Ken Lyndon-Dykes’ Column
The Experiences and Thoughts of a Saddle Fitter.
This month: Most problems with saddles are possibly - no probably - rider instigated
I'm sure most horse owners who take an interest in saddles and saddle fitting will have noticed that virtually every riding and training manual refers - often at great length - to the influence the rider's position has on the straightness of the horse. Very rarely is there any mention of the ways in which their position can affect the saddle. Anyone who pauses to consider will recognise this is a serious omission because rider - saddle -horse are inextricably linked. A crooked rider makes a crooked saddle that in time (sometimes of quite short duration) will make a crooked horse. And of course, the same can be said in reverse. An asymmetric horse makes the saddle sit crookedly rendering it virtually impossible for the rider to sit in a balanced position in the centre of the saddle. In my experience, most problems with saddles are possibly - no probably - rider related. All this reference to asymmetry, rider position, et cetera is a prelude to this month's report.
The other day someone asked me to explain why Society of Master Saddlers qualified saddle fitters attach so much importance to some of the preliminaries relating to fitting a new saddle. I explained that the horse is stood up in hand in order for us to make a back examination. We're looking for any sensitive or sore areas. At the same time we're evaluating the horse's musculature - asymmetric development can be a guide or symptom of any number of situations. 'But you're not vets', she said. True - but a saddle fitter who cannot recognise signs of underlying problems is not worth the job title! Recognition should never be confused with diagnosis - the two are years of veterinary study apart! By the same token, we have the horse run up in hand so that we can watch for lame or unlevel steps, stiffness on turns, et cetera. . We must also be able to recognise the type of rider deficiency that will affect the saddle - and inevitably the horse.
The same lady who asked the pertinent questions went on to tell me that, for several years, she had been using the services of a saddle fitter, (NOT SMS qualified, I hasten to add), who simply 'tried' a few saddles on the horse's back. He then selected the one he thought was best. 'Didn't he even ask you to ride in likely saddles? I asked. 'Never.' She went on to explain that she had been a happy hacker since childhood and hadn't given the matter a great deal of thought until her twelve-year-old daughter got hooked on dressage. 'She's really, really keen and I'm told she's also very promising. Her trainer has found an experienced pony that we're hoping will be up for sale in the Spring. We've told Emma that we'll buy a new saddle for the pony and her trainer has suggested we go to a qualified saddle fitter. Having chatted to you, I can completely understand why she made this suggestion. She's involved in training some of the top young riders and she pays enormous attention to every factor, hence her advice about the saddle.'
It's likely the lady will be reading this column but I know she won't mind my saying that, although obviously a concerned owner and rider of many years standing, she hadn't given thought to the importance of the saddle. An essential and irreplaceable tool when fitted correctly. At best a hindrance - at worst a disaster in the making - when the fitting is inadequate.
Another very valid question cropped up when I was giving a demonstration for a riding club. The chairwoman, an elegant lady of some age, explained that, 'in the old days', a saddler used to call automatically to check over all the tack in her parents' stables. She told a wonderful tale of a disaster being averted when the saddler discovered one of the saddles had a badly broken tree resulting from a fall out hunting. She also recalled him proudly recounting some of the famous horses he was 'looking after'. 'Why have things changed?', she asked. Yes, in some ways they have changed. She was referring to a period when almost all saddles were made for 'hunting' or 'general purpose'. They mostly had large bearing surfaces (good) and they incorporated very few innovative design details - in other words, they were relatively easy to fit. Today we have a range of saddles specifically designed to meet the needs of individual disciplines. Some incorporate design details that are beneficial for certain types of horses - and ponies - but just don't suit others. Consequently, fitting is generally a far more complicated process demanding far greater knowledge than in 'the old days'.
About the saddler travelling around to make regular checks. 'In the old days', horses were generally either looked after at home by experienced grooms or owners who weren't working. Their management was consequently fairly consistent and so changes in their shape were far fewer and less frequent. Today a lot of horses are kept in DIY livery. Owners are often either at school or work full-time, thus making it impossible to provide the same all-the-year round management consistency. As a consequence, changes in shape are far more frequent. Add to this the fact that the competition season is far longer - and far fiercer - than in 'the old days' and you have further reason for changes in shape. For example: the shape of an event horse competing at a reasonable level can be substantially different at the beginning and end of the season. Today the onus is on the horse owner to arrange appointments for saddle fitting checks relative to such changes. Some horses will need their saddles checked three or four times a year. ALL horses need their saddles checked at least once a year.
KEN LYNDON DYKES specialises in fitting competition horses and those with 'difficult' conformation. Obtain Ken on 01622 844444 (head office) or 07973 502873 (mobile).
FOOTNOTE. Ken's book 'Practical Saddle Fitting' is an excellent buy for anyone making a career in the equestrian industry as well as all horse owners. Published by J. A. Allen, it costs £19. 99 and is available at leading saddleries and bookshops. Anyone having difficulty in obtaining a copy should contact SADDLEWORLD: 01622 844440 .
