Saddle Fitting by yourself

To ensure that the ride is both pleasurable for the rider and the horse, it is essential that the saddle fits the horse. A horse and its related costs can add up to a substantial amount of money for most people, therefore it is important that a badly fitted saddle doesn’t restrict the riding experience for both the horse and the rider.
The saddle should allow the horse to move freely, as well as allow the horse to develop a round, and properly balanced outline. It is important that riders are knowledgeable about how an Icelandic saddle should fit, so that they can check it regularly. Bear in mind that the horse will change its shape regularly depending on its age, fitness, and time of year. The rider’s size, weight, and experience level should also be taken into consideration.
The following points are therefore the basic considerations to ensure that the saddle fits well.



Evaluation of the horse

Make sure the horse stands equally on all feet. Run your fingers firmly along the back muscle on each side of the spine to pinpoint possible sore areas. If the horse is sore/tender, the horse will react to the pressure.
If that happens, you should contact a vet. Also, if you find white marks, they are the result from excess saddle pressure or rubbing.
Look at the horse’s back from different angles to determine whether the back and shoulders are symmetrical. If the horse is not symmetrical (which it never is 100%), you should consider contacting a vet or a professional trainer to get advice on how to develop a properly balanced outline.



Positioning the Saddle

Find the shoulder (scapula) at the front of the saddle, it should be about 2-3 fingers behind the shoulder. This is crucial in positioning the saddle correctly (see picture 1). Find the last rib and draw a straight line upwards to the spine to find L3. The saddle can extent as far as this point.
Find again the last rib and follow it up to the spine to find T18 (18th Thoracic Vertebrae) The main weight distribution of the rider should be in front of this point.