saddle fitting

Hi there:

I have the honor of sharing my life with the Clydesdale cross “Mount McKinley,” a very large gelding who known mostly in Vermont circles.  He is now 13. 

For years I was frustrated by his lack of athleticism until year ago a saddle fitter cried, “This horse has been stoic! There is no way this saddle ever fit him, no matter how it was stuffed.  He has been absolutley stoic.” 

balance at last

First I felt so very guilty that I may have caused this kind giant discomfort.  Then I went on a mission to find the right saddle.  Thank you Trumbull Mountain Saddlery in Shaftsbury!  Later, changing his shoeing angles to natural balance, and finally bitting him in what he needed has yielded a happy, responsive horse who can now canter in a tea cup.

Remaining alert to my horse’s changing needs and responding to them has made me a better rider and allowed my partner to explore his capabilities…and be very happy about it.

Patty Griffin

Saddle Fitting – The Journey

  Cindi Burns and TC AKA Tough Cookies

   Saddle fitting…emmm what a project.   Seems like my horses body shape has changed with his new work this summer.    Larger shoulder muscles I suspect from trail riding steeper terrain and/or proper usage of his back in the ring.    One of these or both have caused a sore back for my horse.    My eyes burn from reading so many articles on how to fit a saddle properly.     I’ve had 3 professional saddle fittings over the the last 5 years on this somewhat wide QH of my mine.  None found a english saddle that fit better than my current all-purpose Crosby soft-ride that was marginal at every saddle fitting.    Well, now that saddle has totally failed me or should I say my horse.  As for me my butt was totally content in that soft-ride saddle. but as for my horse the bar area has become too narrow.

Loaded up the horse and went to the tack shop…tried on saddles in the parking lot.  Tack shop assistant amazed how quiet my QH was as trucks parked nearby.  Expressed her TB mare would never do the same.   Now I have a wide all-purpose saddle sitting at my feet awaiting tomorrow’s ride.

I asked my webmaster what to write in my first blog.  I felt like it was my personal diary and didn’t want to share it with the world,  His response, “ just write something about horses”.    Emmm that is my personal diary…my webmaster is obviously not a horse person but a good webmaster so he’s a keeper.

Cindi Burns, Manager of The Horsemen’s Guide