How the Right Saddle Fit Enables Optimum Performance with Sue De Crespigny from Saddle Up

This article is from the July 2020 Horse Deals magazine.

About Sue De Crespigny

Sue has an English Society of Master Saddlers Saddle Fitter qualification and an ASFA qualification and has been saddle fitting for over 20 years. Sue is also a qualified and highly experienced saddler.

While Sue fits for all levels of riders she is also the saddle fitter for many top Australian riders including Maree Tomkinson and Paul Brent.

About Saddle Up

Saddle Up has built an impeccable reputation over the last 30 years for their expertise in selecting and fitting the right saddles for their clients. Unsurprisingly that reputation has become known nationwide.

Saddle Up have the largest selection of saddles in Australia which includes Albion, Bliss of London, Ideal, Thorowgood and Frank Baines to name a few. Saddle Up offers undebatable knowledge, value and range to their customers.

Sue is available for Saddle Fit bookings in Victoria by calling the Saddle Up store on 03 9727 4000.

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A well-fitting saddle enables you to sit in a correct riding position, allowing you to communicate aids more effectively and your horse is able to move more freely and is likely to respond willingly to your aids.

Conversely, an ill-fitting saddle can cause uncomfortable concentrated pressure points along your horse’s back, which over time can cause long term muscle damage, potentially leading to soundness and behavioural problems. You may not realise that your horse’s behaviour could be a result of an ill-fitting saddle.

The basic philosophy of saddle fitting is to achieve correct rider balance and even weight distribution along the horse’s back. Simple as it sounds, saddle fitting is not an exact science. It takes professional training and years of experience to correctly flock and adjust saddles by considering different saddle brands and systems, horse conformation, diet and exercise, as well as considering the added complexity of rider connection.

You may not realise that every change of season, every time you change your horse’s feed or bring him into work, changes your horses back muscles. There are many factors that need to be considered when it comes to getting the right fit and selecting an experienced, qualified saddle fitter that will help you to find the right fit for you and your horse.

Sue De Crespigny, a life-long horsewoman and qualified English Society of Master Saddlers Saddle Fitter and ASFA qualified Saddle Fitter, says the tree of the saddle is the foundation and that has to suit the back of the horse and the seat of the rider. The saddle must be comfortable for both the horse and rider. The horse, the rider and the saddle must be compatible. If they are not, there will be a problem down the track.

During a saddle fitting I have to get a saddle that suits that horse and that rider. The horse has to move the way it has been made to move, faults and all. Horses too can have conformation faults that are hard to fit – the better the conformation, the easier it is. Every horse and rider partnership is unique with each combination having their own considerations.

I also advise anyone thinking about making a saddle purchase to ride in it before they buy it. Saddles are not the same on all horses, you may like it on one horse but not on another. During the saddle fitting I look at the rider and make sure they are straight; that their shoulders and hips are level; the ideal is a well-balanced, centred rider. I also look at how the horse moves in that saddle. Is he comfortable through the back? Does he have a nice, even way of moving?

When the saddle fit is comfortable, the horse will move more freely which will enhance their performance. Conversely, a saddle can impede the horse’s movement which will have a negative impact on their performance. During a fitting, I watch the horse’s ears and look to see if their tail is swishing, or if there are any other signs of discomfort.

Saddle Checks

1. Does your saddle tip you off balance either forwards, backwards or to one side, or does the saddle just not feel right?
2. Is there less than two fingers clearance along saddle panels to his spine?
3. Does the saddle seem to have uneven pressure through the panels down behind your horse’s shoulder or along his back?
4. Is your saddle new and has not been fitted?
5. Has it been more than six months since your last saddle fit?

How do you know if you are you due for a saddle fit?

General Checks

1. Has your horse recently come into work?
2. Has your horse’s diet recently changed?
3. Has your horse recently recovered or is recovering from an injury or illness?
4. Is your horse new?
5. Does your saddle appear to have any unevenness through the panels?

Horse Behavioural Checks

1. Does he wince when you touch his back, or try to kick, bite or is generally not happy when you groom him or saddle him up?
2. Is he cold backed when mounted?
3. Does he generally resist your aids or does he go with false collection?
4. Does he have muscle loss, dry spots, broken or white hairs?

If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s probably worth getting a trusted and accredited saddle fitter to check your saddle fit.

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