- Have a helper ask your horse to stand squarely then stand carefully behind, (at height), and check its shoulders for symmetry. Note if one should is bigger than the other. This will impact your saddle fit.
- Be aware of your horse’s responses when approaching with the saddle. Does your horse pin its ears, swish its tail, look worried or display any negative behaviours.
- Check the width of the saddle gullet. At a minimum it should be 4 fingers width all the way along the channel. A gullet that gets tighter as it travels to the end (dovetail) will not clear the spine the whole way and may create pressure at the throca-lumbar junction and subsequently restrict movement.
- Place the saddle on the horse’s withers and slide it back to where it locks into place, behind the shoulders.
- Check to see if the saddle ends before the last rib otherwise it’ll be resting and impinging the lumbar spine.
- Check the billet alignment. Appropriate alignment should allow the girth down approximately one hand behind the horse’s elbow.
- Does the saddle look to have level balance on the appropriate saddle area or does it look to be too low in front or tipped back.
- Check for bridging by looking for light under the horizontal panels.
- Introduce pressure to the pommel with one hand while using the other hand to check for pinching, tightness or gaping on either side.
- For a great video demonstrating the above please check the following link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffsz53UwLF0&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop
