Part 3 of a six-part series exploring hoof balance, saddle fit, and the whole-horse, whole-rider approach. You've had your saddle professionally fitted, your horse is comfortable, and everything seems to be working beautifully. Then, several months later, something changes. Perhaps the saddle begins slipping, the rider feels increasingly crooked, or the horse becomes uncomfortable under saddle. Naturally, you wonder whether the saddle needs adjusting. But before changing the

Part 2 of a six-part series exploring hoof balance, saddle fit, and the whole-horse, whole-rider approach. Have you ever watched a horse that seems perfectly sound but consistently moves differently to the left than to the right? Perhaps one shoulder appears more developed, one hind leg doesn't seem to travel quite as freely, or the horse has difficulty maintaining the same rhythm in both directions. You may have addressed muscular restrictions, worked on straightness, change

A saddle can appear to fit while your horse is standing quietly and tell an entirely different story once the horse begins to move. This is one of the reasons saddle fit can be so difficult for horse owners to assess. When riders think about an ill-fitting saddle, they often look for obvious signs: white hairs, dry spots, soreness, or a saddle that visibly rocks or slips. Those signs may matter. But often the first indication that something isn’t right is much subtler. The ho

Part 1 of a six-part series exploring hoof balance, saddle fit, and the whole-horse, whole-rider approach. What do a horse's hooves have to do with saddle fit? Quite a lot, actually. Yet it's a connection that can easily be overlooked when we're trying to solve problems with our horses. Imagine you've had your saddle checked, perhaps even adjusted several times. Your horse still seems uncomfortable, the saddle continues to shift, or you find yourself sitting crooked despite y

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a versatile compound commonly used in veterinary medicine, particularly in horses. Known for its powerful...

By Anne Bondi Researchers at Michigan State University carried out a comparison of pressure distribution under a conventional saddle and...

MacKechnie-Guire R, Fisher M, Mathie H, Kuczynska K, Fairfax V, Fisher D, Pfau T. A Systematic Approach to Comparing Thermal Activity of...

The basic principles of saddle fit remain the same whether english, western or endurance. The saddle must accommodate both the rider’s...

We all wish for unity with our horse. That feeling of oneness that takes us beyond this world into another realm of timelessness and...

In my years working with horses and riders as a trainer, instructor, clinician and saddle fitter I have repeatedly seen saddles being...

HOW THE SADDLE WORKS AS AN ADAPTER BETWEEN HORSE AND RIDER As I travel throughout California as a saddle fitter one of the most common...

Over and over again I hear “I need a narrow twist”. So why do I repeatedly answer, ”Not necessarily so!” ? Because a saddle with a...

What is the number one point we must keep in mind when fitting a saddle for a horse and a rider? The saddle must fit in motion. When the...

Through the years of working with many horse owners on balance and saddle issues, what has become evident is that most owners do not...

It seems that as we look around us we see riders trekking, jumping, galloping, sliding, piaffing….all without a worry in the world about...

Once upon a time, I thought that a saddle’s only purpose was to help me stay on a horse while I went galloping around with the wind in my...