Other peoples veiws on saddle fitting.

[HorseManiac]

Well.

Ok, was trying a saddle the other day, ( showing some of my new found saddle knowledge ;)) All I was pointing out how Percys old wintec didnt fit and how I hate them :P

I put the saddle in the right position, and other person from yard said ' ohh thats very far back' I reply ' Not really, it needs to be placed just behind the shoulder' She replys ' Who said that? ' I go ' Saddle fitter who will be coming out does it like that and RI does '

The interesting but funny (IMO) is she goes, ' Well maybe its just for his kind of type, like everyhorse is different on saddles, like myn has it very far up, much more near her withers' and when I said to a horse's owner that it was playing up, I asked if there saddle fits and they go no idea and she goes to them ' Saddle fitting does not make a huge difference to how a horse goes'

Hmmm.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[CurlyWurlyRach]

Loads of people are ignorant with these things.

I keep getting funny looks when I say that im not riding my mare until I can afford a new saddle ''but you have a saddle'' ''it doesnt fit'' ''oh...'' :rolleyes:

[HorseManiac]

Yes but what really bugs me as they just think its NOTHING, like you can just fling a saddle right up there neck( well not literally) and wonder why there horses hate going forward:rolleyes:

[Alex T]

i know loads of people who seem to do just that and get away with it !!im not quite so lucky i have about six saddles and none of them fit!! ok so two are for other horses !! iv had one made which just rocks on her like you wouldnt belive and the one i ride her in at the moment is a dreeded wintec although it is the wide version!!doesnt fit her as well as id like(better than any of the ones my two saddle fitters fitted though) but if i dont ride her we're back to square one and have to muscle up again!!
people always look at me odly when i say im not riding cause i havent got a saddle especially when they know i have soo many!!

[Ginger Thing]

Saddle fitting really isn't rocket science, it's just that most people are simply not informed about it, and will keep putting the (wrong size?) saddle in the wrong place until somebody educates them. I hate looking at ads on websites where the saddle's halfway up the poor thing's neck and the rider's toes are sticking out past the front of their horse's chest :rolleyes::eek:

I had a saddle that was too long for my horse, and too narrow - I didn't know any better at the time, but now I do and make sure their saddles fit properly. Most folk are just ignorant (in the correct sense of the word) but it's the ones who won't listen even after they've been told/shown that are most at fault :mad:

[HorseManiac]

Yes I know:(

Its when they assure others there horses saddles are ok as they dont make much difference, hmm when they really do.And they think Percys saddle is where it sits because he is a TB lol. :rolleyes:

And another thing is when they just put ALOT of padding under ( use same saddle for 2 completly different horses) which we all know just makes it narrower.

Anything I CAN do ?

[NoviceNic]

I was talking to someone about my new saddle and that I had the fitter coming out as it needed altering. They just quaffed and said they hadnt had a back or saddle fitter out to their horse in 15yrs. :eek: Like it was something to be proud of. :rolleyes::mad:

Sadly you cant do anything for others. Just know that you are doing best by your horse and that is all that matters. ;)

[HorseManiac]

:O Thats awfull.

At least im doing it right! But I feel very sorry for them.

Saying that, Percy has taught me loads on this. That horses need back/saddle checks regualary, and saddle fitting is very important( well it is too me now!)

:)

[gordysgirl]

People always seem to be suprised when I refuse to use a saddle until it has been checked by a saddler. They just slap em on & if it doesn't move too much, off they go!
After realising the state my poor horse was in - so much bruising & scar tissue, when I first bought him due to a racing saddle with long points being used on him I would never ever use a saddle without checking its fit first!

[Roofio]

There are an awful lot of badly fitting saddles being plonked on horses round my way :o i used to get wound up about it, or at least try and point people in a better direction. some people listen, some people don't. :o

[BabyBear]

I think some people just genuinely don't understand the importance of a correctly fitting saddle and how to tell if the saddle fits correctly.

I have to admit to being overly paranoid about C's saddle now since being educated by poohsmate but I'd rather be safe that sorry.

Fortunately, all of the people at my yard have taken PM's advice and like me, now know the importance of a good fitting saddle.:)

[mikh]

My wintec which was fitted (supposedly) by saddle fitter on 18th of jan doesn't fit and has caused her sore points, even some rubbing, got poohsmate coming out in a few weeks but i reckon we will just be lunging till then. It really gets to me I try to get one that fits her well and it doesn't - what more can one do?

[HorseManiac]

Yes, if only they would listen to me, noone listens to 14 year old girls round here :o:rolleyes:

Yes i had a wintec too, which fitted (aparently:rolleyes:)

[CurlyWurlyRach]

Yes i had a wintec too, which fitted (aparently:rolleyes:)

me three :rolleyes:

[mikh]

me three :rolleyes:

I wonder if we had mugs written all over us!:cool:

[joshes mum]

so did i:rolleyes:

[gordysgirl]

And me!

[Pink's lady]

Most wintec saddle fitters should be shot!;)

The ' saddle fit doesn't really matter' attitude driven me insane:mad: Poor poor bloody horses. How can they not realise that saddle fit is important? They buy them all the fancy expensive sheep skin numnahs, the posh martinggales and shiney new bridles yet as long as their saddle is comfy for them, they don't care:mad:

I spend so long worry and fretting over whether my horses are comfortable with their saddles:o

I have been known for refusing to get on a horse who's saddle is a poor fit, then the owner is mystified as to why I think it's a problem. :rolleyes:

[Wally]

(pokes head up from behind sofa tin hat on), I don't like Wintecs one little bit either!

(scuttles back into the undergrowth)

[Showjumper]

I'm selling a saddle for a friend at the moment as it won't fit the horse she's looking to buy. However nobody else thinks it's a problem and she should keep it as it was an expensive saddle! :rolleyes:

[Daffy Dilly]

I would hazard a guess that most of us on this thread have had, whether DIY fitted or "professionally" fitted, a badly fitting saddle on our horse, then learnt from the mistake and fixed the problem, making ourselves paranoid about it in the process. :p

Certainly when I was loaning, although I'd been told saddles should be checked every 6 months, nobody did, or the "knowledgeable" people did it. Was it any real surprise that I fitted a saddle to muscle wastage I saw as being the conformation of Daffy's back? Cost me a fortune to fix that, but I learnt a lot from it. :rolleyes:

I think that even if people have professionals out, they need a degree of knowledge themselves as so many professionals are, to put it bluntly, talking out of their backside to get a sale. :mad:

[Joyscarer]

My wintec which was fitted (supposedly) by saddle fitter on 18th of jan doesn't fit and has caused her sore points, even some rubbing, got poohsmate coming out in a few weeks but i reckon we will just be lunging till then. It really gets to me I try to get one that fits her well and it doesn't - what more can one do?

Yes, if only they would listen to me, noone listens to 14 year old girls round here :o:rolleyes:

Yes i had a wintec too, which fitted (aparently:rolleyes:)

me three :rolleyes:

so did i:rolleyes:

And me!

(pokes head up from behind sofa tin hat on), I don't like Wintecs one little bit either!

(scuttles back into the undergrowth)


Me too which was a shame 'cause I found it comfortable even though Joy didn't :(

[joshes mum]

Im just glad i come on this forum and read so many good things about poohsmate he imo is a godsend.I just wish all saddle fitters were as good as he is, i wont have anyone else check my saddle now. The difference in my horse is amazing right down to his attitude not just the riding,its as if hes saying at last mum youve got my problem sorted out.:)

[mikh]

I think we should start a 'We hate Wintecs club' - I found mine rather comfy too just rubbed my mare red raw! :(

[Joyscarer]

I think we should start a 'We hate Wintecs club' - I found mine rather comfy too just rubbed my mare red raw! :(

Yeah but I don't hate them, they just didn't fit my gorgeous horse :)

I have no objection to them if they fit a horse unless someone can educate me as to why they are a bad saddle on grounds other than fitting issues which is a potential problem with any saddle.

[mikh]

I think we should start a 'We hate Wintecs club' - I found mine rather comfy too just rubbed my mare red raw! :(

Alright, how about 'We hate Wintects that supposedly fit club' ;)

[joshes mum]

Its not the wintec that is soley to blame its the useless fitters that say they fit when they dont, there must be some horses they fit ok but then any saddle that isnt fited correctly is going to cause damage.

[Joyscarer]

Alright, how about 'We hate Wintects that supposedly fit club' ;)

Now that is a great idea :D

Just thinking about how let I was by my saddle fitter is starting me off again. :mad:

I'd advise anyone who is worried or unsure to get a physio in to give you horse an mot and they will soon pick up any stiffness etc and you then will have some peace over whether the saddle is definately right for the horse.

It angers me that I needed to go down this route to confirm saddle fit when a so called professional had already declared all well. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[mikh]

Yes agreed Joy, ideally one would hope a professional saddle fitter would get it right, but no such luck! :(

[horsesforever]

It angers me that I needed to go down this route to confirm saddle fit when a so called professional had already declared all well. :mad: :mad: :mad:

Spot on!! This is what really riles me. People take the time and money to get a professional fitter out only to have to get their horse's backs/saddle double checked by a physio. :( Often finding out that they're in pain and ending up having to pay for several sessions of therapy)
My physio pointed out my saddle bridged, my saddle fitter did not :mad: People should NOT have to do this.

[Pink's lady]

We shall make badges and all wear them with pride.

I dislike wintecs intensely (not that you'd have guessed;)), which is a shame as they really are very comfortable to ride in! I suppose they are an OK saddle on a horse they fit, but i have yet to met more than one. I've have met PLENTY of poor horses whom they don't fit:(

The fact that many saddlers are retailers of them just go to show how poor the saddle fitting profession is:mad: The half who sell wintecs are, by definintion, rubbish;) and the other half (who incidently seem to think wintecs are the work of the devil) aren't always much better:(

[vikkig]

it does worry me when saddle's dont fit horses well. i have mentioned to people in the past regarding saddles being too low or too narrow or bouncing as they trot and no one seams to care.

i was giving training when i worked at a RDA centre so that i could spot one that didnt fit and can spot things but no one seams to care, i have even arranged for the saddle fitter to come to the yard as i need my saddle checking and not one other person would like to get theres checked

there is nothing else i can do but i will be happy knowing my horses back and saddle are good.

[Mossy]

Yes but what really bugs me as they just think its NOTHING, like you can just fling a saddle right up there neck( well not literally) and wonder why there horses hate going forward:rolleyes:
Tryy asking the same people if they would hike all day whilst carrying a rucksack full of badly packed baked bean tins? It is the same set up.

[HorseManiac]

Interesting points.

I will say that next time, but unfortiantly i can feel very small on my yard :o

[k8_doran]

Me too, I have a recent dislike for wintec just see my recent thread about it :rolleyes:

http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139848

everyone on nr has been brill though :D as soon as i wondered something, i took pics and put them on nr for help straight away...and I got it!

[KT C]

i have even arranged for the saddle fitter to come to the yard as i need my saddle checking and not one other person would like to get theres checked

there is nothing else i can do but i will be happy knowing my horses back and saddle are good.

Yep, I arranged for a saddle fitter to come out a while ago, and check my saddle - asked around the yard, but although most hadn't had saddles checked for a while - since they got their horse about 5 yrs ago in one case! - nah, nobody would bother just now. One multiple horse owner reckoned it was best to wait until into the summer, because their horses would be fitter by then, and what's the point in getting someone out when they're going to change shape... ummmm...

[wanabe]

I have 4 comments:

1) Aren't some Wintecs available with the CAIR system? (Air filled cushion that adapts to horse's back.) Plus don't they also have adjustable gullets?

2) In the real world of riding schools (at least here in the U.S.) nobody seems to worry about saddle fit for the lesson horses.

3) When you say "fitting a saddle", what does that mean? Saddles come in basically narrow, medium, and wide. Other than checking to see which of those 3 are right for your horse, and whether the brand you have selected has any peculiarities that make it a non-candidate, what else is done? Are saddles actually "fitted" (modified) for most horses?

4) At my old RS, my RI/YO, always insisted that the saddle be placed as far forward as possible. I can't count how many times she redid my saddle and moved it forward. I found it annoying and have always wondered whether she knew what she was talking about. At my current RS, they never say anything about my saddle placement.

[baileyboy]

Used to own a wintec and now feel so guilty but at the time it was fitted believed it to be best choice. Now educated and know what is right. I seem to find that its some of the 'old school' who won't change their minds about how a saddle should be fitted just to the one horse or pony. Could we walk in shoes that are too big or too small in comfort? I now always get my horses back checked as routine like everything else even when the seem fine.:)

[baileyboy]

You have to see where a saddle sits naturally on a horse, which type is best suited not to restrict the shoulder and more. We seem to have more choice over here.

[acw295]

I've not bought my horse yet but I've had sleepless nights already about saddle fit after all the posts on here. It's a nightmare for novice owners - if you can't trust a 'professional' what can you do? :mad:

I don't believe I've ever ridden in a wintec, but I do like the thorowgood ones (my pony on my Free Rein trail riding holiday had one - seriously comfy, but I don't know if it fitted :confused:).

[baileyboy]

Basic rule saddle should not go past the last rib or over the shoulder but there are lots of things to take into account. When you find a horse its best to get a fitter who has been recommended but trust your own judgement too and ask lots of questions:)

[Pink's lady]

1) Aren't some Wintecs available with the CAIR system? (Air filled cushion that adapts to horse's back.) Plus don't they also have adjustable gullets?

As a general rule the US seems to care even less about saddle fitting:( I was horrifed but some of the saddles when I was over there!:eek:

Wintecs do have changable gullets but that's all thats changable - the rest of the saddle doesn't fit. Have a look on here for wintecs for more info. The Cair doesn't always work well either, due to it's design.


2) In the real world of riding schools (at least here in the U.S.) nobody seems to worry about saddle fit for the lesson horses.

Sadly RS over here aren't that different. If you want to find porr fits and dodgey, ancient old saddle that should have been binned years ago go to some of the less reputable RS:(


3) When you say "fitting a saddle", what does that mean? Saddles come in basically narrow, medium, and wide. Other than checking to see which of those 3 are right for your horse, and whether the brand you have selected has any peculiarities that make it a non-candidate, what else is done? Are saddles actually "fitted" (modified) for most horses?

Saddle have to fit the horse. The first measurement needed is the width, which comes in a huge range from narrow to xx-wide+. The width differs with brand - one brands wide will be another brands medium/wide.
Then you need to look at length:the saddle should be as big as possible to spread the riders weight over a large area (unless the rider is tiny) but not come past the last rib.
Then you have to look at tree design. Some tree don't suit some horses as they are too curve or too flat. It's really important the tree suits the horse and each brand is different, as is each horse.
You have to look at panel shape and design. The panels have to match the back shape, giving support were needed (for hollow TB or for flat round cobs), not dig in and match the shape of their back at the back of the saddle - each horse has a different angle to their loins.
Saddle balance is essential too. It's a culmiation of width fitting, tree design and panels but saddle has to be balanced so pressure is put evenly over the back and not tippped to the back or the front.
And then you have girthing arrangements: Some horses have forward girth grooves where the girth drags the saddle forwards.

Each saddle is different and will only suit certain back types. Then you need to have the saddle flocked to give a perfect fit - a little bit more here or a little bit less there makes a huge difference for the horse. It's not rocket science but takes time and skill to get right.

4) At my old RS, my RI/YO, always insisted that the saddle be placed as far forward as possible. I can't count how many times she redid my saddle and moved it forward. I found it annoying and have always wondered whether she knew what she was talking about. At my current RS, they never say anything about my saddle placement

You'd be amazed at how many apparently experienced riders have not a clue when it comes to saddle. They've got ahold of some snippet of saddle fitting (saddle should stay forwards or three fingers under the pommel) and not understood the rest.

The saddle should be back behind the shoulders at all times. When the horse pull their shoulder back the points of the tree should not hit them, else they become sore. Many people do put the saddle far too far forwards. The saddle does need to stay forwards as up by their withers is the strongest part of their back, but it hurts then having it too far forwards. Being able to tell from a glance just takes practise, but you can check by having someone pull their leg back whilst you feel for the top of their shoulder.

[Soot]

I am lucky because Lucy is the one in a million horse that the Wintec was designed for. I have the same saddle in black and in brown (can't remember model) ... They fit her like a glove and are comfy for me too :).

I prefer riding in the Albion I have for Libby though :p.