Cordia Pearson

Society of Master Saddlers Qualified Saddle Fitter

Saddle Pads, The Best & The Brightest!

Now, a few words about saddle pads, . . 

1^st  Cleanliness is all.  Wash the buggers! Frequently, especially when the weather makes for sweaty riding.  If you haven’t got time for an all over groom, go for the gold everywhere that saddle and your leg will be touching your horse’s body.

2^nd  You can’t fix a saddle fitting problem with pads.  No if’s, an’s, but’s or maybe’s.  In short, don’t be thinking that if your saddle is too small, you can make things all better with a thicker pad.

3^rd  You can’t cure a training problem with a "therapeutic" pad.  What you can do is make your saddle sit still upon your horse's back and reduce the shock of a ride by using a ThinLine Pad on top of your cotton pad.  For more info, click here: ThinLine Pads

4^th  In an ideal situation, where the saddle fits like a glove, you’ll need less pad, not more.  (Or none at all if you are riding English Pleasure!)

And last, but not least, . . .

1^st The saddle fitting problem you solve today may well need resolving six months from now. Mary Wanless, the respected British riding teacher has written a book titled For The Good of the Horse.  In it, she recounts the story of a horse who went through seven saddle tree size increases!  The theory behind this experiment states that a horse will muscle up their back until muscle meets the saddle tree/bars, then back off slightly and go into a holding pattern.  If the rider is unaware of this, their horse will not develop their back more (and may start evidencing the training problems I described earlier.)  In my own experience, I have a mare who has gone from a 30 cm tree, to a 32 cm tree to a 36 cm tree!  Late breaking news!!!  And now, she's in a custom made.  Folks, this lady emptied out the "off the rack" stock.  She is a 15.3 hh Morgan, but needs a Warmblood size tree! This 6 + cm back growth has occurred over 3 years of training.

2^nd If your horse is fat, and becomes fit, you will have to deal with this change using more padding.  Stay awake to the fact that this fit horse will be growing back muscles as you continue to train them and that extra padding will need to go, making room for the new back muscle.

3^rd  The saddle fitting problems you solve in the summer may well not hold over winter if your horse "hibernates" over the winter, i.e.. does not remain in work.  The back muscles may "retreat," the horse may put on fat or lose weight. In short, take nothing for granted!

If, at any time, you need more help fitting your horse, you may write me at Saddlefitter@gmail.com or call the farm at 651-462-5654.

THE SADDLEFITTER © 2008  Call  (651) 462-5654 for questions or to order