How to Fit a Saddle to a Horse

How to properly fit a saddle to a horse.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• You will need to be familiar with some basic parts of the saddle like the cantle and the pommel.

1. Place the saddle on the horse's back without a pad. Step back and look at the horse from the side and make sure the pommel and cantle (front and back of the saddle) are even. Then check to make sure you can see light from the front and back of the saddle over the horses spine. No part of the saddle should touch the horses spine.

2. Make sure the saddle is not pinching the withers. If it is your horse will need a wider tree. If the pommel is too low on the withers (the gullet should not touch the withers) you will need a narrower tree. When mounted, check to make sure you still have plenty of clearance between the saddle and the horses spine and withers. If you don't your saddle could have a broken tree.

3. Check the flaps of the saddle to make sure they are lying against the horse evenly. Add a pad and ride the horse. After the ride check your saddle mark to ensure there are no dry spots underneath the saddle. If there are your saddle is not distributing weight evenly and this will cause your horse to become sore. If everything else seems to fit you might need you saddle reflocked.

Tips & Warnings

• It's always a good idea to get a professional to help with saddle fit.
• Riding a horse in an ill-fitting saddle can make a horse sore, lame and could cause it to buck or rear or have other seemingly behavioral issues. Always check and recheck saddle fit.