Fitting Issues- The Horse, Saddle and Rider

There is some substance to the statement that there is no such thing as a “gaited saddle.” There are some saddles on the market that work great on the gaited breeds just as there are some gaited saddles on the market that work well on Thoroughbreds, Arabians and Appendix bred Quarter Horses. Additionally, there are some mule saddles that work well on some horses, and some horse saddles that work well on some mules.

A saddle company cannot just have one or two trees and market them to fit all breeds or mules, gaited or otherwise. Most saddle companies do not own their own trees at all, but instead purchase them from other commercial tree builders. The buyer should beware of companies that claim that this one (or two) trees that they have fit them all. Our company owns 19 trees and still cannot fit them all. At Crest Ridge Saddlery we do not try to sell you a one-type-fits-all saddle. We would rather you measure your horse and send in photos so we can recommend the tree that best suits your horse and you.

A horse is horse and a mule is a mule. They both have muscle and skeletal structure which have to be accommodated in the fit of a saddle or they will end up with a sore back, loss of range of motion in stride or in some cases, injury and/or atrophy of muscles from a poorly fitted saddle. A great saddle starts with great craftsmen. Our Amish master saddle builders have a combined experience of over 60 years experience in building saddles. They and their sons are carrying on the tradition of quality craftsmanship with Crest Ridge. Crest Ridge Saddlery chooses the finest materials and leathers to compliment our custom trees. We do not use someone else's trees--we design our own.

Today's consumer is besieged with information, both online and off, about saddle fit. So much so, that the average horse owner has become confused by the overflow of opinions from “experts” and others. So how do you know which saddle tree will best suit your horse? We have a very simple process for the horse owner to provide Crest Ridge with the measurement information we need so we can tell you if one of our saddle lines will suit your horse. We ask that you take measurements and photographs using our straight-forward instructions detailed on our "How To Measure" page. Usually with the measurements and photos, we can get the fit right on the first attempt! Of course, we are here to help you through the process should you have any questions.

The Rider

Rider position influences and changes the horses' center of gravity. Crest Ridge saddles put the rider in a deep, centered position helping the horse to retain more stability. With the saddle better balancing the rider on his back, the horse becomes maneuverable, distributing the weight equally on all four legs, enabling him to engage his hindquarters, which is important in all breeds, gaited or otherwise.

A good center-balanced tree puts the rider in the area of the lowest (last) vertebrae of the horse’s wither and the first (even) vertebrae of the back. The deepest part of the saddle should be in the same area because the rider is to sit in the deepest part.

 Many novice riders have a feeling of insecurity and develop a seat that tends to stick the legs forward, pushing on the stirrups to prevent them from feeling like they are falling over the neck of the horse. This results in a 'chair-like' position which causes the saddle to constantly slide to the rear. A higher pommel and cantle can provide the security necessary, while still allowing the rider to achieve a centered position, and without hindering the horse's movement. If the rider is unbalanced and in a 'chair-like' position, you often end up with a stiff, unbalanced horse.

The saddle should be large enough so the rider distributes his weight in the center of the saddle, not pressing into the cantle and putting the bulk of his weight on the rear portion of his gluteus maximus and seat bones.

A tree made with the fender-slots angled forward tends to result in the rider positioning his legs out in front of his torso. In this position, if the horse happens to spook and bolt, often the rider is propelled out of the saddle because the riders center of gravity has been shifted forward and up. Often a horse will compensate for rider imbalance by leaning more into the bit or refusing it altogether, thus traveling on his forehand. A horse compensating for the rider not being in a center balanced position often flexes in the center of the neck rather than at the poll,  refusing the bit by going behind vertical or pulling into the bit. These 'chair-like' saddles also push the weight of the rider more onto the loin or withers, hence causing great discomfort to the horse and often making him sore in the back, shoulders and/or the withers area.

Center balanced trees can prevent a lot of riding accidents because the feet are positioned directly under the rider and the center of gravity is much improved.

We also recommend you read “Important Considerations On Saddle Fit for the Gaited Horse” by Anita Howe and Centered Riding by Sally Swift.