Saddling up
happy when he is asked to carry a rider for the first time.
If at all possible, get a professional to fit your saddle - most saddlers now provide the service for free. This is essential if your horse has any peculiarities, such as high withers, which need expert advice. It is also a good idea to buy new wherever you can: second-hand saddles often have things wrong with them or need re-stuffing, and if this is not spotted immediately by a professional eye you can end up causing real damage to your horse's back. To begin with, a general-purpose saddle is the best type: a specialist dressage or jumping saddle is too advanced for your horse's initial training.
A saddle is fitted without a numnah or saddle cloth, with the girth lightly done up. There are several points to look for:
1) The width of the saddle tree
If the saddle tree is too wide for the horse, the saddle will sit low and flat over the withers and back and you will not be able to see a clear "channel" through the saddle from front to back. If you look at the pommel end-on, with the saddle on the horse's back, you should be able to see plenty of daylight out the other end.
If the saddle tree is too narrow, on the other hand, the pommel will sit very proud above the withers and back, and the saddle will have the appearance of being "perched" on the horse's back instead of settling there comfortably. This will pinch the horse's withers and spine, causing galling and extreme discomfort.
2) The length of the saddle
A saddle's length is calculated for the rider, not the horse, but the panel - the stuffing under the saddle on which it rests - should still sit well forward of the loins. The horse's skeleton is constructed in such a way that there is a vulnerable spot along the back, just behind where the barrel of the ribs ends, where the internal organs have little more than the spine to protect them. If the saddle rests on this area, it is not strong enough to cope, and the horse will quickly develop serious back problems.
3) The balance of the saddle
When you look at the saddle from the side, it should be level - neither tipped up at the pommel, nor with the cantle too high.
If you look at the saddle from
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