Is My Saddle 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.

How far back should a saddle sit on a horse?

Saddle positioning
The saddle needs to be in the right position on the horse’s back in order to judge its fit, and to allow the horse correct movement. The saddle needs to sit 2-3 fingers behind the shoulderblade and its muscles (see picture below).

What should my saddle setback be?

The more traditional method, know as ‘Knee Over Pedal Spindle’ (KOPS), proposes that optimal saddle setback occurs when the tibial tuberosity is directly over the pedal spindle when the crank arm is at 90 degrees in the downward stroke.

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.

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.

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.

How do you tell if your saddle is hurting your horse?

15 signs your saddle doesn’t fit – negative behaviour in your…

1. Avoidance behaviours – trying to walk away when being tacked up.
2. Ears back/head shaking when saddle comes close by.
3. Excessive tail swishing both in the stable and when ridden.
4. Pawing the ground.
5. Threatening to bite you when you come close with the saddle.

How do you tell if 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.

How do I know if my saddle is too long?

How do you know the saddle is too long? Trace the last rib of your horse up to the spine and if your saddle sits past this point, it’s too long! Alternately, you don’t want the saddle to be too short either so that your weight is compressed over a small area.

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 bridging?

If you lose contact, or have less contact, under the center of the bar, your saddle is bridging. That is often easier to notice than if you have high pressure under the ends of the bars, though you can feel that too if it is severe enough.

How much wider should saddle be than sit bones?

two cm
For this reason, width of the saddle (or the part of the saddle the sit bones are leaned on) should be at least two cm (one cm to each side) greater than the width of the part of the sit bones that are leaned on it.

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.

Why does my saddle move at the back?

The most common reason for excessive movement and bounce at the back of the saddle is panel related. If, as above, the panel is badly flocked, uneven in fit and consistency or over or under flocked the saddle will not conform to the shape of the horse’s back and movement may occur.

What should a horse’s back look like?

A horse should have well-formed withers where the shoulder can attach to the rest of the body. The back should be one-third of the horse’s length. Measure back length from the middle of the withers to the point of hip.

Why does my saddle slide when I get on?

Saddles that are too narrow or have too much padding built up in the front are prone to sliding back, resulting in an improper placement on the back. Saddles that are much too wide without proper corrective padding may slide forward and onto the withers.

Does a high saddle cause back pain?

A high saddle can also cause back pain and can be observed by the pelvis rocking or sliding side to side as the rider attempts to reach the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Can poor saddle fit cause lameness?

Poor saddle fitting can cause many lameness and movement problems that are often blamed on farriers. When an extra pad is necessary, a saddle does not fit properly. A lack of sweat under the saddle that is viewed immediately after a ride indicates too much pressure in those areas.

What to do if saddle is bridging?

If a slight bridge exists, then use a shimmable pad with bridging shims inserted to “fill in” the gap. Contact of the saddle panels on the horses back must be even. If the horse is a true sway, then this will make the horse more comfortable and offer a more permanent solution.

What are 3 symptoms that a horse may exhibit when he she is having back pain?

Symptoms of Back Pain

• Poor performance/reduced performance which may progress to behavioral problems (rearing/bucking/stopping or running out at fences).
• Discomfort to grooming or pressure over the back.
• Resistance to saddling, increased “girthiness” or abnormal gait after being saddled.

What is the most common horse riding injury?

1. Head Injuries. Head injuries are by far the most common of all horse-riding-related injuries.