Recognising Saddle Fit Issues
As a horse owner and rider, your horses welfare is your responsibility. Being able to recognise signs in your horse that your saddle doesn’t fit, or is causing him/her pain is crucial to a happy, healthy horse.
Horses are not naturally disobedient, or aggressive. They are generally very cooperative provided two key elements are met. Firstly they need to understand what you are asking them to do, and secondly they need to be comfortable, and free from pain/restriction to be able to carry out what you are asking to do.
Many problems and behavioural issues are the result of a poor fitting saddle.
However it does not have to be that way. You can learn how to identify signs of a poor fitting saddle, and know when its time to call in a professional qualified saddle fitter to have a good look at your saddle and horse for you.
Does your horse display any of these signs?
Avoidance behaviours – trying to walk away when being tacked up
Ears back/head shaking when saddle comes close by
Excessive tail swishing both in the stable and when ridden
Pawing the ground
Threatening to bite you when you come close with the saddle
Girthy behaviour – negative behaviour when doing up the girth
Reluctant to go forwards when being ridden
Stopping at fences
Short strides
Breathlessness
Bucking
Rearing
Hollowing the back and not working in an outline
Tripping / stumbling
Unable to canter on the right leg/irregular gaits
If so, your horse could be in pain every time you ride.
Learn how to prevent these issues in the must do online course.
Who is this online horse course for?
Horse Owners
Do you own horses which are ridden? Even if they are not ridden by you, this course is a MUST DO for all horse owners. That includes owners who do not ride, owners who do ride, and non horsey parents/guardians. As the owner, the horses welfare is your responsibility. You have a duty of care to have basic knowledge on how a saddle should fit and how to recognise signs it doesn’t.
Horse Riders
The saddle is the most important piece of equipment you will have (besides your hat). Understanding how the saddle, horse and rider work together is vital to your horses performance and wellbeing. As a rider you have a duty of care to be able to recognise signs your saddle does not fit and respond to that.
Equine Professionals
Are you a trainer, instructor, massage therapist, Vet Physio or other equine professional? If so, then this course will help you recognise signs of a poor fitting saddle and the results of a poor fitting saddle. This will help you inform, advise and guide your clients to get a saddle fitter out when appropriate.
Why YOUR horse wants YOU to do the course…
What is included?
By the end of this course you will…
Trust in your fellow riders What our customers say
Evie b
Very quick and hassle free they collect my saddle next day and I had the money within a couple days
Saddle purchase
Very happy with purchasing from the Saddle Bank. Bought saddle but due to saddle fitting being delay
Saddle purchase
Very happy with purchasing from the Saddle Bank. Bought saddle but due to saddle fitting being delay
Super easy sale ! Highly recommend
Wonderful experience selling my saddle directly to them - courier arranged by them and collected pro
Buying and Selling
I have both bought and sold a saddle recently - top service. Super impressed!
Selling a saddle
The saddle bank made the whole process really simple, from uploading the photos to quickly making an
Excellent service
I only wanted a particular brand of saddle as horse tricky to fit. Really pleased saddle bank had a
Bar purchase
Excellent service, i am from Canada and bought a saddle a few years ago and a different size bar for
Excellent helpful service
I had a jump saddle with Saddlebank for a commission sale. They were kind enough to allow me to tak
Pony saddle
I have recently used the saddle bank for the first time. I had a pony on trial and on buying him the
Saddle purchase
Really lovely saddle, better condition than I expected for price so very good value and excellent se
Superb service yet again 🤩
This is the second saddle that I have bought from The Saddle Bank, and once more I am delighted with
Wow!
Found an amazing deal on an almost new saddle. Lightning delivery, detailed description and perfect
Buying and selling
I have bought 2 saddles from the saddle bank and part exchanged one, I found them to be extremely he
Great service
The saddle bank made what seemed a daunting task of selling so easy. Honest and upfront with their e
