If you look at the anatomy of a horse, you can see they are really better designed for pulling a cart than having a human ride on their back. They have massive hind quarters, and strong shoulders. Then there is this span of unsupported spinal cord, from which all of the horse's internal organs hang. We then sit directly on top and add our weight to this unsupported area.
We don't often think about riding a horse from this perspective because they seem so big and strong, but many behavior "problems" and poor performances in horses can be attributed to back problems.
One way to keep your horse's back comfortable and strong is to be sure that the saddle you are using fits him properly. Each time a horse steps under himself with a hind leg, his back raises slightly. A saddle must allow for this movement.
Western saddles are easier on a horse's back because the weight is more evenly distributed, even though they weigh more than an English type saddle. When a western saddle fits a horse properly, you should be able to put three fingers vertically between the horse's withers and the pommel of the saddle, under the horn. If the horse's withers are closer than three fingers high it will rub and hurt him as he moves. If the saddle sits higher than this, it will not distribute the weight properly and will pinch the horse's back on either side of the withers.
A properly fitted English saddle should allow you to place two fingers vertically between the horse's withers and the pommel of the saddle while you are sitting in the saddle. This is very important because the stuffing, or flocking as it is called, in an English saddle will compress under your weight. A saddle that looks fine sitting on the horse before you get on may fit very differently when you are sitting in it.
Another way to check the fit of an English saddle is to take a thick lead rope and run it in the channel under the saddle. The channel is the part right under the seat, where the two side "cushions" do not meet. When you are sitting in the saddle, you should be able to slide the rope forward and backward without it getting stuck.
You can also try standing directly behind your horse and looking under the seat of an English saddle. If the saddle fits properly, you should be able to see daylight through the channel.
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