KEN'S COLUMN - the diary and thoughts of a Saddle Fitter
This month: I have never - ever - been so surprised
I love dealing with what are termed ‘difficult’ saddle fittings and coming up with the right solution. Contrary to some beliefs, there are very few horses that are difficult to fit – providing the saddle fitter has access to a very substantial range that includes different brands and types of saddle for a variety of disciplines. The stock we keep always exceeds eight hundred saddles and it is rare to come across a horse we cannot fit - albeit is sometimes necessary to make small adaptations to a new saddle to provide a fit with which I am entirely happy. But it is the exceptions that prove the rule!
The horse in question had what was probably the strangest – and worst – conformation I have ever encountered. Small – not much over fifteen hands –the animal’s breeding was unknown. He had been brought over from Spain by a family that had returned to this country after being located over there for several years as a result of work commitments. I will start by listing the good points. It isn’t a very long list! He was a very attractive dark dapple grey with the most beautiful eye and the sweetest possible expression. The list of ‘problems’ is rather longer! I don’t think I have ever seen an animal – other than a cow – with a pair of hocks like it. He was close coupled to the point that he could only really accommodate a very small rider. His back was slightly dipped accompanied by a very, very high wither. His feet were rather boxy and tight in the heel – although I suspect this might have been largely due to the shoeing in Spain as I have seen other horses from that country with similar foot conformation. I must mention that the hair around his very high, narrow withers was totally white, no doubt caused by being ridden in a seriously ill-fitting saddle.
You have probably got the picture. I assumed the little horse was used exclusively for hacking – but no. The owner told me that, before she bought him, he had performed in fiestas and had been schooled in Spanish walk, flying changes and other movements – and she assured me that he really could jump! He was only seven and the family had owned him for nearly four years so Goodness only knows at what age his schooling had started! I have to admit that I thought she must be exaggerating – but what a surprise awaited me.
Her twelve year old son appeared carrying what I recognised as a Spanish saddle with a quite incredibly narrow gullet – no wonder the little horse had so much white hair in the wither areas. (Interestingly, almost all the Spanish saddles I have seen have been narrow in the extreme.) The owner explained that, now they were back in England, her son would be joining the Pony Club and needed a general purpose saddle. I spent a little while explaining that, in any event, the existing saddle was completely unsuitable and both mother and son were appalled when I explained what the white hair signified and how it had been acquired.
I knew straight away that it just wouldn’t be possible to equip this strange little horse from the existing stock of saddles – nor would I be able to order in anything suitable from one of the big manufacturers. Let me first say that I am always reluctant to advise clients to opt for a commissioned saddle – the reasons for this largely relating to the fact that, however much consultation takes place beforehand, the fact is that the horse owner doesn’t have opportunity to ride in the saddle before it is completed. Thus, although the saddle should – I use this proviso intentionally – provide the horse with a good fit, which is the main priority, there are inevitably occasions when the owner is disappointed with the ‘feel’ of the saddle. The other factor relates to the time it can take from the commissioning to the completed article: inevitably there are occasions when the horse’s shape has changed quite a lot during the intervening period. As an example: in the case of the young horse undergoing a structured schooling programme, the changes can be quite dramatic and the saddle will then need considerable re-adjustment before it can be used.
As I’ve already said – there are always exceptions and the little Spanish horse was one such. Nowadays the term ‘made-to-measure’ is used very loosely and is sometimes reduced to the making of templates which are then sent to one of the Walsall manufacturers to be made up accordingly. Fortunately, I am able to use the services of someone who makes bespoke saddles in the traditional way. Considerably more expensive, it is a far better solution. The craftsman saddle-maker and I visited the clients together to discuss what the saddle would mainly be used for, the type and colour of the leather and so on. He then tried several trees on the horse’s back and took notes relating to the rider’s weight and stature – he was very slight - pointing out that he would also take into account, as far as possible without jeopardising the fit of the saddle, the fact that the young man still had a lot of growing to do. At this point the client paid a deposit. A week later the saddler and I returned and an interim fitting was carried out after which we made certain the client and her son were satisfied with the shape of the panels and happy with the overall appearance of the saddle. Just a few days later we returned to make the final fitting and it was then that any tiny adjustments needed – none in this case – would have been carried out.
After the fitting the young man ‘tried’ the saddle. I have never witnessed such a transformation. The little grey horse seemed to grow in stature. Maybe the walk was a bit choppy but he produced an attractive trot and an amazingly balanced canter. He executed all sorts of movements including a series of canter changes, admittedly circus style, but it was apparent that he and the young rider had a great partnership. I’d asked for three or four jumps to be erected, bearing in mind the intended Pony Club membership –and I was truly amazed. The pair set off in a rhythmic canter and this cow hocked, strange little animal performed absolutely brilliantly. The boy was a talented rider with wonderful balance and superb hands over the fences. I have never, ever been so surprised!
I rarely advocate commissioning a bespoke saddle made in the traditional way because it is necessarily an expensive exercise. Occasionally, as in this case, it is the only real answer. The final result provided the little horse with a really well fitting saddle – the main objective - and pleased everyone concerned.
KEN LYNDON DYKES is a Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified Saddle Fitter who specialises in fitting competition and problem horses. He is available to give demonstrations and talks and has recently returned to after-dinner speaking on a wide variety of subjects. Telephone: 01622 844440 (office) or 07973 501873 (mobile). Ken will be interested to hear from any SMS qualified saddle fitters seeking additional work as well as those with more limited experience who wish to extend their knowledge.
