Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Rachael's Corner: Does Your Horse's Saddle Fit?

Coming into the summer months, when we will hopefully be able to ride our horses more as our miserable UK winter weather improves, it is very important that your horse’s saddle fits well. Uneven pressure or pinching can make for a very unhappy and uncomfortable horse so keeping your tack in working order and fitting well will keep your horse pain free and happy throughout the season.
Your horse will change shape throughout the year as they gain and lose weight, and also as they grow if you own a youngster, so it is advised that you have your saddle checked at least once per year by a qualified saddle fitter to ensure it fits well and also to check for any damage to the tree.  Your horse will also benefit from having their saddle re-flocked every two to three years if you have a wool flocked saddle, this will ensure that your saddle is able to mould to the shape of your horse as they move.
I, unfortunately, bought a felt flocked saddle for my horse which means that if she changes shape then I will have to sell it on and buy a different one as these cannot be adjusted. Felt flocked saddles are also very expensive to re-flock as the saddle has to be taken apart to do it.
I’ve owned several Wintec saddles over the years, all of which have had Cair panels. This means that instead of the panels being flocked with wool or felt, they are filled with air which can be adjusted to suit your horse’s shape and moulds to the shape of your horse as they move a lot more effectively than wool so it doesn’t need to be re-flocked! They also have the adjustable gullet system, allowing you to quickly and easily adjust your saddle at home as they change shape, saving time and money! J
At www.tictacequestrian.com, we stock a wide range of quality tack from brands like Mark Todd and many more!

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