When my friend told me NONE of my saddles were good fits for my horses, I was so disappointed. The saddles, a Tucker, a Big Horn and a Montana custom saddle from my mom, weren't bad enough to cripple. But if I were to double my hours in the saddle, my horses would be sore.
So I set out to research saddles.
My search led me to the
JJ Maxwell Tack & Saddle Company in Anderson, California. They make beautiful saddles for the "balanced rider." More than any other saddle maker, they have contemplated and integrated the comfort and movement of BOTH horse and rider.
The rigging system (girth and cinch) is unique, too.
They build custom saddles based on forms sent to customers before placing a saddle order. These forms vary by angle, width, and flare. With a little instruction and trial, each customer determines which form fits best.
My challenge, then, would be to find ONE form for Brooke and Shea.
Check out the video to see how this process works!
To learn more about contacting Hutchinson, click here.
In the process of helping Maddy with her saddle fit on Brooke and Shea, we found that all three of her current saddles were ill-fitting. All three trees were too wide - that caused the saddles to crash down at the wither and not allow for good spinal clearance. When that happens, the rider's weight lands right behind the shoulder and onto major pressure points.
Ouch!
Over time this pressure could do a great deal of damage to the muscle tissue. When weight is not properly distributed well (ideally two pounds per square inch, the circulation to the muscle is then cut off. This impact will cause muscle atrophy. Then the back becomes very weak and can have the appearance of a "sway back."
When checking for a good saddle fit, be sure to check the following:
1.) 3-4 finger clearance at the withers. Less than 3 fingers-saddle means it is too wide. Greater than 4 fingers means it is too narrow
2.) Levelness of saddle- Does the saddle rock front to back?
3.) Clearance at both the scapula and hip
4.) Check angulations of panels- Does it contour your horses back?
5.) Correct placement