used saddle, your best bet is to hire a professional fitter. Tracings are going to be help- ful, but they aren’t a magic for- mula to an instantly well fit saddle. There’ll likely be some trial and error, driving around picking up (and returning) sad- dles and paying for follow up fittings to see if what you’ve found is a good fit. Be prepared to spend a decent about of time (and money) on the process. Some fitters specialize in finding used saddles and may be able to offer extra guidelines as to brands to lookout for - in the end you really want to have the shape
of the saddle assessed in person before purchasing your ‘new to you’ saddle. Holly Barnett has been a
professional fitter and equine therapist for 20 years. She has worked with horses of all breeds and riders of all levels and disci- plines throughout North Amer-
ica. She is the founder of August Equine, located in Campbellville ON. Her team provides saddle-fit consultations of all brands and sales of new and used saddles. Stay tuned for more issues of Be- yond the Wither Tracing saddle- fit series.
The video and
social community for horse people just like you!
Wherever you live and however you ride!
www.barnmice.com
www.facebook.com/Barnmice
https://twitter.com/Barnmice
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47
