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
GFS Monarch Saddle
Love my new GFS Monarch saddle. Easy to order. Arrived fast from UK yo USA. Packed very well exceed
Highly Recommend
Bought a new saddle and sold one, all within 24 hours. Could not fault any of the process at all. Re
Bates saddle
Extremely pleased with the saddle which is in beautiful condition, extra photos supplied so I could
Purchased a second hand dressage saddle. Arrived p...
Purchased a second hand dressage saddle. Arrived promptly, as described. With an exchange/refund pol
John Whittaker
Great service, thank you!
Saddle lone and return
At first I got annoyed as the saddle I chose would not let me make a payment.so I phoned and got it
Dressage saddle
The website was easy to use and the saddle I pick was delivered quickly, very impressed and love the
Saddle return
Even though I decided not to keep the saddle they were excellent!
Sell a saddle
Quick no hassle sale. Collected from home and same day payment. Thank you
Really great service
I needed a new dressage saddle and also needed to sell another one. The saddle bank were super helpf
Easy and quick sale of my saddle
Such an easy way to sell your saddle. I was offered a fair price and an option to either sell direct
Saddle sale
A perfect straight forward sale achieved. These guys quickly answered my questions and gave their pr
Great Service, Highly Recommend
I needed to sell my saddle fast, as I had already paid out for a new one. Saddle Bank were excellen
Sold my saddle
Very efficient service prompt valuation and very detailed but straightforward instructions on how be
Sold saddle- excellent service
So pleased to have sold my saddle through the saddle bank, the process was so easy and price offered