Why Use a Saddle and Does The Type/Fit Really Matter?

Archeological evidence suggests that horseback riding originated around 4000 BC. However, European cave paintings have been discovered since that depict horses wearing something similar to a halter long before domestication was thought to have occurred. In either regard, horses were ridden bareback or on pieces of cloth until about 500 BC when Scythians began developing lightweight and treeless saddles (Greve, 2013). These saddles consisted of two long pads stuffed with hair or grass which were joined over the top of the horses back by a piece of leather. This was done to distribute the rider's bodyweight off the spine and onto the horse's dorsal muscles and underlying ribs (Edwards, 1987). A treed saddle was later created in a further attempt to improve the horse's performance and provide rider stability. The development of saddles whose frames were constructed from wood, which inspired our Military, Western, South American, Endurance and Austrian Stock Saddles, came around in the first century AD and made way for today's enormous variety of horse saddle types. 

The history and development of the horse saddle are important to consider because they show that avoidance of spinal pressure was a principal understood early on. Back pain and dysfunction are common causes of poor performance in horses; such as decreased speed on the racetrack, reluctance to work or resistance to collect in competition horses (Zimmerman, 2011), and poor saddle fit has long been associated with such back pain (Harman, 1997; Meschan, 2007; Piemen, 2010; Medjell, 2012). This type of back pain is usually a consequence of sore muscles or tissue damage but can indicate or lead to more damaging conditions, such as thoracolumbar osseous pathology (damage to the spine), if ignored (Gillen, 2009; Girodroux, 2009; and Meehan, 2009). Another major concern is the risk of vascular occlusion (a blood clot or other blockage) which can lead to oxygen and nutrient deprivation for the underlying tissue. Muscles are particularly vulnerable to this kind of pressure-induced injury (Linder-Ganz, 2006). A recent large-scale study, examining dressage horses, reported 25% as having had a history of back-related problems (Murray, 2010). Furthermore, improper positioning (even of a well-fitted saddle), has been found to cause back pain in many horses (Harman, 1995). Harman (1997) investigated thirty clinical cases where performance problems were related to back pain and found that the saddle fit correctly in only five cases. The most common problem observed was bridging, where the rider's weight is concentrated on the front and rear of the saddle panels while the middle is relatively unloaded. Saddle fit is a complex issue which requires consideration of the varied and multi-demensional shape of the horse's back, how morphology and mechanics change with each gait and rider kinetics.

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Many times when looking to buy a saddle, the rider's comfort is the primary thought. The horse's comfort is equally important and often overlooked. In-fact, for optimal performance, the saddle must fit both the horse and rider well. A horse whose saddle fits properly is likely to move fluidly and with ease while being more cooperative and willing in training, because they are not experiencing restricted or painful movement. Lameness and back pain, however, have been shown to alter the biomechanics of the spine in addition to the center of gravity (Gomez, Wennerstrand). This may predispose the rider to back pain and stiffness (Lagarde, 2005; and Symes, 2009) as well as result in saddle slippage which has been shown to induce focal areas of increased pressure beneath the saddle (Lagarde, 2005; deCocq, 2006; Symes, 2009; and Greve, 2012). One study examining the direct correlation between saddle slip and lameness, found that 54% percentage of horses with hindlimb lameness induced saddle slip to the lame side (Greve, 2013). When provided with a painkiller, only two horse's saddles continued to slip, both of which were found to be asymmetrically flocked. These finding are significant because they imply that, not only can poor saddle fit and slippage cause chronic lameness, it could also be an indicator of mild and otherwise undetected/undiagnosed hindlimb lameness. Rider pain and stiffness can induce rider crookedness, which has been shown to disturb the balance plus synchrony of the horse (Symes, 2009), and impact the rider's ability to follow the horse's movement resulting in exacerbated thoracolumbar pain as well as lameness. Rider stability, position, balance and symmetry are all influenced by saddle fit to the horse (Peham, 2004 and Monkemoller, 2005). A poorly fitted saddle can cause a vicious pain cycle for both horse and rider. This is why it is incredibly important that a saddle fit both the horse and it's rider so as to enable balanced, comfortable, and harmonious movement.

English v.s. Western v.s. Treeless or bareback?

Contrary to what some believe, a Western saddle is not defined by its horn. In fact, many western influenced saddles don't have a horn at all such as endurance and bronco saddles. These saddles can be distinguished from English ones by their deep seat, high cantle, prominent pommel, wide fenders and large stirrups. In contrast, the English saddle is smaller and usually has a more shallow seat. In addition, English saddles use different girths/stirrups as well as have protective and oftentimes padded flaps beneath the riders legs. In a well fitted Western saddle, the weight of a 150lb. rider is distributed 3/4 of a pound per square inch as compared to 1 3/4 pounds in the English saddle (Monty, 2010). This means that, despite their additional weight, Western saddles can actually be easier on a horse's back. However, saddle type should be determined based on your individual horse's conformation (for example, a horse with a short back may have a difficult time carrying a long Western saddle) and the desired discipline (a high pommel or horn would be a real hinderance with competitive jumping). English saddles are designed to be lightweight and encouraging of closer contact between horse and rider. These are desirable traits for most competitive riding, where movement must be fluid and communications subtle. Western saddles definitely have their advantages as a working tool though, where there provide both a greater sense of security and comfort. These traits, on the other hand, make them a popular pick for beginner riders. The biggest difference between these riding types lies not in the saddle but in the bit use and rein contact. So choose a saddle depending on the type of riding you'll be doing but, most importantly, select one that both you and your horse are comfortable using.

A treed saddle, when properly fitted, can spread load. However, the rigid frame cannot adapt to the changes in the horse's morphology during locomotion. A variety of methods have been implemented to try to address this problem such as padding, flocking or a flexible tree. In addition, a few "treeless" saddles are on the market which are designed to accommodate a wider range of conformations while providing a more dynamic and adaptable interface between the horse and rider. These claims were not supported in multiple studies examining the pressure distribution beneath a treeless saddle (Lotif, 2010; Belock, 2012). Belock et al.'s study comparing conventional and treeless saddles, found the treeless one to be an inferior fit on every horse. This conclusion was supported by its smaller weight bearing area, focal pressure points directly beneath the rider's seat bones, and an overall higher pressure concentration when compared to the treed saddle (Belock, 2012). In addition, a study examining the effects of bareback riding concluded that, while it resulted in lower total force, it was still associated with a higher than average pressure concentration on the horse's epaxial musculature- something which was not evident with saddle use (Clayton, 2013).

What about saddle pads?

Western, English and even treeless saddles are all designed to be used with some form of padding underneath. Saddle pressure studies are generally conducted without the use of a pad, so Hawson et al. (2013) set out to determine the affect of different pad types of saddle fit. A recent study measured pressure points beneath a correctly fitting saddle and a variety of pad types (gel, cowhide leather, foam, reindeer fur) and found that the lowest mean pressure was associated with the reindeer fur and leather but that none of the pads reduced pressure significantly compared to using no padding (Kotschwar, e. 42). However, when examining excessively wide saddles in a different study, Kotschwar found foam and gel pads to provide the most pressure relief during a walk while the reindeer fur proved its benefit at a trot. In summary, while the pressure measured varied with pad type and gait, the pads tested consistently did not reduce acting forces or improve pressure distribution in most horses (Kotschwar, e. 184). Furthermore, Harman (2004) determined that using thicker padding than intended for that saddle type could lead to increased pressure points, as it further narrowed the fit of the saddle. It has been suggested that the use of layers under a poorly fitted saddle can temporarily reduce discomfort. However, often times, all the pad is doing is relocating the damaging pressure points so this is not a good permanent fix (Harman, Bystom, Hofmann, Balticus). The best thing to do is to start off with a well-fitted saddle.

The 9 Points of Saddle Fit:

                                          1. Saddle Position

Make sure your horse is standing squarely. Place the saddle on your horses back (without a pad), slightly forward of the withers and tug it backwards and down. You'll find that the saddle "locks in" in the same place each time, this is the correct position. 

Many riders place the saddle too far forward, pinching the shoulders and restricting movement. The shoulder blade can move up to three inches when in motion, so take this into condition as well. 

                                              2. Level Seat

Make sure that the lowest point of the saddle is centered between the front(pommel) and back (cantle).

When the deepest point if too far back: the rider slides or leans forward to compensate, causing the horse to hollow its back. If too far forward: the rider braces against their leg to prevent from being pitched forward, therefore diminishing the effectivity of leg aids. 

                              3. Pommel-to-Cantle Relationship 

The saddle's cantle should be slightly higher than the pommel to provide both comfort and support 

You should also check for "rocking", which concentrated the rider's weight in one or two small areas on the horses back. You can do this by placing one hand on the pommel and the other on the cantle, alternating which you push down with. If the saddle rotates excessively like a seesaw, the flocking is likely uneven or the tree width may be incorrect. 

                                4. Clearance Under the Pommel 

There should be around three fingers' width clearance between the horses's withers and the saddle pommel. 

                                            5. Point Angel's 

Tree width is the most important aspect when evaluating saddle fit and is determined by the saddle tree's points. These points are in front of the billet straps and can sometimes be identifies by a pocket under the saddle's flaps. 

                                            6. Panel Pressure

With the saddle in place, use one hand to apply pressure to the seat in order to simulate a rider's weight. Using the other hand, check for any uneven or concentrated pressure points by running you hand from top to bottom (at the front, checking width) and front to back (at the top, checking panels) underneath the saddle. 

                                          7. Gullet Clearance


Standing at the horse's hindquarters, look down and through the saddle (the gullet comprises of the space between the two panels). The gullet should clear the the spine and collective tissue throughout the whole length of the saddle. Apply pressure to the saddle seat to ensure there would still be adequate clearance when ridden. 

                                        8. Length of the Saddle

The weight-bearing surface of the saddle should be between the withers and vertebrae T18, which can be found by tracing the horse's last rib up to its spine. The area behind this point is the weakest part of the horse's back, its lumbar region.

                                           9. Horse's Response

One of the easiest and often overlooked ways for evaluating saddle fit is to note any change in your horse's behavior. It may be as subtle as a horse which once moved freely and without hesitation simply isn't "going right" anymore, you may notice a horse fidgeting as you approach with their saddle and nipping/pinning its ears when the girth is tightening, or a horse may even begin bucking while being ridden. 

                                              *Extra Tip*

All horses are asymmetrical- with 80% being "left-handed". Usually the dominant side is opposite the horse's mane, however, this is not always the case so it is important to check. Stand directly behind the horse, on a bucket if need be, and look down their back. You will notice one shoulder is more developed than the other. It is important to keep this in mind when saddle fitting, as the horse may require additional padding on the other side to prevent saddle slippage and uneven weight distribution. 

Signs of a Poorly-Fitted Saddle:

• Muscle atrophy - especially in the shoulders and topline. 
• Sores - pressure points can lead to rubbing and even raw spots *.
  
• Pain - if the horse hollows their back or pulls away while being palpated. 
• Dry spots - sweat post-workout should be evenly distributed beneath the saddle. 
  
• Swelling - areas beneath the saddle may temporarily swell during and after riding **.
  
• White hairs - pressure points cans top blood flow, kill sweat glands and cause the hair to turn white. 

* Can also be caused by friction from dirt/hair build-up, so make sure to brush your horse before riding and to clean your saddle pads regularly. 

** You can diminish the risk of this by leaving the saddle on with a lose girth for a few extra minutes while you brush down or cool off your horse. 

It's important to also listen to your own body and what the horse is telling you. If you feel insecure or off balance in a particular saddle, try another one. If your horse is pinning its ears, swishing its tail, tossing its head, or fidgeting while being tacked and mounted, they may simply be trying to tell you that the saddle is uncomfortable. If he/she is bucking or rearing under saddle, evaluate for poor saddle fit or injury before concluding that it's simply a behavioral issue. Sometimes these behaviors are a pain response and can be resolved easily with a change in equipment used.
 ← Photo of a horse with severe saddle sores.