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RED RAE SADDLERY FITTING ONLINE

Problems Arising From Badly Fitting Saddles

The Saddle Tree
It's vital the saddle tree fits the profile of the horse's back. If the points of the tree are too narrow, it will pinch the horse either side of the withers. This cannot be altered, satisfactorily. A tree too broad will mean the front will bear directly on the withers. An over flocked saddle can cause soreness and unbalance.
The Gullet
The Channel, also known as the gullet, which divides the panel, must have sufficient width to clear the spine so the divided panel can bear weight evenly and be clear of the spine. When the gullet is too narrow or in extreme cases closed, there will be pinching of the spinal vertebrae's.
Saddle Sitting Level
It's absolutely vital the saddle sits level so the weight of the rider is distributed evenly through the panels of the saddle. If the saddle sits to high at the front, it will throw the weight of the rider to the rear of the saddle. Accordingly if the saddle is too high at the back it will put pressure at the front of the saddle.

Panels that are uneven will cause more weight on one side of the panel than the other, also a badly made tree, that is twisted can cause the same effect. If the saddle rocks it can cause soreness by friction and developing into hair loss and bruising.
Does The Saddle Fit You?
It is extremely important that the saddle relates to the length of the horses back, and the rider. A too small saddle and an oversized rider with an oversized posterior will cause too much weight over a small area. A too long saddle or a short back will cause pressure on the kidney.
Too Forward Cut
The saddle should not be too forward cut which will result in interfering with the action of the shoulder blade, which will impede the horses movement and will result in the horse tiring quickly. The saddle should always lie behind the shoulder.
Badly Flocked panels
Poorly flocked panels produced by unqualified saddlers, or bad technique can cause pressure points causing hair loss, and reduction of blood to that area. How to identify a poorly flocked saddle can sometimes be very obvious to the human eye, which can take form of a lumpy uneven surface on the bearing surfaces of the panels, or dips in the panel which are less obvious with the eye, but more by touch.

Panels that have more flock in one than the other can prevent the riders weight from being distributed evenly over the entire surface of the horses back.

Panels over flocked at the front can cause the saddle to fit too high, resulting in pressure points and malfunction, causing pain in the trapezium muscle, which will cause the horse to bare and restrict his stride, resulting in soft swellings, and scar tissue in severe cases.

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