Saddle fitting 1908

[Sparky Lily]

My grandfather's book devotes several pages to the structure of the horse's spine to explain why it should not have any pressure put upon it. The approach to saddle fitting is summed up in six axioms:

1. The withers must not be pinched nor pressed upon.
2. The central line of the back must have no pressure imposed upon it.
3. The blade-bones must have free and uncontrolled movement.
4. The loins are not intended to carry weight.
5. The weight must be imposed on the ribs through the medium of the muscles covering them.
6. The weight must be evenly distributed over a surface which extends from the play of the shoulders to the last rib.

Sums it up nicely, doesn't it!

The problem of horses losing condition and changing shape is met by different configurations of folds in the saddle blanket - not a bad solution in service conditions where saddles could not be changed nor altered. This makes interesting reading too. However, the section ends with:

It must have occurred to many reading this section that pneumatic pannels would solve the problem of what to place under the saddle, as they would effect an enormous saving in concussion to which the spine is at present exposed, and largely reduce weight. Such pannels have been made and used, but there is a timidity to trust a horse's back to the security of a rubber patch, though the provision of an air cushion is an ideal conception for a panel. Granulated cork has been tried for filling pannels, but anything of a granular nature has a tendency to work in one direction instead of keeping its position, though this can to an extent be provided against.

I had no idea air panels had been tried out this early, but I can see that the risk of puncture would have been high in some military conditions!

[Kis Vihar]

Sums up saddle fitting very nicely!

It's a good job you live so far away from me - you've got such interesting stuff, I'd come and raid your house!

[poohsmate]

Originally Posted by Sparky Lily

My grandfather's book devotes several pages to the structure of the horse's spine to explain why it should not have any pressure put upon it. The approach to saddle fitting is summed up in six axioms:

1. The withers must not be pinched nor pressed upon.
2. The central line of the back must have no pressure imposed upon it.
3. The blade-bones must have free and uncontrolled movement.
4. The loins are not intended to carry weight.
5. The weight must be imposed on the ribs through the medium of the muscles covering them.
6. The weight must be evenly distributed over a surface which extends from the play of the shoulders to the last rib.

Sums it up nicely, doesn't it!

The problem of horses losing condition and changing shape is met by different configurations of folds in the saddle blanket - not a bad solution in service conditions where saddles could not be changed nor altered. This makes interesting reading too. However, the section ends with:

It must have occurred to many reading this section that pneumatic pannels would solve the problem of what to place under the saddle, as they would effect an enormous saving in concussion to which the spine is at present exposed, and largely reduce weight. Such pannels have been made and used, but there is a timidity to trust a horse's back to the security of a rubber patch, though the provision of an air cushion is an ideal conception for a panel. Granulated cork has been tried for filling pannels, but anything of a granular nature has a tendency to work in one direction instead of keeping its position, though this can to an extent be provided against.

I had no idea air panels had been tried out this early, but I can see that the risk of puncture would have been high in some military conditions!

Great reading again..and it just goes to show there really is nothing new in the horse world.
Most things have been tried at some time in the past.

Would be great to revive the section on how it was... i have a brilliant arcticle on women riders (or Amazones as they were called then)from the 1890s.