Does your trail saddle fit your horse properly? It makes a big difference in how your horse behaves and gaits. Follow the simple steps below to tell.
Your Horse
1. Make sure your horse is standing on level ground.
2. Place the saddle on the horse first without a pad. Set the saddle on his back and starting at the withers, gently slide the saddle back, allowing it to settle into its natural resting area behind the shoulders.
3. Stand back and look at the skirt. It should not be jutting into your horse's hip bone which will impede his movement. The front of the saddle should not be jutting into the shoulders either. If your Tennessee Walker cannot use his shoulders and hips properly, he can't gait, at least not very well.
4. Now slide your hand in on both sides of the withers. This should be fairly easy. Finally, put 2 to 4 fingers between the horses withers and the fork (saddle horn area) of the saddle. If the saddle is well broken in, two fingers will suffice.
5. Finally, place your pad on your horse and saddle up. Ride him until he is sweating. Dismount and remove the saddle. Your horse should have no dry spots around his shoulders. The sweat on the saddle pad should be fairly even.
You
1. Can you put your hand on your thigh between your leg and pommel?
2. Do your legs hang down comfortably in a straight line without your feet in the stirrups.
General
1. Horses with high withers will need a saddle with a higher pommel.
2. If the saddle skirt rubs your horse's hip bone, try a short or round skirted saddle which is much more ideal for a Tennessee Walking Horse.
Click on the link below for instructions on measuring your horse and making a form to take to your local saddle store before purchasing a saddle.
Todays Horse
If you are looking for a great trail saddle that works well for gaited horses, contact us for a quote. We are Abetta Distributors and have learned through trial and error which saddles work best for gaited horses, and in particular, Tennessee Walking Horses. Our prices are hard to be as well.