Does your Saddle Fit?
Saddle Fitting Help from Cavallo
Have you noticed any of the following saddle fit problems?
Uneven saddle construction: Like a pair of human shoes, even good saddles may have slightly uneven construction.- Trees are often asymmetrical.
- Stirrup bars may be placed unevenly.
- Panels may be stuffed unevenly, displacing the gullet or creating lumps or bumps.
- Wool flocking changes shape over time.
One or more of these irregularities may result in an uneven saddle fit:
- Off-centered Seat: In order to compensate for an off-centered seat, a horse may twist its body. Whatever the cause, the result is an uneven saddle fit
- Asymmetry of the horse’s body: Horses (like humans!) may develop differently on their left and right sides. For example, a short or long leg may cause uneven musculature in the shoulders or muscle sling supporting the rib cage:
- Changes in the horse’s musculature: Bodies change and develop. A horse’s musculature will change throughout the riding day (as the horse tires) and over the season (as the horse ages, develops, tones or loses muscle mass). These changes effect the way the saddle fits the horse.