UNDERSTANDING SADDLES

This section could take up a web site on it own but I will try to explain in a terminology, that I hope explains the essence of saddles and fitting.

I thank a friend for sending me this picture and if I could make out the artists name I would thank them for a very good comic sketch. It does highlight an often seen problem with saddles. If you get an expert in to do a job for you, do not be frightened to ask questions, or make suggestions, for a real master of their art will welcome this and will take the time to explain things so you understand. Always remember you are their client.

Firstly we need to consider the frame that makes up the skeleton of the horse. Looking at the horse sideways on we have the basics of a bridge.

Our horse today is a very rare breed.

Front and rear we have vertical stanchions that elevate a cross member to a given height. If an engineer builds a bridge with this type of construction they would need to take into consideration the loading it needs to carry at the weakest point. In this case middle of the brace between the stanchions.  

Having established that the center point of the structure is the weakest point we cannot change the basic shape of our structure, we need to consider how loading at this point can be reduced.  

There are certain points we can take control of.

·        Adding extra structure to this point

·        Reducing the loading in one point by spreading the weight.

·        Supporting the load and making it stable to reduce the chance of increased loading.  

How do we do this?

Firstly strengthening the structure.

Most bridges have a curved structure that spreads the load and produces a stronger structure using the same amount of material. We have very little opportunity to add material to the horses’ structure but we can strengthen them. If we work the horse from behind correctly the spine of the horse will start to curve up producing the structure to support more load.

Thirdly Stability.

A stable load is one that is constant in that it has a center of gravity and balance that varies less than a moving one. The geometry of saddles is complicated but such things as positioning stirrup bars in a place so the rider’s legs are positioned correctly help produce stability.

Designing saddles is not an easy process and all these points must be taken into consideration as well as many others and I list a few below to give you an idea of the difficult task designing saddles is.

The muscles, sinews, bones, nerves, skin, hair heat, movement, friction, rider interaction and increasing safety but if any of these items are forgotten or ignored during design can the finished article truly be called a saddle.

If a saddle does not fit all the criteria needed to fulfill its task we can end up with many detrimental things happening painful backs, dipping backs, soars, lumps and bumps, pore movement or lack of engagement and bucking can be a few.

We as riders cannot pass all the blame onto the saddle designer for even if the saddle fulfills all the necessary criteria and we then position the saddle in the incorrect place i.e., to far forwards we destroy all the geometry and reduce our chance of balance and position. In many cases depending on the horse’s structure we can increase the loading to the very point we aim to reduce it.

Secondly reducing extreme center loading.

We buy and use an item called a saddle. A correctly fitting and positioned saddle can carry out this tasks. When correct a saddle can by having structure produce less pounds per square inch at one point by spreading the load evenly across the horses back.

Summing up

I have written this article in the hope that more people will understand the saddle and will not be persuaded by someone selling a saddle that is not correct for their horse. I know that we always want to do the very best for our horses that is why I helped a good friend of mine design the saddle that he now manufactures. And why does he now manufacture saddles? Because he wanted the best for his horses.