United States Eventing Association

Saddle Fit Simplified

Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?

Judith Bromley started learning how to be a saddle fitter after experiencing issues with one of her horses. Unable to find a local saddle fitter that could solve the problem, she first brought a fitter in from Canada before learning how to fit saddles herself. She completed her training at the North American Saddlery School and earned the coveted title of Master Saddle Fitter through the Society of Master Saddlers.

Bromley takes a big-picture perspective on saddle fitting. “I always tell every one, you should have a team. You need to choose wisely your team of people and professionals that you're going to work with—your vet, your farrier, your physiotherapist, massage therapist, chiropractor, saddle fitter. We all work together to keep your horse comfortable.”

Emily Bates is the fourth generation in her family to carry on the mantle of a 90-year-old business: Bates Saddles. Having grown up in the world of saddles, she is passionate about continuing to improve equine welfare by developing new innovations in the world of saddles. “It’s quite unique that we are a family business,” she said. “There's so much innovation that's happened in the saddle world, and we've been able to contribute so much, which has been wonderful. We were the first to introduce adjustable saddles. We’re very proud of what we've done.”

What are some signs it’s time to have my saddle fit checked? How often do I need to have it checked?

Figuring out when to get your saddle fit checked is not as simple as it sounds. Signs that your saddle no longer fits yourself or your horse can start off quite subtle. As Bates says, “Everyone at some point in time is riding in a saddle that doesn't fit as well as it could. The most important message that we can get out there for riders is to focus on being attentive and picking up the signs, so we can be proactive in seeking help.”

Getting your saddle fit checked regularly is for the benefit of the rider, just as much as it is for the horse. Often, riders will face a plateau in their riding, which they may not realize is caused by their saddle no longer fitting their own conformation. Being proactive in scheduling your saddle fitting appointments can prevent you from reaching this frustrating point in your riding education.

“You're easily pulled out of the saddle by the horse, constantly readjusting your position, trying to sit up—all those sorts of things are a good sign that things could be made easier for you and better for your horse with a little adjustment,” Bates said. “There's no need to get to that point, because saddles these days are so adjustable. Often just a small adjustment can make a world of difference.”

There are several factors to keep in mind when evaluating whether or not to call a saddle fitter, such as the season, the horse’s workload, diet, and recent medical history. “Horses change from season to season depending on the workload, or if they've recently rehabbed. Those are times that we need to have them looked at,” Bromley suggested. “If they're young horses, they need to be looked at more often, but ideally it would be at the beginning of every season, so four times a year—ideally twice a year at minimum. It's better to be proactive than reactive.”

Getting your saddle fit can be a celebratory moment for riders and their horses, a sign of hard work that has paid off. “It’s a really exciting day for riders that have been wanting to build that condition up in the horse,” Bates said. “They're calling their saddle fitter and sort of punching the air saying, ‘We're ready!’ And, as the saddle fitter, you can keep that horse progressing without ever getting to a stage of feeling inhibited and not at ease under the saddle, which is so important.”

Both Bromley and Bates agree that a saddle fitting appointment doesn’t have to be a worrying expense for riders, thanks to recent innovations with adjustable saddles. “It doesn't have to be a custom saddle,” Bromley said. “Everyone thinks, ‘Oh, if I get a custom saddle, it'll fit the horse forever.’ And that's not the case. There's a few adjustable saddles I work with that I love because they give me, as a saddle fitter, more room to do adjustments to keep the horse comfortable, and the rider doesn't have to buy a new saddle every year.”

Signs that it’s time to call a saddle fitter are sometimes, but not always, obvious. “If you're approaching your horse with your tack—your saddle, even girth and bridle—and your horse starts pinning their ears back, lashing out, trying to kick or move away from you while you're trying to saddle them up; they're worried,” Bromley said. “That means it’s time to get your saddle fit checked. Some horses are very stoic, and they never say a word. But we still have to be mindful for them, for their sake.”

Bates also advises riders to analyze the saddle after every ride. “If you're finishing your ride and the saddle has slipped forward or back, that would be an indicator to call a saddle fitter.”

Where should I place my saddle on my horse’s back?

Where the saddle sits on the horse’s back significantly changes how it fits the horse. Every rider should take a moment to ensure the saddle is sitting on the horse’s back correctly every time they tack up.

“What we want is the pressure of the saddle and the rider to be distributed over the greatest area possible,” Bromley said. “You want that saddle to fit like a glove. It shouldn't tip or rock front to back, or slide side to side. It should just hug the horse.”

There are two rules of thumb riders can follow to ensure their placement is correct. Typically marked by a small branded disc, the tree point of the saddle must sit behind the horse’s scapula. The saddle also can’t extend past the last rib. To prevent this from happening, look for the change in the horse’s hair between their rib cage and their hip. Slide your hand towards the horse’s head, feeling for the hardness of the horse’s rib. Follow the angle upwards towards the horse’s spine. Ensure the weight of the saddle does not go beyond that point.

What happens if I continue riding in a saddle that doesn’t fit my horse?

Riding in a saddle that doesn’t fit your horse is similar to wearing a pair of too-small shoes. “It’s a bit like being asked to go for a really long hike or a run in a pair of shoes that don't fit you,” Bates said. “We know how quickly that's uncomfortable, and it goes on to cause a bit of soft tissue damage, if your foot slips around in the shoe or if the shoe is really too tight and rubs. It's just the same with our horses.”

Over time, an ill-fitting saddle can cause a whole host of significant problems. “They could stop at jumps. They could refuse to move. Their back would get sore,” Bromley said. “If the tree points are digging into the horse and causing a lot of discomfort and pain, they could develop nerve damage, which is marked by white hair growth under the saddle. If they're sore, they will hollow out. You'll never be able to get them to lift up through their back. It's so important that we make sure these horses are comfortable and that we're listening to them and trying to figure out what they're trying to tell us.”

According to Bates, an ill-fitting saddle has repercussions throughout the horse’s body, not just under the saddle. “Our saddle is sitting over very significant muscle groups that are connected throughout their whole body. For example, if we're uncomfortable in our shoes, you start to adjust how you walk to try and avoid the pain, not make the blister worse. And if you are asked to do that over a length of time, it starts to cause really prolonged changes in the way that you move and the way that your muscles are developing. The same thing happens to our horses,” she said.

I can add pads underneath my saddle to make it fit, right?

Just as wearing thick socks won’t make an ill-fitting shoe fit correctly, adding multiple pads underneath a saddle won’t correct the fit or improve the problem. No matter how many pads are added to the horse’s tack, pressure points will remain and continue to cause issues. Additionally, too many pads can cause the saddle to “perch” above the horse’s back, losing stability.

However, there are certain scenarios where using pads or shims temporarily isn’t harmful. “Maybe at some point during the year they're a little wider than they are at other times,” Bromley said. “Every once in a while, you can put a shim pad underneath the saddle for temporary purposes until you’re able to get a saddle fitter out. You wouldn't want to pad up continuously and not address it.”

Bates says that if you have an adjustable saddle, it’s best to have the saddle adjusted to the shape of the horse’s back, instead of adding or removing a pad. “Saddles have different levels of adjustability. Some you can’t adjust at all, some can be safely adjusted a few times over the saddle’s life, and others can be adjusted infinitely over the life of the saddle, in which case, there is no need to use pads to counteract an imperfect fit.”

How can I tell if my saddle fits me?

Riders often hyperfocus on how the saddle fits the horse, but the saddle also has to fit the rider. A saddle that doesn't suit the rider can create balance issues that will impact the horse over time.

“If the rider is in the wrong saddle for them, it makes it harder for them to sit beautifully and quietly in the saddle, to deliver their aids cleanly and effectively. It also makes it harder for the horse to carry them easily and comfortably,” Bates said. “It can make a big difference in the quality of our time with our horses. Our time in the saddle is sacred. That's what restores and recharges most of us, and it's what we wake up for each day. We don’t want riders to struggle in the saddle and not enjoy it as much as they could, when that could be solved with an adjustment.”

Many saddles can be customized, within reason, to fit the individual conformation of every rider. Knee rolls can be added, removed, or repositioned. Panels and flaps can be realigned. Both Bates and Bromley agree that there’s a saddle out there for every rider, it’s just a matter of finding the right one.

“Having the right seat size for the rider is important, but so is the shape of the seat, the shape and style of the knee roll, the position of that, and also, really importantly, where the stirrup bar is located in the saddle,” Bates said. “That can have a really big impact on helping the rider perform effortlessly, so that they can focus on what they're doing and not how they're sitting.”

How can I prepare for my saddle fitting appointment? What should I expect during the appointment?

What occurs during a saddle fitting appointment depends on the individual, however riders can expect a general flow of events. “A saddle fitting appointment starts with some really good conversations, because the more that the fitter can understand the current challenges the rider is having, the better they’ll be able to get you onto a good journey,” Bates said.

Bromley says these conversations start before the fitter even arrives at the barn. “Prior to coming, I ask if there are any diseases, such as Strangles, going on in the barn. Once I get there, I'll introduce myself to the horse and the rider, and make sure that everything around our area is safe. There's no clutter, there's no machinery, nothing hanging around that could hurt the horse,” Bromley said. “Then I palpate the horse and go over its entire body with my hands to see if there are any red flags, any bumps, or soreness. I make note of anything I find.”

Bates adds that it’s important to have the rider’s current saddle on hand so the fitter can evaluate how it fits the horse, even if the rider is contemplating buying a new saddle.

“They'll always have a good look over the actual saddle that they're fitting and the saddle that the horse has been ridden in, and just check that it's structurally sound; that it's in good riding condition,” Bates said. “The fitter will take templates and measurements of the horse so that we've got past records available. They’ll want to compare the most recent tracings to older ones and see what's going on. Then they’ll tack the horse up and have a look at it statically, with the horse standing square on level ground, and just make sure that everything is looking as good as it can be. If they're happy, and the rider feels safe to do so, then they’ll move on to a ridden assessment. Hopefully, if they've got an adjustable saddle, changes can be done there and then on the spot. If they don't, they'll probably take the saddle away then make those adjustments.”

Riders can maximize their saddle fitting appointments by preparing appropriately. Consider having a table in a safe location nearby to ensure the fitter can easily access their saddles. It’s also helpful to have a third person on hand to grab saddles and different pieces of tack as needed. Make sure stirrups, stirrup leathers, and both short and long girths are ready for use during the appointment. It’s imperative that the area where the fitting will take place is safe.

“Dress to ride. The horse must be sound. If your horse isn't sound, they won't progress with the saddle fit on that day, and they'll want to reschedule the appointment,” Bates said. “Make sure that the horse is clean and good to go. You've got to have a safe area to ride in. Whenever you're changing a saddle, the horse is going to adjust to a new feeling. The rider is going to be sitting differently. So, it's important to have a nice, quiet, safe area where we can do that ridden assessment, and you can really focus.”

Saddles can either act as a barrier to, or a catalyst for, communication while riding. With the right saddle fit, horse and rider can return to focusing on what matters most—enjoying their time together, whether they’re training for their first Beginner Novice horse trial or an FEI event.