Location of Girth Points
This is another saddle fitting consideration – the location of the girth points.
The front two straps are on the girth rigging points for this saddle now and in a good position to keep the saddle in place correctly. The third strap, on the right in the photo, shows where this saddle used to girth up. Sandra says “When it was used on the single girthing point, the saddle would ride forward up on to the neck in faster work or stopping and was quite dangerous when it ended up sitting up on her neck. Luckily she is quiet! This was despite being done up as tight as possible which normally I would never do.”
When the correct positioning of the saddle has the girth too far back, then the saddle WILL work its way forward, with the girth then being loose because of that new position and then you have a saddle moving all over the place, sometimes dangerously.
One of my English saddles has three girth points and in my case, I can use the front two points to attach my two buckle girth, in order to influence the positioning of the girth and have the saddle in a better position.
Position of the Saddle
Where the saddle sits on the horse’s back is another big saddle fitting issue.
The easy rule to remember is that you should be able to fit your hand in between saddle and the hair whorl at the top of the flank. (Even in ponies). If it is closer as in the “no good” photo’s below, it will make it harder for them to carry you and use their hindquarters. Especially if they aren’t in their comfort zone!
See in this photo above, there is not enough room for the hand to fit between the saddle and the whorl of hair – so this saddle is either sitting too far back or is too long for this horse.
Photo above – Same horse and saddle without a saddle blanket so that you can really see what is going on. This saddle is weight bearing behind the horse’s last rib, where the horse has no skeleton – no bones to actually carry the weight of the rider. This horse in this saddle would be uncomfortable trying to carry the weight of the rider and would not be able to move freely.