FEBRUARY 2022 THE RIDER /15
Beyond the Wither Tracing A Saddle-Fitting Series by Holly Barnett, REMT, CSF
Beyond the Wither Tracing A Saddle-Fitting Series by Holly Barnett REMT CSF
When to book your Saddle-Fitting
How often should you and
your horse get your saddle fit? At minimum, you want to have your saddles checked at least annually as basic maintenance however, twice a year is my general rec- ommendation. A lot can change in 12 months, by the time behav- iour and performance problems arise, they’ve been eroding your progress and creating compensa- tion patterns in your horse’s mus- culature for months. Staying on top of your fit is key to prolong- ing your horse’s soundness and performance. Here are some fac- tors to consider when answering the questions – when should I book my next fitting?
1) Your Horse’s Age – I know some of you are going to clasp your hands over your ears…
young horses need to have their saddles fit! Yes, they are going to grow and change but this is a crit- ical stage in their development period both mentally and physi- cally for horses. The deep spinal muscles are in a delicate state in the immature horse and are sus- ceptible to long term damage that can inhibit a horse’s performance for life. In horses under 6 years of age I recommend no less than twice a year, though monitoring their growth and having a game plan to keep up with the changes as they happen is the best ap- proach. Senior horses also need to be maintained more often as their muscle condition can change rapidly. In order to keep them going strong for years to come be sure to maintain the fit of their saddle. They’ve earned it! 2) Seasons – Some horses work less in the winter and lose condi- tion while others plump up on grass come summer. Pretty much every horse changes once we hit blanket season. Often riding habits shift with the seasons es-
FITNESS Continued from Page14
core muscles are included in my book Fit to Ride, which to date has no comparison in equestrian literature for its use of anatomical draw- ings. I was inspired by the series of anatomy books for different
pecially when your horse may be in more or less work. Anytime we have a major change in life, weight, training and develop- ment, it’s time to take a look at our saddle. 3) Showing – if you show your horse make sure you get your fit- ting booked well in advance. I can’t tell you the number of peo- ple who call the beginning of May scrambling because show season is starting in need an ‘emergency’ saddle fitting. Preparing for show season means getting your saddle fit months ahead of time so that you are di- aled in by the time your first show rolls around. Leaving your fitting to the last minute means you’ve been riding in a subpar fit all preseason. Show season starts in January! I also recommend having your saddle re-fit throughout the season. Long hot days, trailering and increased training intensity all cause your horse to change shape. Your horse can’t perform their best if their saddle fit hasn’t followed them through those changes. 4) Rehab – Stop waiting for your horse to put on some topline be- fore getting them fit! ESPE- CIALLY if they are coming back from an injury or extended pe- riod of time off. The most critical time for these horses is in the be- ginning – set them up for suc- cess, document your starting point and evaluate progress from there. Horses who suddenly go from regular to no work will go through serious changes that leave them vulnerable to new in- juries when they are started back under saddle again. Work with your fitter, physio and trainer and
closely monitor your progress. Taking the right steps in the be- ginning pays dividends and pro- motes the best possible outcome for you and your horse. While this list isn’t exhaus-
tive, it outlines some key consid- erations to make when deciding how to best maintain the fit of
your saddle. In future issues we’ll discuss ways for you to help monitor your saddle and key signs it’s time for a refit.
Holly Barnett has been a profes- sional fitter and equine therapist for 20 years. She has worked with horses of all breeds and riders of
all levels and disciplines throughout North America. She is the founder of August Equine, lo- cated in Campbellville ON. Her team provides saddle-fit consul- tations of all brands and sales of new and used saddles. Stay tuned for more issues of Beyond the Wither Tracing saddle-fit series.
sports initially published by Human Kinetics press. If the rider’s deep core muscles such as the diaphragm and inner
oblique, stomach, and back layers have little passive strength, the rider is left with trying to create tension to achieve stability. The pas- sive strength of the frontal abdominal muscles in particular is not used to ‘clench’ the abs while riding! It is used to assist in the pelvic tilt needed to bring the sitbones into contact with the saddle, or the hip into a neutral rather than tipped-forward position. Since these muscles link the sternum and the pubic bone, the goal is for them to pull the pubic bone up while the backline muscles lever the back. The flow of force can be visualized as an upward arrow from
the pubic arch, with a simultaneous downward arrow of motion from the lower part of the upper back, and at the coccyx (tailbone area). Tension or imbalanced passive strength in the psoas reverses these arrows, putting the rider’s weight ahead of the centre of gravity, and the horse on the forehand. A second function of strong abdominal muscles is to provide a passive support for preventing the sternum from dropping down. You can think of a toned rectus abdominus as propping up the sternum, while pulling up the pubic bone (prevent-
ing the ‘bow tie’ upper/lower cross phenomenon in the Centered Rid- ing book illustration above). The most important point to remember is that the rider needs
the ability to relax and disengage the psoas, while recruiting other muscles when riding. Only voltage riders need to actively recruit their psoas for fancy moves like swinging legs forward over horses or up in the air.
Safe and Happy Training !
© Heather R. Sansom, PhD.
www.equifitt.com Personal Trainer, Riding Coach, Therapist Fitness, biomechanics and riding instruction. Personalized Coaching Available online Check out the leading 9 week rider fitness plan book (complete with anatomy illustrations)- available in print or as a download!:
www.equifitt.com/fit2ride/
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(Image copyright Sally Swift, Trafalgar Square Books, from Centered Riding, 1985, p. 71)
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