07/07/2026
An interesting case of how incorrect saddle fit can impact a horses 'way of going.'
Recently, I was asked to a yard by a young couple producing and selling Irish Sport Horses. They had a lovely big mare that, like most modern sporthorses, had big shoulder/scapula movement. They felt she was uneven in her movement and unbalanced to ride, always changing leads etc. She had been to Vet and Physio, no clinical findings but the Physio suggested changing saddles.
Having established there was no asymmetry, we looked at her old saddle which we found to be much too narrow in tree size and gullet width. I put on a wide Shoulder Free Erreplus Saddle and the rider mounted. Immediately the rider felt the difference in the mares movement and balance under saddle.
Why? Undoubtedly the Erreplus Saddle fitted her better than her old saddle but the reason for the improvement in her way of going was stability of the saddle and therefore improved position and balance of the rider. In this case the narrow saddle was moving from side to side, causing the rider to sit unbalanced, causing the mare, especially on turns, to fall in our out, as horses, will always compensate their movement to go under the weight of the rider.
This was a good young rider, who did feel 'crooked' on the mare but wrongly thought the mares movement was the cause, when in fact he was inadverantly making her uneven by being out of balance on an ill fitting saddle.
As a Coach I know only too well that there can be many reasons for a rider to be sitting unevenly. The problem may be a physical problem with rider or horse, it might be a riders bad habit, or like in this case instability of the saddle. I am continually surprised by how a 60 Kilo rider with a bad position can adversely affect the movement of a 18 hh horse.
Saddle pads and especially girths, can also contribute significantly to saddle instability - so don't be afraid to contact your saddle fitter for best advice, as a small tweek can save a lot of headaches!
Below random picture of an unbalanced Rider/Saddle!!
