Indications of a badly fitting saddle.

Changes in your horse's behaviour often indicate a sore back, which may be caused by bad saddle fitting. Signs of back pain include ...

Normally sensible horses may start rushing over jumps or become strong in the mouth

A Reluctance to jump or canter.

Bucking is often a sign of back pain caused by a bad saddle fitting, as can tail swishing.

A horse may react when approached with a saddle, or try to nip as it is tacked up.

Normally easy to catch horses may become difficult or evasive in the field.

Your horse may sink suddenly when mounted or rush away from the mounting block.

Once easy loaders become reluctant to go up the ramp when loading.

Some horses can become agitated or nervous when mounted and set off on a hack or to start work.

He may feel slightly uneven, pottery or obviously worse on one of his leads.

Excessive movement and poor balance in the saddle

Indications of a well fitted saddle.

With the rider mounted and without a numnah or pad, there is a minimum of 3 to 4 cm clearance between the underside of the pommel and the top of the horse's spine.

The points of the tree are parallel to the horse's side

The points of the tree sit about two to three fingers' width behind the horse's scapula, not on top of it.

The gullet is wide enough so that the panels sit on either side of the spine, not on it.

The panels should be smooth and symmetrical and follow the contours of the horse's back to spread the rider's weight evenly.

The saddle should ride and sit evenly either side of the spine with the riders weight centred.

The saddle is stable. It does not bounce excessively or slip to one side.

A well-fitting saddle moves with the horse's motion. A saddle that rocks will often "chase" the rider's seat on a rising trot. That is, the cantle will actually move up faster than the rider and the action of the horse's hip.