Dressage Saddle Fit

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Saddle Fitting Tips from an Amateur Saddle Fitter
Recently we’ve been focusing a lot on the straightness of the horse and rider. An important piece of the Dressage training scale IS straightness of both the horse and rider. It is very important to have a properly fitting saddle that sits straight and balanced on the horses’ back and helps the rider stay in the correct position.
It is best to have a certified saddle fitter come out and properly assess and check for the proper fit of the saddle but there are some basics of saddle fit that anyone can learn and use to assess saddle fit.
Here are things to consider when looking at saddle fit:
Assess the horses’ back - Is the horse wide or narrow? Short or long in the back? High withers or no withers? Uphill or downhill? These observations will give you a starting point for the type of saddle you need for your horse.
Does the saddle look like it fits? When you put the saddle on the horses’ back it should more or less “fit like a glove.” You should not see any big holes or spaces under the saddle. The saddle should look evenly balanced and have even contact on the horses’ back.
Does the saddle rock on the horses’ back? If you put one hand on the front of the saddle and one hand on the back of the saddle, the saddle should feel stable on the horses’ back.
Does the saddle fit the horses shoulder? When you run your hand down the front of the saddle, the saddle should sit behind the horses’ shoulder and allow the horse to move freely in the shoulder.
Does the saddle sit straight on the horses’ back? Often saddles will have the tendency to fall off either to the left or the right on the horses’ back. It is very important that the saddle sits in the middle of the horses back and does not put pressure on the spine. Shims can be used to help straighten a saddle that falls off to the side. (Watch the video for an explanation of shims)
A correctly fitted and properly balanced saddle is essential in Dressage. It is impossible to ride correctly in an ill fitted saddle and it is not nice for the horse either. I am a frugal person but having a good saddle that fits your horse is an absolute necessity!

Пікірлер: 80

@monicaa4996 3 жыл бұрын

Your assistent is right, I missed that very important information to see if the saddle fit the shoulder angle! 😊

@JacquelineN777 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for always making these incredibly thorough videos! You always make it understandable and fun!

@shawnajones2083 4 жыл бұрын

"Okay, it's raining too much - the end." LOL you are awesome, keep up the good work Amelia!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

You could not tell on the video but it was pouring and I was getting all wet!!

@shawnajones2083 4 жыл бұрын

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage I bet! You still put out a great video despite that. Good job!! :)

@minky7252 Жыл бұрын

Good video. I totally agree with the concept of straightness training and muscle development. So many do not do this properly.

@debracarter7680 Жыл бұрын

Great video! I'm actually selling my Colin Dangaard bareback saddles and going to buy an Anteras French dressage saddle for Jr! I can't wait.

@klindz901 4 жыл бұрын

What perfect timing for this video! I bought a used dressage saddle off eBay and luckily it fits almost perfectly. My mare needs the front shimmed until she gains some muscle, so I loved that you discussed this.

@jenniferrose5283 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Amelia, How do you find a good saddle fitter? And know that they are good? I am a certified Massage therapist, a couple more tips are to check your pad after riding? Look at the sweat marks! Are they even? Also check where the flocking is run your hands down them and feel for bumps etc... You can also check your horses back for soreness due to incorrect saddle fit after riding. They would be sore in some of the places you described where the saddle would be making contact! Thanks for your video!

@MrsC48 4 жыл бұрын

Really appreciate this video. Saddle fit is SO important and many times overlooked when there are riding or behavior problems. I've been using the same saddle for 11 years, since my horse was 6 years old. It's one of those fully adjustable saddles with air panels and adjustable tree. I absolutely love it and have had to have it adjusted many times through the years. Air panels are not for everyone, but my horse and I are very comfy. :-)

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Great! Yes, whatever works for you and your horse. That is the important thing!

@corrineglass2834 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Amelia, I watch all your videos, I learn so much, especially all your riding instruction, so great!

@jeankemmerer6093 4 жыл бұрын

When my horse was five I bought an inexpensive adjustable saddle because I knew he would change. He is 19 and I still use the same saddle because with a few adjustments it still fits him. I just recently added a thin line full sheepskin half pad with shims in the back. He moves so much better now and I can feel the back of my saddle. So I really understood what you were explaining in this video. Thanks - Jean

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Yay! Great! Yes, it is amazing how much a little tweak to t he saddle fit can make such a huge difference for the horse!

@rainydays4673 4 жыл бұрын

I had a trainer that could fit saddles to your horse with amazing skill. Its was awesome.

@bocolewish 4 жыл бұрын

Just got a new saddle for one of my boys as the Icon Star was no longer working. Unfortunately I had to have it shipped due to Covid 19 and flocking tweeks from the fitter will have to wait. The shimming demos are helpful. Thanks!

@madisonsprayberry6805 4 жыл бұрын

This video is so helpful! ❤️

@katarinamills8530 4 жыл бұрын

Amd thank you ... very helpful.I like to look myself,just like you...and if I have doubts,I call my saddle fitter.Many people look too late!!!!

@debistevens3238 4 жыл бұрын

Amelia, excellent video. The horse ride is an Arabian. Wide shoulders, broad and short in the back. I never realized how uncomfortable, for him, the saddle I was riding was until I found a certified saddle fitter. One of my instructors recommended the saddle fitter. After the fact I realized she was advertising in our Omnibus. I have been riding on my saddle for about 4 years now. I am noticing a little lack of stability. Off to the saddle fitter it goes for flocking. Flocking can make a saddle fit and feel like new. Thanks.

@falconk9 4 жыл бұрын

i bought a used keifer Lusitano from poland (ebay) for my Andalusian which fits my guy like a glove. My trainer is riding my horse in it (due to corvid-19 - hubby sick) and she said I will love this saddle. She said the rider position is excellent. I was afraid to buy a saddle brand I didn't know sight unseen from poland but I was incredibly lucky.

@katarinamills8530 4 жыл бұрын

Mattes is really the best choice...so much expertise behind and quality forever...you can get great pads and gurths an ebay.Kieffer is the best here in Germany, we all love them :-) Natasha is a copy of my 10y gelding,incredible :-)))

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Yes! Mattes is for sure the best!

@lynnestruck 2 жыл бұрын

Currently looking for a saddle for my 5yo green bean. This was helpful! Thanks!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@edk9740 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent info on shimming, thank you.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@mariesantos6041 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the motivation...I'm thinking through with my best judgement preparing myself and my mare for serious riding. I ride western🐎🌄💕

@chelseamcmillan4216 4 жыл бұрын

The way I see best for the deepest part of the seat is the back of the flap lines up to the deepest part on the seat. May not be best but I say it while you where looking at some saddles!

@kmiklaszewski 4 жыл бұрын

Really great video. The Schlesse saddlery KZfaq channel has some really great educational videos that go into a lot of detail that are really good for educating your eye. I believe it’s called the 9 points of saddle fitting. Just wanted to give you a heads up that @14:00 mins or so, I think you meant to say when you want to shim the saddle when it falls to the RIGHT instead of left . Just wanted to give you a heads up before you got any not so kind comments.

@kmiklaszewski 4 жыл бұрын

m.kzfaq.info/sun/PLA35A02DBF310BB9D Here is that video playlist that goes into really good detail with some tips and tricks of the trade. I see a lot of people making mistakes when saddle fitting the area where they are taught to run their hand down the front of the saddle flap and I have seen so many people look and fit the saddle more at the angle of the wither rather than the shoulder angle because some people don’t realize that the shoulder blade needs to pass underneath that front of the saddle flap area with good clearance. And I think a lot of people don’t realize what it supposed to feel like when they run their hand down The front of the saddle flap and even underneath the panel and even the width and clearance of the channel for the spine and taking into consideration when the Horse Ben’s in the rib cage and how the saddle does need a little bit more clearance for the spine when the Horse Ben’s through the middle of their body and making sure that the saddle does not end up The front of the saddle flap and even underneath the panel and even the width and clearance of the channel for the spine and taking into consideration when the horse bends in the rib cage and how the saddle does need a little bit more clearance for the spine when the horse Bends through the middle of their body and making sure that the saddle does not end up with the panel resting to close or on the spine when the horse bends or turns. I love how your husband stepped in for a tip. I hope he gets to do more videos like he did in the past. They were really great. I have seen so many instructors and trainers that have taught for decades and some for only if you years that have fit saddles for borders, students & New Horses that ended up not really fitting and causing some issues and I’ve even seen one or two horses refuse to even move and it just goes to show that not everyone that has been in the business or riding, training and teaching for decades really has the education in the details for saddle fitting. I even see lesson barns or people offering lessons that puts adult riders in saddles that fit kids or very small adults and continue to give them lessons in these saddles that are incredibly and obviously way too small for the rider and then the student is wondering why they are having such a hard time balancing and progressing in their lessons. It kind of makes me ill when I see instructors having students ride in saddles that don’t fit especially when they are too small for the rider because it is their job to teach us correctly and to get us in the right balance in position right from the start and being in A saddle that is clearly too small Will interfere with just about everything the writer tries to do and it also makes the horse uncomfortable and the instructor takes that students money week after week.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing!!

@vickyelmes3558 4 жыл бұрын

Cool video, thanks! Esp interesting re the shims.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Yes! This shims. can be really helpful to help balance the saddle. Especially if you use the same saddle on multiple horses!

@pawsdedeux 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the information. A follow up video on how to fit the saddle to the rider would be interesting.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Yes! Good idea!

@ruthkeeling-holt2031 4 жыл бұрын

Great video Amelia. Do you have any comments about horses that have a very forward girth area?

@Flying0Dismount 4 жыл бұрын

If you are having problems determining whether your horse's unevenness may be affecting the balance of the saddle, an easy visual test is to simply look for the lowest point of the seat on BOTH sides of the horse. The side with the smaller musculature will show the lowest point of seat to appear to be more forward (and the saddle will also appear to be tipped forward on this side as well). This does not work combined with the pencil trick, as the pencil rolls on the apex of the complex curve of the seat and shows you the absolute centre vs side to side offset. When shimming to correct for this, sufficient thicknesses should be added so that the seat level appears the same from both sides of the horse.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Great information. Thank you for adding this!

@lisayoung224 3 жыл бұрын

You would love Peter Horobin's saddles...👍

@judyroberts3085 Ай бұрын

Hi Amelia watchin this great video on Shimming ..I am a little confused As you spoke about the saddle slipping to the left in the first demo a with the shims on the right shoulder and onto the left at the back which makes sense..then the confusion came when you shimed still to the left with opposite shims did you mean this to be the saddle moving to the right ..many thanks for all your wonderful videos you are a brilliant teacher and explain things so well many many thank your Judy Roberts xx

@barbelliott8289 4 жыл бұрын

THANK you for showing a saddle that did NOT fit!!! Good to know what to look for...I have three round horses that are young/have been growing/and I have been buying used saddles trying to find SOMETHING I can work them in and not cause pain in their backs...its hard.....

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Hi yes! I think wide and round horses are the hardest to fit because everything just rolls around up there! Good luck!

@barbelliott8289 4 жыл бұрын

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage boy - THAT's the understatement of the year...lol....Thanks for ALL you do to bring the intricacies of dressage to us regular people. Living in a non-horse area, out in the country makes it even harder. THANK you - from the bottom of my dressage loving heart!!

@D.fstudios 4 жыл бұрын

Right now I have a regular roma saddle riser. But I've been looking to upgrade. Do u have any suggestions for a good riser for the back end of the saddle? I was thinking along the sheepskin lines possibly?? Also what full seat breeches would u recommend for the summer. I love my winter ones but I'd like a pair that sticks me to the saddle just as well but that's more breathable

@BariJay1 2 жыл бұрын

The pencil trick is to check the low point of the saddle (like shown in the video), but to also give a visual of where your body's center of gravity will be on the horse's back. A horse can't support weight past their last last rib (or vertebra T18), and the rider's center of gravity needs to be in the center of their back (or between vertebra T8 and T18). SmartPak has a great video on saddle fit, and I hope everyone checks out that video before making any saddle fit adjustments. Amelia, I love your videos, but this one is just a bit off.

@CavaliaGirl 4 жыл бұрын

Another great educational video - thank you! What brand was that last saddle on your wide mare?

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Custom Saddlery

@Katkaxxxxx 4 жыл бұрын

I have a question. Anyone else has a problem with numnah sliding back under the saddle? I just had my dressage saddle professionally fitted to a new horse and I was told that well moving uphill horses pad will typically move regardless. Excellent video xx

@minky7252 Жыл бұрын

One horse I have tends to shift the pad. I use a non slip pad under the saddle pad and all stays in place

@maureenbrock6903 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Amelia, what do you think about dressage saddles with adjustable gullets? I ride a few different horses (not my own) that have their own A/P saddles, but I'd like to start riding them in a dressage saddle.

@lauriebohanan2761 4 жыл бұрын

Hi miss Ameli show do the saddle fit. I use of the western saddle

@lauriebohanan2761 4 жыл бұрын

HOW DO THE HORSE TO PUT ON A WESTERN SADDLE FIT

@naunettemartin7450 4 жыл бұрын

Can you some think want kind of bit I can use on my 5 year old horse that's work for me to ride in

@katbailey33 3 жыл бұрын

What brand was the last one for the rounder horse??

@shirleybroady 4 жыл бұрын

I love this video. Couldn't be more timely. I have a just turned 7 year old Hannovarian gelding, 17 hh (Rotspon, Sandro Hit) with a wide back and riding in an Advantage R single flap that fits me like a glove. Bought it new May 2019. All pads, including the Stephen sheepskin, slide back and pull down on the withers within a few minutes. I've tried 6 different pads, gel half pads, placing the saddle further back, nothing works and my fitter doesn't have a definitive solution other than trial and error. An older twin flap Wolfang Solo calf skin fits me pretty well, but the pad still slips back. Same with a newer single flap Solo. The short question: Do you have advice for keeping pads in place? Or, should I just live with it?

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Hi! Wow! Nice breeding! I have not had this problem but it can be really difficult with wide horses to get a correct saddle fit. I guess just make sure to start with the pad forward enough and pull it up over the withers. Good Luck! I wish I had a better solution!

@shirleybroady 4 жыл бұрын

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage Thanks so much Amelia! Have been placing the pad more forward and pulling up into pommel. Stubborn problem! I corrected the spelling for Rotspon. LOL Thank you for endorsing the breeding! Used your saddle fitting tips today. Very helpful and pencil position is revealing. Will keep trying.

@TammyBreslin 3 жыл бұрын

Great video? Who makes your custom saddles?

@AmeliaNewcombDressage Жыл бұрын

Custom Saddlery is a brand that manufactures a line of saddles for sale. You can find out more about them here: mysaddle.com/en

@savannalevenson6526 4 жыл бұрын

What is the brand of fleece you used with the first saddle?

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Mattes pad with sheep skin. The link is in the description.

@sharmane2000 5 ай бұрын

Hi Amelia I'm part of your group! I thought you liked N2 saddles? My favorite saddle is N2 and I thought you were also an N2 fan. I like Custom as well but I feel like the N2 is much better for me. I've tried many Custom Saddlery models.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 5 ай бұрын

Definitely personal preference!

@LisaPanton 4 жыл бұрын

I notice you have balance straps ( from d ring to d ring-- that's what we call them in the uk) on both the saddles you are using? what do you use those for?

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

Those are the "oh shit" straps! Grab them when the horse is going crazy!!

@LisaPanton 4 жыл бұрын

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage thanks. I thought so but was wondering if there may be a more technical reason lol. My boy is a spook and leg it type and 18hh tank so often use a neck strap for anchoring myself and some times to anchor my outside rein but I like this so much better as so much more secure!! Hope you are staying safe and managing the horses ok in these crazy times x I really love your vids x

@kadavu22 Жыл бұрын

Amelia what is your favorite brand of dressage saddle? I have a dressage riding pony, flat wide back, low withers.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage Жыл бұрын

My horses go in Custom Saddlery's Icon and Aviar. Good luck with your saddle, please find an experienced fitter. It's important for you and your horse.

@sabinekrainer2389 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you😊 When the saddle is going too much to the left, than on the right in front a shimm and to the left in back a shimm, is that correctly??? 🤔

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 4 жыл бұрын

I know it seems wrong. The right front shim pulls the back of the saddle to the right.

@sabinekrainer2389 4 жыл бұрын

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage thank you very much ❤️

@cynthiajodis2337 4 жыл бұрын

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage - It seems as if you addressed the saddle leaning to the left twice. (with contradicting remedies). did I hear that correctly?

@kathleentow8848 Жыл бұрын

Yes I’m confused here as well. Shifting to the left was dressed twice with contradicting remedies. Please review!

@virginiarhoads7824 2 ай бұрын

Help - at around 14 minutes, can you clarify how to shim if saddle wants to go to the left? If my brain is listening correctly, it seems you give two opposite guidance for how to shim. Thank you!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 ай бұрын

HI. There are alot of considerations in saddle fit. You should have it looked at by a professional saddle fitter.