KEN'S COLUMN
Difficult? No - but.......!
A client asked me the other day ‘is saddle fitting difficult?’ My short answer – ‘it isn’t – but it requires a considerable amount of knowledge’.
I have been saddle fitting for over thirty-five years, during which time I would say it has become very considerably more complicated. I recall the time when there were far fewer manufacturers – in addition ranges were far, far smaller. I am looking back to the days when the big Continental manufacturers – Stubben for example - were only just beginning to make an inroad into the British market. It must be said that superior marketing quickly resulted in some makes being elevated to ‘must have’ status.
Were they better made than the saddles produced in this country? Some were – most were not! That was quite a few years ago - since when British riders have rediscovered British saddles and I have to say it is impossible to beat the best UK manufacturers for quality related to price.
But I digress and, returning to the original question concerning saddle fitting, my point about the vastly extended ranges on the market today is an important one. In order to give the client the best possible service, the saddle fitter must stock a wide range and must have in-depth product knowledge of even more! Quite a tall order!
Looking back to my early years in the industry, the only specialist saddles available were designed to fulfil the needs of dressage, polo, jumping and racing. Hunting people mostly used a very flat-seated general purpose saddle – and the vast majority of ‘ordinary’ riders also used a general purpose saddle but with a little more definition in the seat.
Today there are specialist saddles for every type of equestrian discipline and sport – and ranges continue to grow. And, whereas leather remains the number one choice, synthetic saddles have come a very long way since their early days – and, extending choice even further, nowadays GP saddles come in different ‘types’, some of which are more suited to jumping, others to flatwork. And on the subject of designs and innovations: some are good – but not all! Adjustable trees, for example, definitely have a place when the saddle is adjusted by an experienced saddle fitter. In less experienced hands, they can be a disaster in the making!
Add to this the fact that the saddle fitter must understand the demands and governing rules (especially those applicable to tack) of all equestrian disciplines and sports and it becomes apparent that a store of knowledge is essential.
And then - the most important element of all – the horse and again - looking back to my early years as a saddle fitter. We have always had a multiplicity of breeds in this country, partly due to the fact that our native ponies cross well with bigger animals to produce good all-round horses. More latterly, we have imported a lot of horses from the Continent – most especially Germany, Holland and Denmark in addition to which we successfully breed Warmbloods. It is impossible to undertake saddle fitting successfully without better-than-basic knowledge of breed standards. A 16 hand Thoroughbred is very different from a 16 hand Warmblood - is very different from a Welsh section D cross – and so on.
Furthermore, whereas the saddle fitter is definitely not a vet, he – or she – must be able to recognise ‘problems’ that might impact upon the efficacy of the saddle fit. A horse that is lame or unlevel (there are rare occasions when the saddle fitter may wish to delay the fitting pending a veterinary consultation) for example, might cause the saddle to sit to one side and asymmetric musculature may result in a lop-sided saddle.
Although the saddle fitter’s first consideration will always be the horse, he also needs to have basis knowledge of human physique. A saddle that is comfortable for a cuddly five-foot lady is very unlikely to be suitable for a 6-foot tall slim-to-skinny teenage boy. By the same token, the design of the saddle needs to complement the horse owner’s current riding standard.
I have been saddle fitting a very long time and, dare I say it, I am very proud of my knowledge and expertise. Nevertheless, every day of my working life I learn something new – or update existing knowledge. So – is saddle fitting ‘difficult’? No – providing the fitter has the right degree of knowledge!
I would also add it’s important not to be put off by working long – often unsocial – hours – very hot weather, very cold weather, snow and ice (except in extreme circumstances!) and wet…wet…wet! It is also important to be prepared to drive very long distances. Not for everyone – but I love my job!
KEN LYNDON DYKES is an ex-international level three day event rider. A qualified Society of Master Saddlers’ saddle fitter, his specialities include competition horses and ‘difficult’ fittings. KEN can be obtained at head office (01622 844440) or on his mobile: 07973 501873
