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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ค. 2019
- www.smartpakequine.com/conten...
Does your saddle fit your horse? Where do you start to figure out if it does or doesn't? We asked professional saddle fitter and member of the Society of Master Saddlers, Kate Ballard, to give us a few tips and tricks to help you figure out if your saddle fits your horse. So if you've ever asked yourself any of the following questions about your saddle, watch this video to get the answers from a world-renowned saddle fitter:
- Is it too long or too short?
- Is it too wide or not wide enough?
- Do the length and width really matter? (SPOILER ALERT: They do.)
- What is bridging?
Still have saddle questions? Check out our handy saddle fitting guide (www.smartpakequine.com/conten...) or give SmartPak's Customer Care team a call at 1-800-461-8898 - they're always happy to help you out.
This is the best saddle fitting video that I've seen on here! Clear and simple instruction, easy to understand and thorough visuals. Highly recommended!!
I agree ❤
This was actually very simple, I thought it would be quite more difficult than I thought!
I’ve been watching saddle fitting videos and this is absolutely the clearest thank you
Thanks for these tips, this is a great explanation and visual!
This video is awesome. I’ve always had trouble understanding exactly how a saddle should fit and I do not have access to a fitter. This video explained it so well and gave me so much more confidence to make the right saddle fit choice for my horse.
Wow! I feel like saddle shopping is really hard because you can’t bring your horse to the store to try them out haha
That's the best saddle fitting video I've ever watched, thank you!
I am truly grateful for those awesome tips. I just need a small clarification if you may. Should the fit of the saddle be 100% all the time because if so, every horse need a custom made saddle. If not, what are the thing we can comprise? Thats for educational purpose no arguing intended. Thank you very much.
I've heard people say they use half pads if the saddle doesnt fit 100%. I use a saddle that fits my horse (this is a guess in %) 98% and I use one and it fits him 100% with it on.
Hi @F E, in a perfect world every horse would have a custom saddle! However, we know that every rider is trying to do the best for their horse with the tools they have, and we would recommend working with a reputable saddle fitter in your area to determine what’s best for your horse. Often certain pads can be used to help mitigate fit issues, but an equine professional that can put hands on your horse and on your saddle will be the best resource for your specific saddle and horse! -SmartPaker Jenna
I think that wither and shoulder clearance are the most important aspects, but it does depend on the horse and the saddle!
Kate did a saddle fitting on my horse, and he has a Mattes half pad with shims in the summer, and a dressage pad alone in his heavy months. She has seen him twice, once in late winter and once in late spring. The half pad has made it possible for one saddle to fit both of his sizes.
I have looked into barefoot saddles, as they adjust with the horse.
This video is so helpful - I know it’s slightly different but I am learning how to tack up and never really understood where the saddle should sit, someone would just say “that’s fine” but know I know where and why it should sit where it does - really helpful! Thank you!
This was easy and informative.. Very helpful with the green dots..
Wish I had TH-cam in the 80's when I had my first horses. I would've been able to be such a better horse owner. I guess the best thing is to load up your horse and take it to the tack shop otherwise how many times would you be doing returns?
I found this video really helpful, thank you.
So interesting! Thanks for posting!
Excellent video, very clear explanations. Thanks for the tips!
Wow this is an amazing explanation of saddle fitting!
Really nice and simple! 😊
Thank you sooooo much SmartPak!
This is an AMAZING video. Thank you so much!
this is very helpful! i’m trying a saddle this saturday and will put these tips to use!
Fantastic video - very clear and to the point.
Thank you, brilliant video!!!
Superb video - so informative! Thank you
Thank you - wonderful video!
Well done and Thank you for this thorough demonstration🌟
Thanks this really helped
Literally the best video I’ve seen on saddle fitting thanks!
This video so perfectly summed everything (in an English manner) up for me! I’m a complete beginner and felt like I was falling forward when walking around so now I’m going to check my saddle which supposedly fit, but now I know what exactly I’m looking for!! Thank you!
I have watched several videos, this one is the best!
This is by far the clearest explanation I've seen. Thanks!
Thank you for this great video
This is so helpful, thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us, this was such an easy to understand clear video.
Really well done, thank you so much! Very clear explanation. If horses could, they would say this: thank you so much 👏👏👏♥️🐎
Awesome video very informative and easy to understand.
Thanks! Learned a lot
Absolutely the very best information with clear instructions! Thank you so very much Kate Ballard❤️
Thank you very much. Concise and to the point with great demonstration.
Fantastic video. Thank you.
This is a very helpful video! I certainly learned something about equine anatomical landmarks ☺️
This is the most informative saddle fitting video on TH-cam. Thank you for creating this!
This was wonderful!
Great video and very well explained
Brilliant video. Learnt more from this video than a million others!
This is one of the best saddle fitting videos I've seen. Well done 👏 ✔️
Super informative. Thank you so much!!!
Very informative video, thank you! I never knew how to fit an English saddle before. I sadly don't have my own horse any more, but maybe some day I can own one again and I will know what saddle to get now.
Very helpful!!!
Best one I've seen.
Thank you very much for this excellent instruction. I really need to call in a saddle fitter. Thank you.
Bought several saddles by now, and this have been my go-to for advice each time on proper fitting before calling in my local saddler!
That was really helpful, thank you!
Best saddle fitting for English I've come across. Thank you.
Very good information! Thank you!
Just checked and ..... HALLELUJAH !!!!! It fits perfectly !! Thanks for the video ❤️❤️
Such an educational video.
This is so helpful thank you!!
Excellent video!
Great video! Very informative.
Excellent informative video!
Well done introductory video.
Just happened to find you, great learning video which is what I am looking for. I agree with Zapporah, good explanation with using visuals. Thank you. Liked, subbed, alarmed.
thank you so much for this
Kate Ballard I’d the BEST! Love my saddle ❤❤❤
Amazing Video!!! Greetings from Brazil
great saddle fitting video!
Great video, thanks !
Thank you!
I appreciate this video greatly ❤thank you
Awesome video!
Fantastic thankyou 😀
Wonderful, thank you :)
Thanks!
Thank you for the video, very clear and succinct. Buying and fitting a saddle is a nightmare
Really educational
Learned alot
very helpful thx!
Love this video explanation! I've watched so many, and never found one that gave clear enough details for me to feel confident enough to try it out on my own.
What are the chances you've done one for western, too? 😇
Helpful👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Fantastic very business like brilliant thank you!
I like this video that you do
Hi Kate @Smartpak Thanks in advance, I have referred to this vid several times! I have a question/comment... So I am to be clear: the saddle size i.e.: 17.5" Wintec 500 CC is not a measurement for the rider; rather it is for the horse weight bearing area for English purposes? Glad to have your services at Smartpak!
Amazing 🤩
Very useful and informative video. Thank you very much. So the upper part of the saddle should not touch the horse's back? Should it be tried initially on bare skin?
Thank you!! this helps so much my horse is a rescue and the saddle I got the rescue fit it on him while he was a little skinny now his saddle is losing its fit and this helped so much to get the right size for him
That's what happened to my gelding which is why I had to get a half pad. I would get a new saddle but since it fits perfectly with the half pad I don't see a point in buying another saddle
Hannah Marie My saddle fits perfect with a half pad as well but my saddle is 30 years old and need repair is done in those repairs are quite expensive and we don’t have a place where we can get it fixed so instead of spending the money to get mine repaired my parents might get me a new one for my birthday
That and my saddle doesn’t have a changeable Gillett and my horse has huge Withers
Tysm
What are some tips when buying a used saddle online and not being able to try it on your horse first?
This video is so interesting and wonderful! Thank you.
Could you please do another one of these but for a western saddle? Thank you!!
Yes it's clear which saddles fit when the horse is standing squarely on a level surface with all his back muscles at rest, but, does it all still fit and works for him while in motion? When a horse is in motion the shape of their backs can change dramatically.
I think thats why at the end of the video its mentioned that the next step would be to see the horse in motion with a rider.
That's my point though. If you fit to the horse at rest the chance of the saddle fitting well enough to allow for complete range of motion is unlikely. There will most certainly be pressure points and areas where there is little contact. Add to that the pad and its thickness and you could have a mess. I've learned over the years that fitting my horse to saddle that is a few centimeters wider than their backs and adding a pad with shims to lift the front of the saddle up off their shoulders just enough to allow full range of motion makes
a world of difference to their comfort and stride.
These fitting terms were created so when the horse is in motion, the saddle will still fit. For example, the 3 finger wither clearance rule. When the rider’s weight is in the saddle and the horse is moving, there will be less than 3 fingers clearance. But the fit will still be appropriate because this was taken into account during the fitting. Extra clearance was needed when the horse was still to allow for the rider’s weight and the horses movement
Thank you very much. If horses could talk they would thank you too
I need one of these for Western saddles
Do these same rules apply to western saddles?
Hi @maple 1, thanks for your question! This video is intended to be a guideline for horses using English-style saddles. We would not recommend using the same principles for Western-style saddles as those are intended to fit differently and work differently with horse and rider. We’ll be sure to pass your interest in seeing a video about Western-style saddle fit along to the right team here for future consideration, too! -SmartPaker Jenna
Maple 1 no, western saddles mainly span across the whole back (which you probably already know)
@@smartpak I would be interested as well. I currently have a sports saddle which may fit similar. Thank you for the video on English saddles! It was very informative!
This is a super good video! I kind youtuber named Elena Angel showed me this, I definitely think this video will help me out :))
so is the same true for fitting a western saddle - ie 8 and 18? this was great by the way
In England, the saddle fitters come to you! They also have better all in one truck/trailer combos. America is waaay behind. 🤔😢
I just pick up an Australian saddle from an estate sale that is similar to an English saddle. Would I follow the same method in your video on my horses?
Hello I really liked your video! I have a dressage pony and we noticed that after riding there is no space under the saddle around the shoulder and it moves forward after riding. Our dressage saddle was purchased and fitted just for my pony however now our saddle fitter is not sure what to do and only suggested a tail holder connected to the saddle but wasn’t sure about it either. This saddle was purchased 2 years ago. Would you have any tips? Is there any other way I can contact you? Thank you 😊
Can you please explain the “two fingers on either side” part? I didn’t quite get what you mean by that because the angle of the clip was unclear💔 Thank you very much for this video!
What about someone that needs a size 18 saddle, but it is too long for the horse? Are their alternatives?
Informative but I woud also like to see added onto this making sure the saddle fits the rider. What do you do if the saddle fits the horse but not necessarily the rider
If you get a saddle that is very close to being perfect but not quite are there things you can do to fix it? I know you can sometimes use a half pad to help but is there anything the saddle fitter can do?