How Do You Fit An English Saddle?
Fitting an English saddle isn’t as easy as it would seem. Poorly fitting saddles can restrict the horse’s natural movement if they are too wide, they can lead to kidney damage if they are too long, and they can cause sores if too short. Here is a rudimentary guide for properly fitting an English saddle to your horse. Fitting the saddle to the horse before fitting it to the rider is most important. Correct fitting is essential for the mental and physical health of a horse and allows the horse to move freely and naturally. A properly fitting saddle is also important for the comfort and correct position of the rider. Incorrect position of the rider can cause a sore back and cause pressure points on the horse. Check a new saddle on the horse’s back without any pads and without a rider. The space between the pommel and the horse’s spine should be about three to four fingers wide. Standing behind the horse with the saddle on, again without pads or a rider, you should be able to see light all
