February/March 2013 - Page 16
T
he shape and size of a saddle will strongly influence how the rider
sits on the horse and, as a consequence, influence its ability to work
effectively. If incorrectly positioned or unstable, the saddle will
cause a horse to compensate for the unbalanced rider thus affecting its way
of going and quite possibly its muscular development.
Riders come in all shapes and sizes so it stands to reason that while one
saddle that is successful for one may not be of any assistance to another.
Many riders will just adapt to the saddle, some may have to work a bit harder
to do so without an understanding of why the saddle is not suited to them,
and the only way for riders to really work out what is right for them is to try
as many different saddles as possible. Frequently large equestrian events will
have trade shows with retailers exhibiting a wide range of saddles, brands
and styles. Knowledgeable representatives will be on hand to answer the
rider's questions and offer a new level of awareness.
Sitting in a saddle on a horse form in a shop or exhibition will give an
indication of what to expect from that saddle but few horse forms are shaped
like the rider's own horse and the true test is when the saddle has been fitted
and `ridden in' through all paces and conditions the rider usually encounters.
The international male dressage rider who is 193 cm (6'4") may look
fantastic in his saddle but if the rider is a 160 cm (5'3") size 12 female rider,
in all likelihood that saddle may not be a good buy.
Saddle shopping is daunting but armed with information from the previous
articles (`Saddle Shopping' part 1 Vol 34/2 and 2 Vol 34/3 and `Saddle
Fitting - the Horse'Vol 34/4) the purchaser can ensure that the key factors
- seat size and depth, flap length, twist, thigh/knee blocks and stirrup bar
placement - will be considered.