20 Hours of Professional Development: Part 2 Saddle Fitting

As a PATH Intl. Instructor, I am required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of Continuing Education each year. I have to submit an Instructor Compliance form to PATH Intl., listing my hours and what I did. As I completed my form this spring, I realized it's kind of a shame that the professional development compliance requirement is just a list. It seems like to take something away from these professional development experiences - and learn something - there should be a reflective component. So, over the next few blog entries, I'm going to reflect on my three biggest "take away points" from some of my own Continuing Ed experiences this past year.... 

5 Hours: Saddle Fitting

I was fortunate to attend two Saddle Fitting In-Services this year, one out in the Seattle area and one here in South Carolina. I learned so much from the generous professionals who gave these lectures/demonstrations (and took pages and pages of notes), so to sum up what I learned about the complex subject of saddle fitting in just 3 points is difficult!

However, since I've tasked myself with summing up the 3 main points I took away from these saddle fitting in-services, I will focus on the key messages that both professional imparted:

1. Everyone who rides, trains and works with horses in any discipline or capacity needs to stay aware of and be vigilant about saddle fit, which can constantly change as the horse is conditioned, gains or loses weight, ages, etc. It should become instinctual to think about the fit of the saddle: Horse bucking? Rearing? Refusing to go forward willingly? Seem grumpy? Girthy? Not standing still for mounting? All of these problems can stem from an uncomfortable tack fit and it's always important to eliminate this as the cause of negative behaviors! (I remember someone saying, asking a horse to go in a saddle that doesn't fit well is like asking a human to go hiking in uncomfortable high heels that pinch at the toe or to carry a heavy back pack with the edges of a book digging into your spine!)
2. If possible, it's always best to have a professional saddle fitter evaluate the tack, at least once or twice a year. In between visits with a trained professional, it's important to check that the saddle sits level, clears the withers and spine and fits/ is positioned to allow plenty of room for the shoulder to move. Those are just a few checkpoints to look out for on regular basis.
3. Finally, materials and condition matter! While it isn't necessarily important to have the most expensive, trendy saddle available, it is important to find out what your saddle is made of, and especially, what your saddle is flocked with (stuffed with). Wool is the best material for flocking and will provide the most comfortable ride for the horse. It's important that the saddles be re-flocked regularly and inspected for tears, wear and damage, especially when being used in a busy program environment where a saddle might have 20 or more rides a week. 

Saddle fitting can be intimidating to those of use who are not extensively trained in this vocation, but what I have learned from attending these two in-services is that even with some basic knowledge and training, it becomes much easier to develop an eye (and feel) for the differences between a really bad fit and a decent fit. A professional can then often help determine a decent fit and a really good fit. 

Another point that I found really interesting (and I know I promised just 3) is how important it is to actually see the tack in motion (while the horse is going on the lunge line and then being ridden) in order to make a final determination about whether a saddle fits well. In a really interesting demo at one of the in-services, we watched a mare get lunged with a saddle that didn't fit her (she stayed hallow and refused to round her back) and then switched the tack and saw her go in a saddle that did fit (she fairly quickly lowered her head, looked more relaxed, rounded her back a little and her tail started to swing gently).

In any case, attending these in-services has brought saddle fit to the forefront of my mind and it's something I now look at more carefully and with a more informed view!