Home » Pets & Animals » Horses » Horse Health

Saddling of Horses

Ranked #12,982 in Pets & Animals, #343,248 overall

A major welfare issue

Horses were not created to be ridden, in my opinion. When we put a saddle on them and ask them to do service for us, as they so willingly do, we must be very careful to ensure the comfort, health, welfare and safety of the horse.

In my almost 40 years of practice life in the UK, it is a source of great sadness to have to say that my experience is that comfortable saddling is not the norm. This is rarely the result of neglectful or careless owners and riders.

Despite a plethora of saddlers and saddle fitters, horses are being caused pain and injury all around the country. Hence this lens.

Many horses will accept the problem without complaint but almost always display the problem in posture, gait and body language. A few horses object to the problem and can be labelled as 'ungenuine' or badly behaved.

The issues we too commonly meet

Saddling is possibly one of the largest welfare issues facing horses in the UK. It is especially poignant, since most careful owners and riders go to great lengths to do the best they can for their horses. Sadly, however, a large proportion of the saddles sold and fitted at great expense are unsuitable, on one or more counts.

There follows a list of the most common faults we find. The first part of the list details manufacturing and repair faults and the last few items are to do with the fit of the saddle.
  • Panelling uneven
  • Panelling lumpy
  • Panelling unsymmetrical
  • Stirrup bars unsymmetrical
  • Girth straps unsymmetrical
  • Tree twisted
  • Points of tree unprotected
  • Tree cluttered beneath panelling, with hard protuberances
  • Stirrup bars pinching the horse
  • Gullet too narrow
  • Point straps
  • Gullet not central
  • Tree too narrow
  • Panelling impinging in unsuitable areas
  • Saddle tipped back
  • Saddle bounces
  • Girth comfort

Some of the health conditions that can arise from sub-standard saddling

Many of these are wholly avoidable
  • Saddle sores
  • Rubs on the back causing hair loss
  • Lameness
  • Spavin
  • Navicular disease
  • Distal limb degenerative disorders
  • Nodular skin disease
  • Back problems
  • Incorrect outline
  • Neck problems
  • Wasted wither
  • Sore back muscles or back pain
  • Kissing spines
  • Spinal and pelvic misalignment

Areas that should not experience pressure

Saddling problemsThe areas in the wither region that are unable to tolerate the pressure of saddling are marked roughly with red crosses..

Sadly, it is all-too-often that these are the very areas that are asked to take the most pressure. This is because it is easier to fit a saddle tightly gripping the wither, so that it can remain stable, than it is to panel it correctly for a secure but wider fit.

Areas that can tolerate evenly-distributed pressure of saddling

Saddling issuesThe areas of a horse's back that can tolerate saddling loads are the flat areas behind the wither, behind the shoulder blade (allowing free movement of the shoulder) and not too close to the spine. These areas are marked in green.

Military saddles

British Military SaddlesIt is interesting to note that a military saddle fits the horse as described in an ideal case. They have panels that sit on the flat part of the horse's back and spread the load over a wide area.

These saddles are not suitable for all the variety of tasks we ask of horses but the principle could be used to advantage in other applications.

Western saddles may also be able to spread the load comfortably but can be very heavy.

Summary

Stirrup bars unlevel, resulting in rider unsymmetryIf a horse objects to saddling or girthing, holds his head too high or too low, has a short stride, cannot 'engage' his hind legs, hollows his back or tail swishes, it is more likely to be a result of saddling faults than bad behaviour.

It is not just the horse that suffers. The rider can suffer too, with neck, back and leg problems caused by bad symmetry.

____________________________________________________

The author is independent of commercial interest or sponsorship and cannot endorse any products or advertising material attached to this lens.

For more information, visit AVMC's information website (over 600 pages).

Chris Day - holistic vet - runs the Alternative Veterinary Medicine Centre in Oxfordshire (AVMC) in Oxfordshire, UK.

Do you have or know a horse?

Does he or she resist saddling, show other traits described in this lens or have a narrow wither?

Loading

Yes, I wondered what the problem was

Annamadagan says:

My horses I ride are very cooopertive. I love them!

Yes but I can't find a saddle to fit properly

karmicchristian says:

I love race horses. I can tell when they are not comfortable. :)

 

My Horse Health Lenses

horseJust hit the title to open the lens of your choice

Laminitis in Ponies

Headshaking in Horses

Acupuncture for Horses and Ponies

Homeopathy for Horses and Ponies

Herbal Medicine for Animals

Back Problems in Horses and Ponies

Moonblindness - ERU

Arthritis in Horses and Ponies

How to give Homeopathic Medicines to Dogs, Cats and Horses

Saddling - How saddling can affect horse health and welfare

Let me know you visited please

  • karmicchristian May 19, 2011 @ 12:49 pm | delete
    Very nice to see the sensitive side of you Chris, esp. to the animals who don't work for money, but for love. :) Good day.
  • ChrisDay May 19, 2011 @ 11:47 pm | delete
    Yes, this is the part of the work that can be extremely rewarding but distressing at times too.
  • Margo_Arrowsmith Apr 24, 2011 @ 6:21 am | delete
    I will pass this on to someone I know who has a horse.
  • ChrisDay Apr 25, 2011 @ 12:35 am | delete
    I hope it's of help - we find this to be a real problem for so many horses.
  • Annamadagan Mar 10, 2011 @ 11:44 am | delete
    I visited! Haha, this lens is good.
  • Load More
Show All

Link List

The website of the AVMC
Information on Alternative Medicine, Holistic Medicine, Natural Medicine and Animal Welfare (over 600 pages)
Website saddling page
A page dedicated to saddling issues

Amazon stuff

Loading

by

ChrisDay

All My Lenses: http://www.squidoo.com/chrisdays-lensography.
I am also now on Amplify.com: http://chrisday.amplify.com/
Wishing you the very best of good... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags