A Correctly Fitted Saddle Will Always Comply With The Following Criteria:

• The size and width of the tree must be suited to the horse being fitted.
• The angle of the tree must correspond to the angle of the horse's shoulder.
• The size of the saddle must be suitable for horse and rider.  Generally, if a small rider and large horse do not present a problem, providing care is taken to ensure that the flap of the saddle is not so long that the small short-legged rider cannot adopt a correct leg position.  Equipping the large rider on a small horse can occasionally pose insuperable problems.  As always, the horse remains the Saddle Fitter's priority and, in extreme cases, there may not be an alternative to suggesting the horse or pony is exchanged for an animal more suited to the rider's proporations.
• The saddle must provide total clearance of the horse's dorsal spinal processes.
• The saddle must not interfere with the backward rotation of the horse's scapula.
• The saddle must be balanced and the deepest part of the seat should encourage the rider to sit in the centre of the horse's movement.
• The bearing surfaces of the saddle should be as large as possible.  They must make even contact with the horse's back without creating any pressure points.
• The saddle must remain centrally located at all paces and free from excessive movement such as swinging, swaying, rocking and rotating. Be aware that there will always be limited, acceptable movement in the saddle.  This may be exaggerated and harmful if the rider fails to locate centrally or is unbalanced.
• The tree, the foundation on which the saddle is constructed, must be entirely symmetrical. Be aware, there will be rare occasions when the Saddle Fitter recommends adjusting the flocking to correspond with irreversible one-sidedness sometimes demonstrated in older horses as a result of past injuries.
• The flocking in the saddle is intended to cushion and act as a shock absorber.  It must be entirely free from lumps and should never be hard.  Be aware, flocking a saddle demands great skill and considerable knowledge.  Only Qualified Saddlers should make adjustments to the saddle.
• The girth should lie within the girth groove and, when adusted, should not pull the saddle forward.
• Horses change shape for a variety of reasons.  Therefore, the saddle that fits well today may require adjusting in a matter of just a few weeks.

Some Information Needed By The Saddle Fitter

• Horses's name, Breeding/Type, Age & Height
• Wither Type
• Main Discipline
• Competition Level
• Fitness Level
• The Rider's Height, Weight and Age Range

Rider's Influence On The Saddle

• Clamping To The Saddle
• Dropping a Hip or Sitting To One Side
• Sitting Behind The Movement
• 'Screwing'
• Sitting On The Fork

Horse's Influence on Saddle 

• Condition
• Fitness
• Age
• Gate Adnormalities

Saddle Fitting Checks

New saddles are generally 'soft-flocked' to encourage the saddle to adopt the contours of the horse on which it is being used.  Once the flocking has settled, it will probably need lifting and other minor adjustments.  Generally speaking, this will occur in the first six to twelve weeks - but this varies considerably depending on the type of saddle and how much it is used.  Contact the Saddle Fitter and arrange an appointment for him/her to re-check the saddle.

Subsequent Checks

The regularity of the need for saddle fitting checks varies considerably.  Young horses muscle up and put on condition, older horses tend to 'drop away'.  A period off work may result in loss of muscle and condition while horses turned away on unrestricted grass can become very fat - and so on.  It is very important to have the saddle modified in line with the horse's changed shape.  Imagine being forced to wear clothes or shoes that are either much too tight - or chafe because they are too large!  Changes in the horse's shape need to be carefully monitored.  Failing to have the fit of the saddle checked could result in the horse being uncomfortable and in pain; Veterinary (including lameness), behavioural and performance problems may result.  Horses that are manage very consistently are far less likely to undergo substantial shape changes.  Even so, the saddle should be checked a least once a year so that any minor alternations and repairs can be carried out.

Looking After The Saddle - Rules For You To Follow

Looked after carefully, saddles last for years and will generally hold their market value very well.  It is preferable to clean them each time they are used but, when shortage of time time makes this impossible, much should be removed immediately after use and the saddle wiped over.  The saddle should be thoroughly cleaned once a week, al the jockeys (spots of grease) removed - applying saddle soap or dressing over them would later involve hours of unnecessary work!  Ideally the leathers should be removed and laid across the saddle ready for replacing when the saddle is next used.  This helps to reduce stress at points where the leather bends.  Alternatively, if time is scarce, slide the leather and stirrup leather down slightly so that the bend is free from stress.

Leather is a living material and needs to be 'fed'.  Even heat from the horse's back can dry out some of the natural 'fat' in the leather and this needs to be replaced.  Leather has two sides, the 'grain' (waterproofed and sealed during dressing) and the 'flesh' side (which is still open).  Many excellen leather-care products are available.  Great attention should be paid to manufacturers' instructions.  Over feeding can cause as many problems as failing to feed!

Leather suffers from excessive wet and excessive heat.  If the saddle gets soaked from use during bad weather it should be dried out slowly.  Do not place it close to radiators or an open fire.  Sometimes, during hot summer weather, the leather may begin to dry out but this can be overcome by shortening the intervals between applications of 'food'.

Never balance the saddle on a stable door, fence of anywhere from which it could fall.  When a saddle falls there may be obvious cosmetic damage to the cantle or the pommel, etc.  More importantly, there may be internal damage that can be difficult to detect such as a broken or cracked tree.  Similarly, when a horse falls while being ridden, the inside of the saddle may be damaged.  Broken trees can create pressure points that could result in the horse suffering veterinary problems.  Whenever a saddle is involved in any type of fall it should always be checked by a Qualified Saddler before being used again.

Saddles should be stored in conditions that are dry and preferably maintained at an even temperature.  Use purpose-made saddle horses or racks located where they can be reached easily and there is no fear of the saddle falling. It is a good idea to cover the saddle with a soft natural-fibre cloth to keep it free from dust (never use plastic or man-made fibre because these encourage mildew and mould).

It is very important to keep saddlery and equipment in as secure enviornment as possible.  Theft continues to increase!  Make certain the saddle and ancillary equipment is covered by an insurance policy.  Check the small print carefully for exclusions to cover (such as transporting tack in a car or other vehicle, etc).  Micro-chipping is highly recommended.