How Should A Pony Saddle Fit?

The saddle must allow sufficient shoulder room for the pony, and not sit any further back than the 18th or last rib. This can be a very limiting thing as some ponies have an extremely short saddle platform. If the saddle is placed too far back, the rider’s weight lands in an area where there are no large muscle groups.

How do I know if my saddle fits correctly?

CHECK YOUR SADDLE’S FIT
With your saddle correctly positioned, put your hand underneath and slide your fingers along the panel. If it doesn’t feel equally snug from front to back, it’s “bridging”–and the places where it’s tight will becomes sore from the extra pressure.

What does a good fitting saddle look like?

The saddle should have 2-3 fingers clearance on the top and around the side of the withers. The saddle must have be an opening (clearance) on the sides of his withers to accommodate the shoulder rotation upwards and backwards during movement. A horse whose saddle pinches his withers may be reluctant to go forward.

Is it better for a saddle to be too big or too small?

In general, it’s better to have a saddle a smidgen too big than a smidgen too small. (A smaller saddle may cause uncomfortable chafing.)

How do I know if my saddle is too big?

5 Important Signs That Your Saddle Doesn’t Fit You

1. You Come Off the Flaps or Cantle.
2. You Slide Forward or Backward.
3. You Have Trouble with Your Balance.
4. You Continuously Tilt Forward or Backward.
5. Your Back Is Sore After Each Ride.

Should a saddle move at the back?

A saddle that looses contact in the middle of its panel could be too narrow causing the saddle to bridge and creating 4 point pressure. A saddle lifting off significantly at the back could be too wide and increase tightness around the horse’s shoulder and may lift and catch the rider behind.

How do I know if my saddle seat is too small?

Slide the saddle into place, and then slip your fingers between the gullet and the horse’s withers. A good fit — Two to three fingers’ width is just about right. Too narrow — If you can fit your whole hand in between the withers and saddle gullet, the tree is too narrow.

How tight should a saddle be on a horse?

The girth should be tight enough to keep the saddle in position but not so tight that it interferes with your horse’s movement or causes the saddle to slip forward.

How many fingers should fit under a saddle?

Ideally 4 fingers should provide sufficient clearance here, but please ensure the saddle is still clearing the withers once the saddle is girthed up and the riders weight is on board. Often a poor fitting saddle will drop down over the withers with a rider on.

Is a wider saddle more comfortable?

Saddle shape
Wider saddles tend to be more comfortable so are good for long rides or leisurely riders where extra weight from more materials isn’t an issue. Thinner saddles tend to be better for short efforts – such as racing – where comfort isn’t dispensed with entirely but is compromised in favour of other factors.

What happens if your saddle height is too high?

A saddle that is too high will cause the hips to rock back and forth. Not only does this detract from pedalling efficiency, but it can also be extremely uncomfortable. Discomfort can show up in your lower back or as knee pain (especially in the back of the knee).

What happens if saddle is too far back?

A saddle that is excessively too far back alters your hip angle which subsequently places more stress on your hamstrings and butt muscles during the pedal stroke.

What happens if your saddle is too far forward?

If your saddle is set too far forward then you may be using your upper body too much causing tension in the shoulders and arms as well as having sore hands. You will be able to have a quicker cadence but you will tend to sit back on the saddle up climbs.

What happens if a saddle is too long for a horse?

If a saddle is too long for a particular horse, the rear of the panels will extend past the horse’s saddle support area. This is extremely uncomfortable for the horse, as it puts pressure on his lumbar region.

How do I know if my saddle is too far back horse?

A saddle positioned too far back tends to sit on the “floating ribs”. This is the “bucking reflex point” – pressure on these unsupported ribs causes considerable discomfort, which can lead to bucking as the horse tries to alleviate the pressure.

Should you tilt your saddle?

If you find yourself constantly sliding forward on the saddle, tilt it up, A LITTLE. Upward tilt should generally not be necessary, though with some saddle shapes it can help. It would be very uncommon for any saddle to need more than 1° of upward tilt.

Does riding without a saddle hurt?

No, according to Clayton, who indicated that occasional bareback jaunts are unlikely to cause significant pain or damage. Very long bareback rides, repeated bareback rides over several days, and bareback riding by heavier riders (who produce more force) might be more problematic.

How far forward or back should my saddle be?

2. Determining Saddle Setback. Move the saddle forward or backward so your knee is over the pedal spindle when the crank is in the 3 o’clock position. Again, this is a good starting point, and then you can adjust your cleats fore and aft as needed.

What happens if a saddle is too small?

If a heavier rider sits in a saddle which is too small, the rider has no chance for a pliable seat and therefore doubles her natural weight. She is not able to swing through her back nor harmonize with the swinging of the horse`s back.

What happens if your saddle doesnt fit your horse?

A saddle which does not fit correctly may cause discomfort by putting pressure on your horse’s back, causing him to buck during a ride. While bucking can also be a training issue, you should rule out a badly fitted saddle.

Where should the saddle rest on a horse?

The saddle should be placed on the back, over the wither, and then slid backwards into its natural resting place. Check that the saddle is balanced and level and not tipping backwards or forwards. There should be a broad-bearing surface, with the weight distributed evenly along the horse’s back.