01 | SADDLE FIT FOR RIDER AND HORSE

SADDLE FIT FOR RIDER AND HORSE

02 | SADDLE FIT FOR RIDER AND HORSE

G. PASSIER & SOHN GMBH: THE COMPANY

• Foundation: 1867

• Location: Langenhagen

• Employees: 80

• Portfolio: Saddles, bridles and accessories

• Main focus: English riding (dressage, jumping, all-purpose)

• Export: 50% of production, world-wide

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THE SADDLE FIT – RIDER

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THE SADDLE FIT – RIDER: SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE RIDER

• There should be space for the width of approximately four fingers between the back of the rider’s seat and the cantle

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THE SADDLE FIT – RIDER: SADDLE TREE

• Normal seat

• Deep seat = higher cantle

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THE SADDLE FIT – RIDER: POSITION / LENGTH OF SADDLE FLAPS

• Depends on the equestrian discipline

• When the stirrup leather is adjusted to the correct length, the riding boot should cover approximately four finger‘s width over the saddle flap

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THE SADDLE FIT – RIDER: SUPPORT

• It is a question of preference

• Modern thigh supports are large and voluminous = good hold for thigh and knee

• Traditional knee supports are smaller = less support for the knee but more freedom of movement for the rider in the saddle: This makes it easier for the rider to find the right balance

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THE SADDLE FIT – HORSE

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THE SADDLE FIT – HORSE: GENERAL

• The saddle fit ensues from a) Gullet width b) Gusset flocking

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THE SADDLE FIT – HORSE: THE SADDLE‘S CENTER OF GRAVITY

• Correct The point of gravity is in the middle

• Incorrect a) The saddle is too low at the back, the rider sits in the rear third of the saddle

Saddle pressure in the rear area Saddle slips forwards

b) The back of the saddle is too high, the rider is positioned too far forward

The rider cannot sit properly

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THE SADDLE FIT – HORSE: FREEDOM OF THE WITHERS

• Correct There should be enough space for up to two fingers to fit between the withers and the saddle

Whose fingers? The fingers of the rider on the horse

• Incorrect Contact of withers and saddle

Saddle pressure in the front area

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THE SADDLE FIT – HORSE: SHOULDER FREEDOM

• Correct The saddle is positioned behind the shoulder

• Incorrect The saddle is positioned on the shoulder

The horse is restricted and cannot move freely

Saddle pressure in the rear area Saddle slips forward

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THE SADDLE FIT – HORSE: FREEDOM OF THE SPINE

• Correct Maximum contact area whilst also allowing freedom of the spine

The rider’s weight is distributed over as large an area as possible

• Incorrect Channel too wide = small contact area of the saddle with the horse‘s back

Serious problem of localized pressure points

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THE SADDLE FIT – HORSE: FREEDOM PANELS

• More space on both sides of the withers

• Wider channel in the first third of the saddle tree

Greater freedom of movement

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THE SADDLE FIT – HORSE: FLOCKING

• Correct Plane and even flocking

• Incorrect Uneven flocking

Saddle is crooked on the horse Rider’s weight imposes more strain

on one side In the long term the saddle tree will

also become crooked

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THE SADDLE FIT – HORSE: FLOCKING

• Correct Soft flocking

• Incorrect Hard flocking

Causes saddle pressure

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THE SADDLE FIT – HORSE: POSITION OF THE SADDLE GIRTH

• Correct The saddle girth is positioned at a distance of approximately four fingers behind the horse’s elbow

• Incorrect The saddle girth is positioned very far forward

Saddle slips forward

• Question What can you do in a situation when the horse is so barrel-like that the saddle girth always slips behind the elbow?

Flocking Gullet plate width Girth strap arrangement/Billet

lead-through system Saddle girth

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CORRECT SADDLE FITTING

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CORRECT SADDLE FITTING: 1. ESTABLISHING CONTACT

The seller should ask about:

• The equestrian discipline

• The rider’s height

• The rider’s weight

• The type of horse

• The conformation of the horse

On the basis of this information the seller selects some saddle types which would be suitable for the rider as well as the horse

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CORRECT SADDLE FITTING: 2. SADDLE FITTING AT THE STABLE

• Saddle check on horse standing still, without rider a) Put the trial saddle on the horse’s back, position it correctly and tighten the saddle girth b) Assess the fit without the rider c) Correct the fit if required

• Testing the saddle in movement Rocking, slipping or sideways instability can only be recognized when the horse is moving under the rider

• Measuring up Only necessary if the make of saddle which is ridden at the saddle fitting trial is not the same as the one which is later purchased

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CORRECT SADDLE FITTING: 3. FINAL CHECK AT THE STABLES

• Final check If the saddle required alterations after the initial saddle fitting trial, the seller should come to the horse again afterwards in order to check for himself that the saddle meanwhile fits correctly

• Follow-up check Modern flocking materials are so stable that a further check-up after 6 weeks is no longer necessary – the saddle is only likely to drop to an extremely minimal extent

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TIPS TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT SADDLE FIT

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TIPS TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT SADDLE FIT: TIGHTENING THE SADDLE GIRTH

• Incorrect Girthing up on the left side only

• Correct Also girthing up on the right side

This prevents the saddle tree from becoming crooked

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TIPS TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT SADDLE FIT: FLOCKING

• Incorrect Too frequent re-flocking

• Correct As a matter of principle, a saddle should only be re-flocked when it no longer sits well on the horse’s back or when the panels have become very hard

In such cases it is recommended to completely re-fill the saddle

• Generally speaking A saddle has to be re-fitted when the horse’s shape has changed or the panels have dropped significantly

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TIPS TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT SADDLE FIT: FLOCKING

• Incorrect Re-flocking by making a cut in the panel below the end of the large saddle flaps

• Correct Plane and even re-flocking

For this purpose the panel has to be separated from the upper part of the saddle

• Generally speaking There is no set period after which a saddle has to be re-flocked

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TIPS TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT SADDLE FIT: MOUNTING

• Incorrect The rider holds on to the cantle and pulls himself on to the horse

The strain imposed predominantly on one side is detrimental to the horse as well as the saddle

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TIPS TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT SADDLE FIT: MOUNTING

• Correct The rider holds on to the saddle and pulls himself on to the horse

• Even better Use a mounting block to mount

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INTEREST!