This website is dedicated to creating a world where horses and ponies are without pain from their saddles.
It is dedicated to educating riders in saddle fitting skills and endeavouring to inform all riders of the importance of a correctly fitting saddle.
The Perfect Fit - Saddle Fitting Kit
A saddle is to a horse as a shoe is to a human. If a saddle doesn't fit, if it is too tight, too big or the wrong shape, too hard, too soft or too lumpy, your horse or pony will experience discomfort and/or pain. This discomfort and/or pain will make him unhappy and often cause tension and bad behaviour. Also, the saddle may restrict your horse's movement and make him unable to work properly or to his potential. But, even if you have a horse with no problems, it doesn’t mean the saddle fits properly or is comfortable. It must be checked to be sure it fits perfectly.
A comfortable saddle is one of the most important factors in a horse's well being. If you care about your horse or pony be sure the saddle fits properly.
PROBLEMS CAUSED BY AN ILL FITTING SADDLE
Sores, rub marks or white hairs in the saddle area - - doesn't like work - - doesn't like the saddle going on - - doesn't like the rider getting on - - bucks - - bolts - - dry (sometimes slightly raised) patches amongst the sweat marks under the saddle after work - - rears - - is difficult to handle - - doesn't use him/herself properly - - doesn't like the girth being done up - - performs poorly - - cold backed - - doesn't like jumping - - is difficult to catch - - hollows under rider's weight - - is unhappy to go forward - - resists being on the bit - - doesn't ride or jump straight - - unsoundness - - tension
If you want your horse to be happy and able to get the most out of life, performing to his or her potential then you must make sure the saddle fits perfectly.
This saddle fitting kit will help you to do this
Find us on
Stephen Clarke - Olympic Dressage Judge
"At shows and competitions I see so many riders using saddles that don't fit. There's no way a horse can perform properly if they are in pain or restricted by the fit of the saddle. This kit should put an end to that."
Never, ever, guess the fit of your saddle. Never use a saddle that hasn't been measured for your horse.
Always measure your horse and saddle if there's a chance that he may have lost or gained weight.
Top competitors have always known about the importance of well fitting saddles. It's that kind of attention to detail that helps them win.
Please don't think that your saddle needs to be expensive to be as good as the saddles they use.
The cheapest of saddles that fits well is ocean's better than the most expensive saddle that doesn't.
Success and comfort go together
The Saddle Fitting Kit
The perfect fit saddle fitting kit supplies you with everything you need to make sure your horse's saddle fits perfectly:
and learn much more about how to measure your horse for a saddle including access to our online forum for help and advice on using the kit and other aspects of fitting a saddle
If you own more than one horse, you can buy spare template sets, rather than another complete kit.
CAMPBELL THOMPSON - British Equestrian Team Vet for the SYDNEY OLYMPICS
Nantwich Vet Group Equine Centre
"Horses were not designed to carry people! Over the generations, we have obviously selected those horses that coped best with being ridden, but it is still not a natural activity. We have a moral obligation to transfer our weight on to the horse in the most comfortable fashion possible, this means a correct size and fit of saddle for each individual which allows the horse to still move in a natural pain free way. The 'Perfect fit' Kit is a simple but comprehensive and accurate way for any of us to check the fit of any saddle to any horse and just as important to re-check each season that it continues to fit as the saddle or horse change shape."
REMEMBER!
If your saddle doesn't fit PERFECTLY (how many times do we hear - "it'll do") you RISK PLACING STRAIN not only on your HORSE'S BACK, but also on the LEGS, sometimes with DISASTROUS EFFECTS
Click here to find out why.
Excess pressure can also be caused by:
A. The position of the saddle. B. An unlevel saddle. C. A badly fitted saddle. D. Uneven or hard surface of the saddle's underside.
E. Insufficient surface area of saddle in contact with the horse. F. Narrow gullet. G. Damaged tree H. An uncomfortable girth.
Any of these could cause your horse to be a problem horse.
Janette Keeley - [MC TIMONEY CHIROPRACTOR,[HUMAN] MCTIMONEY – CORLEY[ ANIMAL] GCC00944
"As a chiropractor of 15 years standing I have seen and treated a lot of horses with back problems and a lot of these have been caused by ill fitting saddles, if the owners had access to a simple way of checking their saddle fit a lot of distress to the horse would have been eliminated, now we have a product that will do just that well done for thinking of it."
Did You know? "Badly fitting and painful saddles cause more problem horses than any other single factor?"