Crossfields Saddlery

If a saddle fits correctly, it does not require significant padding of any sort. A thin saddle cloth can be used which will keep the saddle clean but won’t affect the fit. As I go around as a saddle fitter, I see many saddles padded up with one or two thick numnahs and when I ask why, they say it is more comfortable for the horse. I then take all the padding away and show them that the saddle fits perfectly without them and that all they are achieving is to make the saddle tight!
If you have a well flocked saddle then a thick pad will not make it softer. Buy ones that use natural fabrics and ensure they are big enough for the saddle to sit on them. If the edge of the pad is underneath the panel this will cause painful pressure. Also run your hand along the edging and make sure it has been nicely finished. Riders call me out saying the saddle is rubbing and when I get there the numnah is too small and the edge is rubbing under the panels.
Make sure you also get one that states it is high withered and pulls nicely into the gullet and stays there. If you don’t, the cloth will stretch over the bone of the withers and cause bruising or sores.
If you are trying to improve a horse’s shape. or when the saddle is too low because the horse needs to build muscle, a remedial pad is useful to give height over the withers and allow the muscles to work. When the horse has improved, the pad can be taken away.
It’s very sad to see riders using numerous pads and back risers as almost a fashion item. Some use them to adjust their own posture and in doing so tip the saddle to the detriment of the horse.
So look through your collection of numnahs and saddlecloths and see which you actually need and which may be damaging your horse.

As a saddle fitter, I see quite a lot of  horses of different shapes and sizes and a lot of owners blaming a saddle for the way their horse is going and not thinking it might be something they are doing wrong either in their riding or the way they look after the horse.

For some riders, a horse with a ‘cold back’ is demonstrating bad behaviour, for others every unexpected response they get from their horse means they have a back problem.

At the very worse, a saddle can be an instrument of toture,causing great pain and tissue damage. However, in the majority of cases, the saddles may be a bit too narrow or wide or just a bit out of balance. Because the muscles will not receive adequate circulation, they will begin to waste under the saddle. If the wastage is severe, the saddle will eventually rest on exposed nerve-endings. Redeveloping these muscles because of the ill-fitting saddles involves hard work from the owner.

We also have to think about how we look after our horses each day. Short bursts of exercise followed by standing for hours on end in a stable is not what the horse was originally designed to do. Unfortunately, not many peole can provide their horse with freedom of movement all year round but can go a long way to help them. You need to look at the way he stands in his stable to eat his hay, to the feed he is on and how long he spends in the field.

His discomfort is certainly increased if he has to eat hay from say a haynet which is above the height of his shoulders. As well as hurting his back, he also has to twist his neck. This could cause very odd muscle development which would affect his balance under the saddle.

With regard to his feed, those that release energy slowly are likely to keep the horse warm over longer periods. Horses at their peak of fitness carry very little fat and can go from optimum to underwieght if their back gets cold.

You should also let your horse roll especially for those that are stabled for a long time. It helps to release tension and manipulate his own spine. Give him a good groom as part of the preparation for exercise. It stimulates blood circulation and massages the superficial muscles.

Then there is the rider!! There are many riders who know they are enlevel either through an injury or their make up that prevents them from keeping both legs in a similar position. Hence they ride with 60% of their weight on one side and only 40% on the other. They then wonder why his right and left bends are not the same.

So next time you put on your saddle remember that underneath there is living tissue and not a collection of mechanical bits and pieces.