28/05/2026
So what does a saddle check actually involve? ๐โจ
Most people think saddle fitting starts with the saddle itself. For me, it starts with the horse.
Before the saddle even appears, I spend time looking at how the horse stands, moves and feels through the body. I am feeling for areas that are tighter, weaker or not moving as easily as they should. I am looking for signs of tension, asymmetry, hollows, muscle loss or areas where the back simply is not able to lift and work comfortably.
I am also looking at the overall shape of the horse because the ribcage, girth area, shoulders, neck and even the jaw can all influence how the horse moves underneath the saddle. Quite often the back is reacting to something happening elsewhere within the body.
Then I look at how the horse responds to touch. Horses are incredibly honest, but many of their signs are very subtle. A small tail swish, a change in the eye, tension around the mouth, a tiny expression shift or an area where they suddenly feel less comfortable.
Most horses are talking to us all the time, we just have to slow down enough to notice it. ๐งก
Only then do I place the saddle on. Again, I am simply watching and listening to the horse. Does the expression change? Does the horse turn and look? Is there a moment where the body tightens slightly? Horses are often very clear about discomfort, but because the signs are quiet they can easily be missed.
Then comes the girth, and this is another stage I do very gradually. One thing many people do not realise is that tightening the girth not only tightens around the ribcage, it also pulls the saddle down onto the horseโs back. Quite often what people think of as โgirthinessโ is actually the horse reacting to pressure from the saddle itself.
At this point I start looking at how the saddle is balancing on that particular horse. Is it allowing the horse to lift through the back comfortably? Is the balance helping movement or restricting it somewhere?
After that, I have the horse walked in hand. This is one of the most important parts because horses often need a few moments to process a different feeling within the body. I am watching the walk, the posture, the expression and the overall feeling of relaxation.
I am waiting for the moment the horse softens.
Sometimes it is a slightly longer stride. Sometimes the back starts to swing more freely. Sometimes the expression changes and the horse simply looks more comfortable within itself. Often the balance of the saddle changes slightly at this stage too, because once the horse begins to move more freely underneath it, small adjustments can make a big difference.
Until I see that moment, I do not add the rider. โ
Sometimes it happens within seconds. Sometimes the horse needs several minutes to reorganise and soften through the body first. If adjustments are needed, we make them before anybody gets on.
Then comes the rider.
As the rider mounts, I want the horse to remain comfortable, quiet and relaxed. Once the rider starts walking, I also want to know how the rider feels because so many riders have quietly accepted discomfort as just part of riding.
It should not be.
A saddle should always feel comfortable for the rider. Not just โbearableโ or โsomething you get used to.โ A well suited saddle should support the pelvis, allow the leg to hang naturally and feel balanced and easy to sit in without force, tension or discomfort. ๐งก
I look at how the rider sits, how the pelvis fits within the seat, whether there is enough room, whether the shape and twist suit that individual person, and how the hips and thighs naturally hang.
Two riders can have the same length leg and still look completely different in the saddle because everybody is built differently. That is not a fault. It is simply anatomy.
So a saddle check is never just about the saddle itself.
It is about understanding the whole conversation between horse, saddle and rider, because the saddle sits between two moving bodies, not on top of a static shape. ๐งกโจ๐
If this sounds like the sort of saddle fitting experience you would like for your horse, feel free to WhatsApp me for more information or to book an appointment. โฉ
๐ Based near Basingstoke with regular saddle fitting visits along the M3, M4, M25, M40 and M1 corridors.
Apparently I am the queen of the motorwaysโฆ ๐โ๐๐ Fuelled by coffee and rugby podcasts.
