How-to-fit-the-moving-horse-s-back

This picture is of a lovely gaited horse standing in a squared position. She has a definite "rock", or curve, shape. Saddles are typically matched to this standing horse's back shape. Some even look for extra curve, or flare, in the rear and front, making the bar even more of a C shape. But when the horse moves... it all changes!

This is the mare walking. Note how her back has changed..not a C shape.

If you fit a saddle to this horse's standing back shape, it would not fit the same when she moved.

Advantage Saddles understands what happens under the saddle and our trees are shaped to allow for these changes.

If your saddle does not allow for movment, your horse could be pinched and it would cause discomfort. You don't have to have dry spots for your saddle to not be a perfect fit!

What do we see when fitting your horse with a saddle?

Advantage Saddles advantagesaddles@sti.net

1-877-979-5979 home/office 209-966-4909 PO Box 1687 Mariposa CA 95338

This mare had been very difficult for her owner to fit, she'd been trying for three years! She had developed a reputation for being "Princess and the Pea" picky. Well, why not? She knew what was comfortable and what wasn't. We didn't see her as a difficult fit at all, she's our Medium. She liked her Advantage right away. Read about her saddle trials here and here!

Most people agree that horse's backs move under saddle, but few agree on exactly how to accomodate for it. Different design elements have offered solutions, such as flexible trees, independent panels, extra rock, shoulder flare, super wide, treeless and semi-treeles. We do not believe that you need to throw the tree out or make it fit in some extreme manner to allow the horse's back to move naturally and have proven this point in our saddles. It is in the shape of the tree that the secret lies, and the ability of the fitter to understand what tree the horse needs. We get it, we'll fit your horse, no problem!