In days gone by, a cowboy toted his saddle with him everywhere. He tossed it up onto any horse that came his way-tall or small, razor-backed or mutton-withered. If the saddle was comfortable and fit the rider, it was just fine. No thought was given to how it fit the horse.
Just like every pair of boots doesn't fit every rider, every saddle doesn't fit every horse. For some unfortunate animals, the saddles being ratcheted down on their backs means facing hours of pain and discomfort on the trail or in the arena due to bars that pinch, forks that grind down onto withers, and rigging that digs into elbows.
Without words, the horse that fidgets as the saddle is set on his back, pins his ears, or even reaches around to nip at the person pulling up on the cinch leather, may be desperately trying to say, "That saddle hurts me!" Sadly, some riders never recognize those words, and the poor horse might get whacked in the belly for his "bad behavior."
Western Innovations
- With any saddle, old or new, spend the time to make sure it fits your horse properly.
- If you're looking for a lighter-weight saddle, think about synthetics instead of traditional leather.
- For horses that could benefit from added range of movement, a saddle with a flexible tree or a treeless saddle might be an option.
- Consider getting a higher fork and cantle for more security on the trail.
- Although you don't need to bow to every passing show-ring fad, silver is still a valued accessory in a show saddle.
Few people would intentionally put a horse through such misery. Often a well-made western saddle is kept for years-even handed down in families-to be used on all of the horses the family ever owns. Sons and daughters proudly ride the saddles their fathers rode, not paying much mind to whether that heirloom is comfortable for the horse it's being used on today.
Fortunately, things are changing.
Today, as much attention is being paid to how the saddle fits the horse as to how it fits the rider. As the trend toward more natural ways of handling horses has taken hold, the comfort of the horse is now being taken into consideration. And if horses could talk, they'd say, "It's about time."
Resurrecting an Old Saddle
If you recently got a new horse and want to use your old show saddle or your beloved family saddle that has been passed down to you, check it over first to be sure it's not going to be a pain in the back to your horse. Make sure it fits both of you. As a nation, we've grown a little broader in the beam over the last couple of decades-and our horses have become bigger and broader, too. That 15-inch seat that fit you fine 15 years ago could be too small today. And those semi-Quarter Horse bars that fit the horse you owned back then might be too tight on the wide-withered horse you have now.
To see if your old saddle fits your horse, put it on his back without a saddle pad and look at it from every angle. (This should be done with a new saddle, too. Just put a clean bed sheet under it to keep the underside clean and free of hair in case you have to return it.)
Years ago most riders started with the saddle way up on the withers, figuring it would slide back after a little riding. It usually did-right to where it should have been put in the first place, about two fingers behind the shoulder blade. So put it there and step back and look. The saddle should sit evenly on the horse's back, not tilt down at the horn or cantle. Then grab hold of the horn and cantle and see if the saddle will rock back and forth. It shouldn't.
Look at the saddle from the front. Probably the most important consideration is how the front of the saddle-the gullet-fits over the withers. Too narrow and the bars of the saddle will squeeze the shoulders, digging into them and pushing the saddle upward. Adding pads and tightening the cinch more will not solve the problem or relieve the pain and pressure of a saddle that is too narrow.
If the saddle is too big-too wide in the gullet-the front will sink down onto the withers, putting pressure on this sensitive area. While extra saddle pads can help get a wide saddle up off the withers, this saddle is also not a good choice because you end up with too much padding and not enough stability and "feel" for your horse.
When a saddle fits correctly in the front, you can put all of your fingers down into the gullet. A good test is to tighten the cinch, get on your horse, put your fingers back in the gullet, and ask the horse to walk. You should feel no pressure on your fingers. Next, carefully put your flat hand under the front of the skirt and feel if the horse's shoulder is moving freely without any interference from the saddle.
