Getting a correctly fitted saddle

STOP PRESS!!!!! Matthew has just become an agent/retailer for Stubben saddles and tack. "Stockport Stubben" will be up and running very soon and you can order tack now or arrange a saddle fitting immediately. Matthew will travel to fit anywhere in the UK. Please call 07930 840 780 anytime to arrange a consultation.

Heritage bespoke saddles are made to fit you and your horse perfectly.

What Is The Correct Fit?
What we are looking for is a saddle that sits level, puts the rider in balance and does not injure the horse by being too narrow or too wide - the majority of injuries occur with saddles that are too narrow.
We need our saddle to sit clear of the withers with the ideal being a clearance of two to three fingers. With correct clearance one should be able to draw an imaginary level line from the top of the pommel through the middle of the cantle.
The deepest part of the seat should be directly behind the 'twist' of the saddle. This puts the rider in the correct balanced position. If the saddle is level, this is naturally where the deepest part occurs.

Too Narrow?
However if the saddle is too narrow, the pommel will be too high at the front throwing the rider's weight to the rear and putting weight and pressure through the loin area of the horse. The rider will also be unbalanced tipping forward in consequence.
The panels (the soft pads under the saddle) will probably also 'bridge.' By bridging we mean that there is not full contact by the panels all along the length of the saddle onto the horse's back. This in turn distributes the rider's weight only at the front and back of the saddle creating harmful pressure points in both of these areas.

Too Wide?
The saddle that is too wide is not such a common occurrence but nevertheless is to be avoided. If the pommel sits down lower than two fingers height from the withers, the saddle will more than likely be tipped forward out of balance. A saddle that is too low at the pommel will possibly create damage to the horse's withers. You will more than likely also find that there will be a gap between the panels and the horses back under the area of the seat of the saddle, so the rider's weight yet again is not distributed through the full length of the panels onto the horse's back.

Correct Fit?
The saddle that fits correctly will sit level with two to three fingers height clearance between the pommel and the withers. This is with the rider seated and the saddle girthed up correctly. One must also make an allowance that as all of our saddle panels are stuffed with 100% pure English wool, they will settle down - possibly as much as 1/2" or thereabouts during the first couple of months, depending on the weight of the rider and the frequency and length of use. The points of the saddle should lie down the flanks of the horse and not dig into the shoulders. The panels should be in contact the whole length of the horse's back so there is no bridging.