February is Free Saddle Fitting Month
Must haul into our location
Call: (253) 906-1105
Proper Saddle Fitting at Pam's Place Tack
There are many options when it comes to choosing a saddle and it can be difficult to decide which one is right not only for you, but more importantly for your horse. On this page we'll first explain why a saddle may not be fitting your horse properly and the problems that can result. Then we'll explain the differences in a custom fitted saddle and why it may eliminate many saddle fit issues and produce a more pleasurable riding experience for you and your horse.
Today saddles come in a multitude of styles and sizes. A good analogy is to think of a saddle fitting a horse like an article of clothing. A basic shirt comes in small, medium, and large and while a small may you fit okay it won’t conform to your body shape like a custom streamline fitted shirt would. The same is true of most production line saddles. They are constructed from the most common general fit tree and some are not constructed with enough material to displace weight properly. While it may fit for the most part it could be causing some discomfort for your horse. Having a saddle customized to specifically fit your horse is an option.
Below we will show you how we fit Mocha into a good fitting saddle and explain some specifice things to look for when a saddle does or does not fit.
In this photo you can see a tree model placed on the horses back. A tree is the base on which a saddle is constructed. While appropriate in size, this is not a good fit for Mocha as we will demonstrate below.
The amount of material used in a saddle tree dictates the amount of weight distributed by a rider on the horse's back. With a poor saddle fit, it is possible to slide your hand underneath the saddle and feel empty pockets between the saddle and the horse's back. This indicates that the saddle will not distribute weight evenly.
This photo to the right clearly shows how a saddle made from this tree would dig into Mocha's shoulders.
In this photo (left) you can see the gaps between Mocha and the tree. Notice how this tree would hit the wither area as well which would cause a great deal of pain even without the weight of a rider.
This photo (right) shows an example of a poor saddle fit for Mocha. If this saddle fit properly it would not easily slip to the side when putting weight into a stirrup. I have seen this many times on the trail and it can be very dangerous for you and your horse. Many people will try to alleviate poor saddle fit with the addition of a neoprene pad, crupper and breast collar yet this will not fix a problem fit and could even cause permanent problems. There are exceptions to this rule in horses that have no withers. Horses built like this may have some issues with saddle slippage.
There are some obvious indications a horse will give you when a saddle doesn't fit. You may notice white spots developing in the saddle area. If you find that your horse will not move willingly, rears up, bucks, swishes it's tail or you are having to adjust your saddle as discussed above. Maybe your horse is aggressive and will not stand still while being saddled, these are all indications that the saddle is causing pain to your horse which could make your ride very unpleasant.
Proper Saddle Fit
A good saddle fit is determined by the amount of material in contact with the bar area of the horse’s back which will assure weight is being distributed evenly, with good wither clearance and enough room in the shoulder area allowing natural movement in the horse.
In the image above Pam is showing how the form placed on Mocha's back has enough space between the form and her shoulder area with even contact with little to no gaps throughout the bar area, which is the area that comes in contact with the back of the horse.
Slightly more room is desirable in the shoulder area especially in gaited breeds due to their animated shoulder action. Mocha is not gaited although she has some Paso Fino and Quarter Horse in her breed, she has huge shoulders with predominant withers. Most saddles with straighter bars will not work for her as her shoulders will gradually push the saddle back when ridden. If you are having to constantly adjust your saddle forward you may need a saddle with more flare in the front as shown above. About Shim Pads
Horses are like people and not generally symmetric, tending to be stronger and develop more muscle on one side. In this case you could use a shim pad which can fill in areas slightly.
A Word of Caution:
Shim pads cannot be a fix for a poor fitting saddle and never to be used if your saddle is too small. Imagine your boots being a bit too small and you put heavy boot socks on and head out for a day hike with a 30 pound backpack. I don't think you would make it far before you would want to turn around and "Go back to the barn"
My dear Mocha......thank you for tolerating the times when I did not know that you were just trying to tell me you needed a saddle that fit and not just being a bad girl, just very uncomfortable.
Here we have Mocha in a saddle that is fitting her well.
Happy Trails Mocha!
Pictured below are the various fit forms used for saddle fitting and the tree used in the saddle fitting demonstration on Mocha.
Custom SaddlesAt Pam’s Place Tack fiberglass forms are used to determine the best fit for your horse. Once we determine the best fit for your horse we can customize a saddle specifically for you. If you are unable to haul into our location we can assist you in making a wither tracing. Another option would be sending you various fit forms and helping you choose the best fit form to build your saddle from. A custom fitted saddle will give you a better ride and your horse will have a pain free, joyful riding experience. At Pam's Place Tack we can fit even the hardest fit horseback.
Saddle Fitting Appointments
We encourage you to make an appointment at our location in Gig Harbor, WA. Each fitting takes around 45 minutes and costs $35.00 per horse. If a saddle is purchased from us your saddle fitting charge will be applied to the overall cost of any new saddle.
When You Order:
In addition to finding the best saddle fit for your horse we will go over all the specific preferences from a large variety of options for you the rider including lighter weight saddle, short backed skirt as well as design options. We will then send your order to one of our skilled craftsmen who will make the saddle just for you and your horse.
Saddle Pricing
Base price on custom saddles start at $1,055.00. 50% down is required to place an order with the remainder due before the saddle is shipped from the craftsmen. We do have a LAYAWAY program on new non-sale saddles.
Call us today and we will assist you with your custom order. (253) 851-3757 or
(253) 906-1105
Thank you for visiting our Saddle Fitting Page!
