By Don Blazer

          Did you pay too much for your saddle?  Or did you get a bargain?

          Only you can answer; but maybe you don’t want to know.  Ignorance is bliss so they say, and in this instance, it may be best to simply enjoy a state of blissfulness.

          What might be more important than having gotten a bargain or having paid too much in the past, is how best to shop for your next saddle.

          Today’s “using” saddles can be priced from several hundred dollars to more than $8,500…and specialty or antique saddles can easily range into the tens of thousands.

          The keys to a perfect saddle purchase are: value, fit, fit and fit.

          Value is paying a fair price for the saddle, and a fair price can be defined as “exchanged worth.”  You are going to give so many dollars and you want the saddle to be an “equal exchange” for those dollars.  So it’s a matter of perception…if dollars don’t mean much…then the number of dollars you pay doesn’t mean much.  On the other hand, if dollars mean something, you better be getting your money’s worth.

          When you decide to buy a saddle you are saying, “I want this particular desire fulfilled.”  You need to be pretty well focused on what that desire is, and what can fulfill it.  No wishy-washy idea will do.

          Know the kind of saddle you want!

          To help you identify and fulfill your desire, three things are mandatory: fit, fit and fit.

          The saddle must fit you!  English or western, jumping or cutting, pleasure or gaming, you must be comfortable in the saddle at all times, all the time.  A saddle that makes you think about it when you are riding is overpriced at any price.  When you are riding, your saddle should be so comfortable that you never think about it.

          No matter the price, you’ve paid too much if the saddle doesn’t fit your horse.  If you are buying a ready-made saddle, you must have the opportunity to “try it—on your horse—before you buy it.”  If you can’t do that, the saddle is no bargain.  (If the saddle is being shipped from a far away maker, then you should have the right to return it if it doesn’t fit the horse…be reasonable…you don’t need to ride the horse more than a few minutes to determine fit.)

          If the saddle is custom built, the saddle maker will want measurement of your horse in order to determine the proper tree, skirt lengths, gullet, etc.

          Finally, the price must fit your budget.  It doesn’t matter if you can spend $1 million on a saddle—set a budget so you’ll get a saddle that satisfies your definition of “value.”

          Here are a couple of “save dollars” shopping tips:  if you are ordering a custom built saddle, tell the saddle maker the highest amount you’ll pay, and then let him design to fit the budget.  Saddle makers can be very creative and stay within the budget…see the design, then decide.  If the design doesn’t thrill you, shop another saddle maker.

          Buying a used saddle that fits, fits and fits, plus is eye-appealing to you is often a better value than getting a new saddle.

          When it comes to silver, more is less.  If you are buying custom only have “sterling” silver used; silver plate and other imitations fade fast and are dollars wasted.

          You can get what you want at a price you are willing to pay, and it will be a bargain if it fits, fits and fits.

          If it doesn’t fit three ways, you’ve paid too much!

To learn all the details about saddle fit, enjoy the online course, Bits, Saddle Fitting and Hoof Balance at www.horsecoursesonline.com

Having the right saddle for you and your horse is a very important part of barrel racing. Riding in a fancy saddle with lots of bling won’t help your run, but having a saddle that fits correctly can make the difference in winning and losing.  

Does Your Horse's Saddle Fit?

Is your horse exhibiting uncharacteristic performance or behavior issues? Well then, check his saddle. Badly fitting saddles account for a vast array of issues in the horse. Yet they often go undetected, either because people don't recognize the signs and symptoms of an improperly fitting saddle, or because they have no idea how to fix the problem.

This lack of knowledge can hurt our horses physically, diminish their ability to reach their full potential, and even label them as unpleasant or dangerous characters. Of course, saddle fit can't be blamed for all behavior and performance issues in the horse, but it is something that should always be considered. If you don't have the knowledge to determine whether your horse's saddle fits, enlist the help of a competent saddle fitter right away.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

How do you know if your horse's saddle is uncomfortable? Easy. What does he have to say about it? Sure, your horse won't be able to communicate with you verbally. But his body language should tell you all you need to know if you take the time to listen. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Are the muscles in the top loin overly developed?

• Is the lower part of your horse's neck thicker than the top part because he hollows his back?

• Are the muscles in the hollow region behind my horse's shoulder diminished or atrophied from the nerves and muscles being pinched?

• When relaxing, does my horse have a dropped or sway back?

• Is there swelling or heat under the saddle area upon removal of the saddle?

• Is there raw or rubbed skin anywhere in the saddle area?

• Are there any white marks or bare patches on his back?

Once you've taken a good look at your horse, ask yourself the following questions about his behavior:

• Does he seem stiff?

• Does he hold his head high and stiff, and does he seem unwilling to accept the bit or rider's aids?

• Does he seem unwilling?

• Is he hard to catch?

• Does he jump around when being groomed, especially when you are grooming the back area?

• Does he hollow his back, buck, or move away when saddled?

• Does he dislike being girthed?

• Does he jig when being mounted?

• Does he toss his head while under saddle?

• Does he refuse to walk calmly on a long rein?

• Is he irritable in general?

• Does he have a hard time walking up or down hills?

• Are his gaits uneven?

• Does he have difficulty with one lead over another?

• Is he stiff on corners, bends, or circles?

• Does he have trouble getting down and back up again?

If you answered yes to more than one or two questions do your horse a big favor. Don't ride him under saddle again until a qualified vet or chiropractor has evaluated him. If your horse is diagnosed with back problems it is important to note that the saddle is not always to blame. However, taking a good constructive look at your saddle and how it fits your horse is a good place to start.

Good Saddle Fit

A saddle should fit both horse and rider, but don't think that just because you find it comfy your horse does too. How do you know if your horse's saddle fits? Check out the following tips:

• Sitting in the saddle with a relaxed seat and legs, check to make sure you have enough room to put your hand on your thigh between your legs and the pommel. You should also be able to fit the width of your hand between the back of your body and the rear arch. With the stirrups at the normal length, there should be an imaginary line gong through your shoulder, to your hip, to the center of your horse's balance, and finally, to your heel. So now we know the saddle fits you!

• But does it fit your horse? First of all, it should never interfere with your horse's movement in any way. There must be no contact between the saddle and the spine, which means you should see a clear channel of daylight down the spine from withers to loins.

• Check the width and length. With your weight in the saddle you should be able to fit two-and-a-half or three fingers between the pommel and the horse's withers. If there is space for four fingers the tree is too narrow. If there is space for two, it is too wide. Check to see how far the saddle goes toward your horse's hip bone. It should not be so long that it rubs the hip.

• The saddle should be stable and should never rock back and forth.

• Never commit to a saddle before taking it on a lengthy ride. There is no substitute for riding in it when it comes to finding a saddle that fits well

A comfortable saddle keeps your horse healthy in both mind and body. Now watch how far the two of you go!

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