The Importance of Saddle Fit For Equine Health

The topic of saddle fit’s importance to the health, performance, and welfare of horses remains as pertinent today as it was in the nineteenth century, when professional cavalry officers invested a great deal of time and precision into the fitting of military saddles. The principles behind saddle fitting remain unchallenged by time, but they are not always sufficiently acknowledged or understood in the modern era.

The nuances of saddle fitting are akin to wearing shoes of inappropriate size or using wrongly-sized golf clubs. Just as these instances can result in discomfort and impede performance, misuse of the saddle fitting can cause otherwise preventable problems.

The Impact of Improper Saddle Fit

Just as with any sport or recreational activity, using equipment that suits one’s physique and ability is crucial. The principle is similar when it comes to equine activities, where poor saddle fit can impact both horse and rider negatively in various ways.

Effects on the horse include:

Chronic Back Pain: A poorly fitted saddle can lead to unending discomfort and back pain in a horse, severely limiting their ability to perform tasks.
Behavioral Problems: Often, horses exhibit disobedience or seem difficult to control because they are reacting to pain caused by a saddle that doesn’t fit correctly.
Diminished Performance: A horse experiencing discomfort or pain will not be able to perform at its best, leading to disappointment for the owner or rider.

Effects on the rider include:

Decreased Riding Efficiency: A poorly fitted saddle does not provide a stable base for the rider, reducing overall riding efficiency.
Increased Health Risk: An ill-fitting saddle can risk the rider’s health, causing problems such as back pain, joint pain, and balance issues.
Wasted Time and Resources: Often, riders spend unproductive months or even years trying to train horses that are suffering from discomfort caused by an incorrect saddle fit.

Economic Implications

Investing in horses has become more costly over the years. Horses are being purchased at higher prices, and land for keeping these horses is increasingly expensive. Hence, the cost of maintaining horses has become considerably high, whether one is in the horse business for profit or personal pleasure.

Owing to these factors, it is understandably disappointing when a horse does not perform as expected. Such performance issues are often the result of pain and discomfort resulting from poorly fitted saddles, rather than the horse’s inherent capabilities.

Advocacy for Equine Welfare

‘Equine welfare’ expands beyond merely saving horses that are evidently distressed or malnourished. It also incorporates other aspects such as averting any source of discomfort or pain for horses arising from practices that can be avoided. The importance of saddle fit cannot be overstated in this regard. Horses often face rough treatment for behavioral issues that are simply reactions elicited by the pain they experience due to improperly fitted saddles. Recognizing this correlation can prevent unnecessary suffering for horses and improve the quality of their lives.

Indicators of Proper Saddle Fit

Determining the right fit for a saddle often comes down to subjective observations and feelings. A fit saddle creates a noticeable difference in the comfort and performance of the horse and rider.

Signs of Correct Saddle Fit

An appropriately fitted saddle lends a more pleasurable and less strenuous riding experience. A sense of comfort that is just right, akin to slipping into an ideal pair of shoes, is often indicative of a well-fitted saddle.

Features of a correct saddle fit:

Rider comfort: You sit on your horse with ease, not struggling to find a spot where you can relax and balance well.
Effective horse-rider communication: The saddle does not inhibit your horse’s understanding of your aids; instead, it enhances communication.
Positive riding instructor feedback: Your riding instructor compliments your riding ability, and recurring correctional comments diminish.
Horse Comfort and Performance: Your horse is relaxed, enthusiastic, and can execute specific maneuvers fluidly.

Consequences of Incorrect Saddle Fit

Riding in a saddle that does not fit properly may lead to a constant struggle to maintain balance and can result in discomfort or pain. Typically, it also hampers your riding position and overall performance.

Indicators of a poor saddle fit:

Struggle for balance: With a poorly fitted saddle, maintaining balance becomes a continuous challenge during horse riding.
Persistent discomfort or pain: Riders often experience pain, wrongly attributing it to their riding skills, when in fact, it is due to the saddle’s improper fit.
Negative feedback from instructors: Instructors often point out the same positioning mistakes repeatedly.
Problems in the horse’s performance: Horses wearing an ill-fitting saddle may resist or seem less willing to perform certain tasks. It becomes challenging for them to respond correctly to aids as they are focused on the discomfort they feel.

An ill-fitting saddle also increases the chances of horse injuries. The horse hits the ground with more force, putting increased stress on their lower legs, culminating in potential lameness. Unexplained lower-leg problems in a horse, unalleviated by veterinary treatment, may, therefore, be a likely indicator of poor saddle fit. Although the pain originates in the back because of an ill-fitting saddle, it often manifests in the form of lower-leg issues.

Functionality and Issues of a Horse’s Back

The back of a horse plays a pivotal role in its ability to perform certain movements and carry a rider. While horses possess some inherent grace and physicality, certain environmental factors like saddles and riding significantly influence their motions.

Free Movement in Horses

Occasionally, a horse can be observed running unrestrained, employing its back correctly, and even enacting postures seen only in high-level dressage horses ridden by skilled riders. However, this demonstration of natural capacity is often fleeting, and observed only while the horse is highly excited and unladen by a saddle.

Probable causes of hindered movement:

Limited periods of free movement: Generally, unencumbered and efficient motion is observed only for a short period when the horse is significantly animated.
Physiological abnormalities: Many horses travel with stiffness, ewe-necked and hollow-back—a movement issue often instigated or exacerbated by discomfort or pain.
Influence of ill-fitting saddle: Approximately 75 percent of the associated pain is caused by a poorly fitting saddle.
Rider’s impact: The addition of the rider often complicates this problem.

Circle of Muscles

The horse’s musculoskeletal system function and ability to bear a rider predominantly depend on the ‘circle of muscles’ in the horse’s back.

In her book, Horse Gaits, Balance, and Movement, Susan Harris describes the interconnectedness of the horse’s head, neck, back, and hindquarters as a circle of muscles.

Indicators of proper use of the circle of muscles:

Ease of movement: The horse’s movement appears effortless.
Synchronized muscle contraction: Abdominal and hind-leg muscles (the lower half of the circle) contract, allowing the back muscles (the upper half) to function freely.
Visible physical cues: These include the rising of its back, dropping of its head, an extension of its neck, and softening of the back muscles.
Direction of movement: The movement follows a progressive and uplifted direction, through the sternum.
Audible observations: Careful listening to a horse in an indoor arena can divulge if the horse is using itself appropriately by the volume of its footfalls. Less noise indicates the horse is lighter on its feet and is moving more correctly than a horse with loud, heavy footsteps.

Complications from Incorrect Use of Back Muscles in Horses

A horse’s ability to engage its muscles properly significantly impacts its movement and overall well-being. When this balance is disrupted due to pain or discomfort, the performance, coordination, and demeanour of the horse are detrimental.

Impact of Poor Muscle Engagement

If a horse is in pain, the reflexive response is the contraction of its back muscles. In this state, the horse’s back drops, becomes hollow, and its hind legs fail to engage effectively.

Effect of poor muscle engagement:

Alteration of spine posture: The horse’s back drops and becomes hollow.
Inefficient movement of hind legs: The hind legs cannot engage correctly which is crucial in maintaining balance and mobility.
Unnecessary strain on body parts: This hollow-backed position places unnatural strain on the stifles, hocks, tendons, suspensory ligaments, and feet.
Manifestation of lameness or soreness: Such strain may lead to lameness or soreness because the horse cannot engage its hindquarters or bring its hind legs up underneath its body appropriately.
Impairment of the Circle of Muscles: Prolonged improper riding or constant use of a poorly designed saddle can lead to underdevelopment of this crucial muscle group.

Indicators of Incorrect Muscle Usage

Hearing signs of resistance and tension may denote that the horse is not correctly using its back and abdominal muscles. The movement route, instead of being forward and upward, diverts downwards through the sternum, towards the ground.

Visible signs of incorrect muscle usage:

Signs of resistance and tension: Upon observation, these hallmarks are apparent in a horse that uses its muscles incorrectly.
Unusual movement pattern: Movement deviates down through the sternum towards the ground, instead of the proper forward and upward movement.
Prevalence: This improper usage of muscles is unfortunately prevalent as the proportion of ridden horses using their backs correctly is reportedly quite small.

Demonstrative Exercise for Understanding Incorrect Muscle Use

Understanding the adverse effects of incorrect back muscle use can be achieved through the following practical illustration:

Hold on to a sturdy structure for support.
Maintain a hollow back posture, stand on one foot, and bend your other knee.
Slowly lift the bent leg as high as you can.
Take care to avoid injury if your back is tight.
Now, round your back, tighten your abdominal muscles and observe how much higher you can raise your bent leg.
Compare the freedom your leg has when your back is rounded, to the stiffness in your hips and spine when your back is hollow.

This exercise offers an experiential understanding of the restriction in movement caused by incorrect muscle usage and highlights the significant difference proper muscle engagement can impart.

Equine Belly Lifts

Belly lifts are an efficient diagnostic method for evaluating a horse’s physical condition, particularly the curvature of their back. These tests, characterized by tactile pressure along the horse’s mid-abdominal line, help assess the horse’s muscle usage and overall comfort.

Procedure for Conducting Belly Lifts

To perform a belly lift, position yourself at the horse’s side and employ your fingertips, or a blunt tool such as a pen, to apply gentle pressure along the animal’s midsection. This pressure should ideally start in the girth area and move back towards the hind end of the horse.

Steps for conducting belly lifts:

Approach cautiously: Understand that a horse in pain might react aggressively to avoid discomfort.
Apply gentle pressure: Use your fingertips or the blunt end of a pen to apply light pressure along the midline of the horse’s abdomen.
Observe reactions: Pay attention to physical indications of the horse’s condition.

A typical horse’s response to belly lifts involves several physiological changes:

Contraction of abdominal muscles: The muscles in the stomach area will contract.
Relaxation of back muscles: The back muscles should loosen and soften.
Rising of the back: The horse’s back will physically lift upwards due to abdominal muscle contraction.
Stretching of the neck: The horse’s neck will drop and extend forward.

Interpreting Belly Lift Results

The horse’s reaction to the belly lift can provide crucial information regarding its physical wellness and muscle usage. By evaluating the exercise results, the horse can be classified into multiple response types.

Responses and their implications:

Proper Muscle Usage: If the horse’s response resembles the expected reactions, it suggests that the horse is using its circle of muscles correctly. These horses can benefit from periodic belly lifts for stretching purposes, but regular targeted exercises might not be necessary.
Flexibility with Dropped Back: If the horse raises its back one to three inches, it indicates that its back has dropped, but is still flexible. Regular exercises over a span of one to two months could be beneficial. In the absence of a positive change, the horse’s back may need treatment for pain.
Stiff Back: In cases where the horse’s back appears hollow and there is little to no response to the belly lift, this signifies severe stiffness. Assistance in treating this stiffness may be necessary.
Manifestations of Pain: Horses expressing distress, such as kicking, biting, swishing tail, or foot stomping, are likely in pain. Attempting to alleviate their discomfort through gentle abdominal scratching may be helpful. Encouraging the horse with treats might also promote a positive response. At this juncture, it is better to achieve a small lift while maintaining the horse’s relaxation than striving for a high lift that causes further muscle tension.

Each response type warrants specific attention and dictation towards further action, whether that be additional exercises, treatment, or seeking professional assistance.

Evaluation of a Horse’s Posture and Back Usage

Assessing a horse’s posture and the functionality of its back can offer vital insights into its physical health and comfort. Studying photos or videos of your horse alongside images of other horses in various phases of movement can assist with these evaluations.

Methodology for Posture Assessment

To evaluate your horse’s back usage, try examining photos of your horse alongside images of others in stationary positions and during movements. Noting the differences can provide valuable insights. Also, it may be advantageous to film the horse in motion, to examine possible irregularities in detail.

Steps for posture assessment are as follows:

Capture images or videos: Take photographs or videos of your horse while both stationary and in movement.
Compare to other horses: Inspect photos of other horses, in similar phases of their movements, to observe the differences in postures and use of back.
Use appropriate tools: Use a video player that supports pausing and capturing frames for close study.

When evaluating your horse while it is standing, follow the steps below.

Level Ground: Have the horse held by an assistant on a flat surface.
Natural Stance: Avoid forcing the horse into a specific posture. Instead, allow it to stand comfortably.
Variety of Stances: Have the horse move several times to assess if it repeatedly adopts the same posture.
Different Perspectives: Observe the horse from each side, the front, and the back from approximately 10 feet away.
Shoulder and Back Evaluation: Conduct this evaluation by standing at the horse’s tail and looking towards its ears.

These observations can significantly reveal the horse’s comfort level and even suggest the presence of pain or discomfort.

Identifying Unusual Postures

Unconventional or awkward postures may indicate that your horse is compensating for pain. By paying careful attention to the position of the back, legs, and neck, certain discomfort-relieving stances or signs can be identified.

Back: A swayed back, although often deemed a typical sign of aging, could suggest pain in horses under the age of eighteen.
Legs: Comfortable horses usually distribute their weight equally on all four legs. Resting either hind leg without displaying a preference for one could be ordinary behavior, but certain irregular stances might indicate an attempt to relieve pain. These include:
- Front legs extended and hind legs stretched out behind the usual position.
- Front and hind legs close together tucked underneath the body.
- Discomfort in maintaining one position for long periods.
Neck: An inverted (or ewe) neck could be a sign of poor conformation. These are characterized by excessively developed muscles along the neck’s underside and a diminished natural curve on the top. This condition often arises from persistent pain and stiffness.

Evaluation of a Horse’s Movement

In addition to observing a horse’s posture while stationary, assessing its movement can provide critical insights into its physical condition and how effectively it uses its back. Evaluations while the horse is in motion can offer detailed information about muscle engagement, posture changes, and the overall fluidity of motion. This section focuses particularly on observations made during the horse’s walk.

Assessing the Horse’s Walk

During the horse’s walk, correct use of the circle of muscles and back can be identified through specific signs. These might include appearing “filled out” behind the saddle and through the loins, lifted withers due to the back’s elevation, raised neck in a smooth upward line from the shoulders, and engaged and actively contracting abdominal muscles. The lines of motion in a correctly moving horse should flow upward and forward, providing the rider with a feeling of being “lifted up.”

Features indicating correct engagement during a walk:

Filled Out Posture: The horse should look “filled out” behind the saddle and through the loins.
Raised Withers: The horse’s withers should be elevated, indicating a lifted back.
Neck Position: The horse’s neck should rise smoothly from the shoulders.
Abdominal Engagement: The horse’s abdominal muscles should be engaged and actively contracting.
Direction of Motion: The lines of motion should flow upward and forward, creating a sense of “lift” for the rider.

However, not all horses exhibit these characteristics during their walk. For instance, the horse may appear hollow through the loins, with a similar hollowness seen in its neck starting at the dropped withers and ending at the poll. The abdominal muscles might appear relaxed and dropped. Resultantly, the lines of motion can flow downward through the front legs, making the rider feel a harsher connection with the saddle.

Features indicating incorrect engagement during a walk:

Hollowness: The horse appears hollow through the loins and neck.
Dropped Withers: The horse’s withers might be lowered.
Abdominal Relaxation: The horse’s abdominal muscles may appear relaxed and dropped.
Direction of Motion: The downward flow of motion lines through the front legs.

Even if the hind legs of the horse are well-positioned under it, many hollow-back horses may demonstrate a shorter stride and may not reach adequately under themselves. This movement suggests improper back usage and possibly discomfort in the horse.

Analyzing the Trot

The trot is a simpler, two-beat gait that can be analyzed more easily than the walk or the canter. During the trot, the proper engagement and use of the horse’s circle of muscles can be identified through some specific indicators, as well as the overall motion of the horse.

Correct Trot Movement

A horse that uses its circle of muscles correctly during a trot may exhibit the following physical characteristics:

Lumbar Area: Appears filled out in the lumbar region.
Withers: Comes upward through the withers.
Neck: Rises up out of the shoulders with the poll being the highest point.
Head Alignment: Maintains the correct head alignment.
Abdominal Muscles: Abdominal muscles are engaged.
Stride Length: Exhibits a long stride.
Hind Leg Tracking: The hind leg tracks up into the hoof print of the foreleg.
Overall Motion: Appears to be upward and forward in motion.

Incorrect Trot Movement

On the other hand, a horse that is using its circle of muscles incorrectly during the trot may demonstrate the following traits:

Lumbar Area: Appears hollow in the lumbar region.
Withers: Withers have sunk downward.
Neck: Extends in a straight line upward from the lowered withers.
Head Alignment: Its nose is in front of the vertical line.
Abdominal Muscles: Abdominal muscles are relaxed and dropped.
Stride Length: Has a short stride.
Hind Leg Tracking: The hind foot lands behind the front foot’s hoof print.
Overall Motion: Moves in a stilted, downhill manner.

By verifying these physical characteristics and the motion of a horse during a trot, it is possible to evaluate if the horse is using its circle of muscles correctly, which can impact its overall performance and well-being.

Evaluating the Canter

Analyzing the canter can be more complex than the walk or trot due to the three distinct parts to the stride. Similar to observations made during trotting, the use of the horse’s circle of muscles can be determined by examining certain physical characteristics and the horse’s overall motion.

Correct Canter Movement

A horse moving correctly in a canter shows the following characteristics:

Overall Motion: Moves in a correct, forward, and upward manner even without a rider.
Withers: The horse “comes up” through its withers.
Hind Leg Position: The horse’s hind leg is reaching well under its body.
Neck Alignment: Despite a slight overbending at the poll, the neck shows an appropriate bend.

The correct movement characteristics seen at the trot (as mentioned in the previous section), such as the filled-out lumbar region and engaged abdominal muscles, are also observed during the canter.

Incorrect Canter Movement

An incorrectly moving horse during the canter may exhibit the following characteristics:

Back Muscles: Improper use of the horse’s circular muscles leads to a hollow back.
Neck Alignment: The horse’s neck juts awkwardly straight up into the air.
Overall Motion: The horse’s overall motion appears to go downhill.

A comparison between figures 1.8 E (a correctly moving horse) and 1.8 G (an incorrectly moving horse) can clearly highlight these differences. These visual representations, paired with the detailed characteristics, can guide professionals to evaluate a horse’s movement accurately during the canter.

Jumping in Horses

The intricacies and nuances of horse jumping directly extend from the principles and observances made during the walk, trot, and canter. Proper utilization of a horse’s circle of muscles facilitates an efficient, graceful jumping motion, leading to less exerted strain on the lower limbs.

Correct Jumping Movement

A horse that applies its circle of muscles correctly while jumping exhibits the following traits:

Movement and Posture: It maintains the same commendable characteristics of smooth flat movement, such as an engaged abdominal section and a filled-out lumbar area.
Lower Leg Stress: It experiences less stress or trauma on its lower legs due to a diminished downward energy flow and being more dainty on its feet.
Ease of Action: The entire motion of jumping seems effortless, marked by a clear fluidity.

Incorrect Jumping Movement

A horse that lacks correct movement and positioning while jumping showcases certain traits:

Body Form: The horse may show certain hollow areas in its form, usually seen in an incorrect trot or canter stance.
Approaching the Fence: The horse gives an impression of “climbing” fences or bolting towards them, relying on speed as opposed to steady propulsion to clear the obstacles.

Importance of Proper Back Usage

The appropriate use of a horse’s back is of paramount importance in facilitating natural and effortless forward movement and in providing a comfortable and stable ride. However, if a horse employs incorrect back usage as a result of inadequate training or physical discomfort, it might experience the following issues:

Impaired Movement: The horse may find it troublesome to exhibit a smooth gait and have difficulty moving forward.
Hollow Back: This condition often leads to an elevated and rigid neck position.
Physical Discomfort: Pain associated with incorrect movement is often a result of an ill-fitting saddle.

Addressing these problems requires a thorough focus on ensuring the right fit of the saddle for both the horse and the rider. A well-fitting saddle can greatly augment the comfort level of the horse, leading to better performance and smooth movement across all gaits and jumping.

Horse Evaluation Checklist

Before initiating any structured training regimen for your horse, it is essential first to evaluate its natural physical behavior and movement patterns. This evaluation can guide personalized training to enhance the horse’s overall performance – whether at the walk, trot, canter, or during any jumping activity.

The following criteria should be considered diligently while observing your horse:

Muscle Engagement

Circle of Muscles: Is the horse’s circle of muscles engaged? This engagement is depicted by muscles that appear flexible yet active.
Loins: Is the horse “filled out” through the loins? A filled-out loins area signifies proper muscle usage and activeness.
Abdominals: Are the horse’s abdominals engaged? Engaged abdominals often result in lifted and extended movements.

Posture

Withers: Are the horse’s withers raised? Raised withers usually suggest an activated back and abdominal muscles.
Neck: Is the horse’s neck round? A round neck often suggests relaxed muscles and a structurally balanced body.
Polls: Is the horse’s poll the highest point? This situation often signifies a relaxed neck and balanced body.

Lines of Motion and Tracking Up

Lines of Motion: Do the lines of motion move forward and upward? This situation displays a horse’s active movement and engagement.
Hind Legs: Is the horse “tracking up” with its hind legs? Tracking up refers to the horse’s hind foot stepping into or beyond the print of the same side’s front foot.

The above mentioned list can serve as an evaluation guide for horse owners and trainers to ensure the horse’s skeletal structure and muscle groups are functioning optimally. The end goal is to provide the horse with the best possible environment to improve its skills and movements, prevent injuries, and foster growth.