This is the best saddle fitting video that I've seen on here! Clear and simple instruction, easy to understand and thorough visuals. Highly recommended!!
This video is awesome. I’ve always had trouble understanding exactly how a saddle should fit and I do not have access to a fitter. This video explained it so well and gave me so much more confidence to make the right saddle fit choice for my horse.
This video is so helpful - I know it’s slightly different but I am learning how to tack up and never really understood where the saddle should sit, someone would just say “that’s fine” but know I know where and why it should sit where it does - really helpful! Thank you!
This video so perfectly summed everything (in an English manner) up for me! I’m a complete beginner and felt like I was falling forward when walking around so now I’m going to check my saddle which supposedly fit, but now I know what exactly I’m looking for!! Thank you!
I am truly grateful for those awesome tips. I just need a small clarification if you may. Should the fit of the saddle be 100% all the time because if so, every horse need a custom made saddle. If not, what are the thing we can comprise? Thats for educational purpose no arguing intended. Thank you very much.
I've heard people say they use half pads if the saddle doesnt fit 100%. I use a saddle that fits my horse (this is a guess in %) 98% and I use one and it fits him 100% with it on.
Hi @F E, in a perfect world every horse would have a custom saddle! However, we know that every rider is trying to do the best for their horse with the tools they have, and we would recommend working with a reputable saddle fitter in your area to determine what’s best for your horse. Often certain pads can be used to help mitigate fit issues, but an equine professional that can put hands on your horse and on your saddle will be the best resource for your specific saddle and horse! -SmartPaker Jenna
Kate did a saddle fitting on my horse, and he has a Mattes half pad with shims in the summer, and a dressage pad alone in his heavy months. She has seen him twice, once in late winter and once in late spring. The half pad has made it possible for one saddle to fit both of his sizes.
Thank you!! this helps so much my horse is a rescue and the saddle I got the rescue fit it on him while he was a little skinny now his saddle is losing its fit and this helped so much to get the right size for him
That's what happened to my gelding which is why I had to get a half pad. I would get a new saddle but since it fits perfectly with the half pad I don't see a point in buying another saddle
Hannah Marie My saddle fits perfect with a half pad as well but my saddle is 30 years old and need repair is done in those repairs are quite expensive and we don’t have a place where we can get it fixed so instead of spending the money to get mine repaired my parents might get me a new one for my birthday
Very informative video, thank you! I never knew how to fit an English saddle before. I sadly don't have my own horse any more, but maybe some day I can own one again and I will know what saddle to get now.
Wish I had RUclips in the 80's when I had my first horses. I would've been able to be such a better horse owner. I guess the best thing is to load up your horse and take it to the tack shop otherwise how many times would you be doing returns?
What are some tips when buying a used saddle online and not being able to try it on your horse first? This video is so interesting and wonderful! Thank you.
Yes it's clear which saddles fit when the horse is standing squarely on a level surface with all his back muscles at rest, but, does it all still fit and works for him while in motion? When a horse is in motion the shape of their backs can change dramatically.
That's my point though. If you fit to the horse at rest the chance of the saddle fitting well enough to allow for complete range of motion is unlikely. There will most certainly be pressure points and areas where there is little contact. Add to that the pad and its thickness and you could have a mess. I've learned over the years that fitting my horse to saddle that is a few centimeters wider than their backs and adding a pad with shims to lift the front of the saddle up off their shoulders just enough to allow full range of motion makes a world of difference to their comfort and stride.
These fitting terms were created so when the horse is in motion, the saddle will still fit. For example, the 3 finger wither clearance rule. When the rider’s weight is in the saddle and the horse is moving, there will be less than 3 fingers clearance. But the fit will still be appropriate because this was taken into account during the fitting. Extra clearance was needed when the horse was still to allow for the rider’s weight and the horses movement
Very useful and informative video. Thank you very much. So the upper part of the saddle should not touch the horse's back? Should it be tried initially on bare skin?
Just happened to find you, great learning video which is what I am looking for. I agree with Zapporah, good explanation with using visuals. Thank you. Liked, subbed, alarmed.
Hi @maple 1, thanks for your question! This video is intended to be a guideline for horses using English-style saddles. We would not recommend using the same principles for Western-style saddles as those are intended to fit differently and work differently with horse and rider. We’ll be sure to pass your interest in seeing a video about Western-style saddle fit along to the right team here for future consideration, too! -SmartPaker Jenna
@@smartpak I would be interested as well. I currently have a sports saddle which may fit similar. Thank you for the video on English saddles! It was very informative!
Love this video explanation! I've watched so many, and never found one that gave clear enough details for me to feel confident enough to try it out on my own. What are the chances you've done one for western, too? 😇
Can you please explain the “two fingers on either side” part? I didn’t quite get what you mean by that because the angle of the clip was unclear💔 Thank you very much for this video!
Hi Kate @Smartpak Thanks in advance, I have referred to this vid several times! I have a question/comment... So I am to be clear: the saddle size i.e.: 17.5" Wintec 500 CC is not a measurement for the rider; rather it is for the horse weight bearing area for English purposes? Glad to have your services at Smartpak!
I just pick up an Australian saddle from an estate sale that is similar to an English saddle. Would I follow the same method in your video on my horses?
Is it bad to have a high wither clearance if the rest of the saddle fits balanced and has full contact? Or does that mean I need a wider gullet? I have a saddle with the easy change system but I’m unsure if I should go up one size.
This is the best saddle fitting video that I've seen on here! Clear and simple instruction, easy to understand and thorough visuals. Highly recommended!!
I agree ❤
Totally agree, very informative. Thankyou
This was actually very simple, I thought it would be quite more difficult than I thought!
Thanks for these tips, this is a great explanation and visual!
This video is awesome. I’ve always had trouble understanding exactly how a saddle should fit and I do not have access to a fitter. This video explained it so well and gave me so much more confidence to make the right saddle fit choice for my horse.
This was easy and informative.. Very helpful with the green dots..
Brilliant video. Learnt more from this video than a million others!
That's the best saddle fitting video I've ever watched, thank you!
Bought several saddles by now, and this have been my go-to for advice each time on proper fitting before calling in my local saddler!
I’ve been watching saddle fitting videos and this is absolutely the clearest thank you
Best saddle fitting for English I've come across. Thank you.
This video is so helpful - I know it’s slightly different but I am learning how to tack up and never really understood where the saddle should sit, someone would just say “that’s fine” but know I know where and why it should sit where it does - really helpful! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this I have a baby and I need to fit his first saddle correctly . This video helped so much 😊😊
Kate Ballard I’d the BEST! Love my saddle ❤❤❤
This is one of the best saddle fitting videos I've seen. Well done 👏 ✔️
This is the most informative saddle fitting video on RUclips. Thank you for creating this!
Really well done, thank you so much! Very clear explanation. If horses could, they would say this: thank you so much 👏👏👏♥️🐎
Great information thank you!
This is by far the clearest explanation I've seen. Thanks!
Thank you very much. Concise and to the point with great demonstration.
I have watched several videos, this one is the best!
This video so perfectly summed everything (in an English manner) up for me! I’m a complete beginner and felt like I was falling forward when walking around so now I’m going to check my saddle which supposedly fit, but now I know what exactly I’m looking for!! Thank you!
Thank you for the video, very clear and succinct. Buying and fitting a saddle is a nightmare
Fantastic video - very clear and to the point.
Thank you, thank you for this explanation!
I am truly grateful for those awesome tips. I just need a small clarification if you may. Should the fit of the saddle be 100% all the time because if so, every horse need a custom made saddle. If not, what are the thing we can comprise? Thats for educational purpose no arguing intended. Thank you very much.
I've heard people say they use half pads if the saddle doesnt fit 100%. I use a saddle that fits my horse (this is a guess in %) 98% and I use one and it fits him 100% with it on.
Hi @F E, in a perfect world every horse would have a custom saddle! However, we know that every rider is trying to do the best for their horse with the tools they have, and we would recommend working with a reputable saddle fitter in your area to determine what’s best for your horse. Often certain pads can be used to help mitigate fit issues, but an equine professional that can put hands on your horse and on your saddle will be the best resource for your specific saddle and horse! -SmartPaker Jenna
I think that wither and shoulder clearance are the most important aspects, but it does depend on the horse and the saddle!
Kate did a saddle fitting on my horse, and he has a Mattes half pad with shims in the summer, and a dressage pad alone in his heavy months. She has seen him twice, once in late winter and once in late spring. The half pad has made it possible for one saddle to fit both of his sizes.
I have looked into barefoot saddles, as they adjust with the horse.
I appreciate this video greatly ❤thank you
Very helpful!!!
Amazing Video!!! Greetings from Brazil
Absolutely the very best information with clear instructions! Thank you so very much Kate Ballard❤️
Well done and Thank you for this thorough demonstration🌟
Literally the best video I’ve seen on saddle fitting thanks!
Wow this is an amazing explanation of saddle fitting!
Super informative. Thank you so much!!!
Excellent informative video!
Thank you - wonderful video!
Great video! Very informative.
Excellent thank you ❤
Just checked and ..... HALLELUJAH !!!!! It fits perfectly !! Thanks for the video ❤️❤️
Thank you for this great video
Awesome video!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us, this was such an easy to understand clear video.
great saddle fitting video!
Great video, thanks !
Thank you very much for this excellent instruction. I really need to call in a saddle fitter. Thank you.
This is so helpful thank you!!
Awesome video very informative and easy to understand.
this is very helpful! i’m trying a saddle this saturday and will put these tips to use!
Thank you sooooo much SmartPak!
Really nice and simple! 😊
Best one I've seen.
Thank you!! this helps so much my horse is a rescue and the saddle I got the rescue fit it on him while he was a little skinny now his saddle is losing its fit and this helped so much to get the right size for him
That's what happened to my gelding which is why I had to get a half pad. I would get a new saddle but since it fits perfectly with the half pad I don't see a point in buying another saddle
Hannah Marie My saddle fits perfect with a half pad as well but my saddle is 30 years old and need repair is done in those repairs are quite expensive and we don’t have a place where we can get it fixed so instead of spending the money to get mine repaired my parents might get me a new one for my birthday
That and my saddle doesn’t have a changeable Gillett and my horse has huge Withers
I found this video really helpful, thank you.
Very informative video, thank you! I never knew how to fit an English saddle before. I sadly don't have my own horse any more, but maybe some day I can own one again and I will know what saddle to get now.
That was really helpful, thank you!
Fantastic very business like brilliant thank you!
Excellent video!
Really educational
This is a very helpful video! I certainly learned something about equine anatomical landmarks ☺️
Superb video - so informative! Thank you
Great video and very well explained
This is so helpful, thank you!
Fantastic thankyou 😀
This was wonderful!
Fantastic video. Thank you.
Very good information! Thank you!
Such an educational video.
This is an AMAZING video. Thank you so much!
Wish I had RUclips in the 80's when I had my first horses. I would've been able to be such a better horse owner. I guess the best thing is to load up your horse and take it to the tack shop otherwise how many times would you be doing returns?
Wonderful, thank you :)
thank you so much for this
What are some tips when buying a used saddle online and not being able to try it on your horse first?
This video is so interesting and wonderful! Thank you.
Thanks this really helped
Well done introductory video.
Wow! I feel like saddle shopping is really hard because you can’t bring your horse to the store to try them out haha
That’s why saddle fitters are so common even when you can fit ur own saddle because they bring in a bunch of test saddles
So interesting! Thanks for posting!
I like this video that you do
Excellent video, very clear explanations. Thanks for the tips!
Yes it's clear which saddles fit when the horse is standing squarely on a level surface with all his back muscles at rest, but, does it all still fit and works for him while in motion? When a horse is in motion the shape of their backs can change dramatically.
I think thats why at the end of the video its mentioned that the next step would be to see the horse in motion with a rider.
That's my point though. If you fit to the horse at rest the chance of the saddle fitting well enough to allow for complete range of motion is unlikely. There will most certainly be pressure points and areas where there is little contact. Add to that the pad and its thickness and you could have a mess. I've learned over the years that fitting my horse to saddle that is a few centimeters wider than their backs and adding a pad with shims to lift the front of the saddle up off their shoulders just enough to allow full range of motion makes
a world of difference to their comfort and stride.
These fitting terms were created so when the horse is in motion, the saddle will still fit. For example, the 3 finger wither clearance rule. When the rider’s weight is in the saddle and the horse is moving, there will be less than 3 fingers clearance. But the fit will still be appropriate because this was taken into account during the fitting. Extra clearance was needed when the horse was still to allow for the rider’s weight and the horses movement
Could you please do another one of these but for a western saddle? Thank you!!
Very useful and informative video. Thank you very much. So the upper part of the saddle should not touch the horse's back? Should it be tried initially on bare skin?
Thank you, brilliant video!!!
Just happened to find you, great learning video which is what I am looking for. I agree with Zapporah, good explanation with using visuals. Thank you. Liked, subbed, alarmed.
Do these same rules apply to western saddles?
Hi @maple 1, thanks for your question! This video is intended to be a guideline for horses using English-style saddles. We would not recommend using the same principles for Western-style saddles as those are intended to fit differently and work differently with horse and rider. We’ll be sure to pass your interest in seeing a video about Western-style saddle fit along to the right team here for future consideration, too! -SmartPaker Jenna
Maple 1 no, western saddles mainly span across the whole back (which you probably already know)
@@smartpak I would be interested as well. I currently have a sports saddle which may fit similar. Thank you for the video on English saddles! It was very informative!
Very helpful!
Thank you!
Amazing 🤩
Love this video explanation! I've watched so many, and never found one that gave clear enough details for me to feel confident enough to try it out on my own.
What are the chances you've done one for western, too? 😇
Thanks! Learned a lot
Can you please explain the “two fingers on either side” part? I didn’t quite get what you mean by that because the angle of the clip was unclear💔 Thank you very much for this video!
same here
I need one of these for Western saddles
very helpful thx!
Hi Kate @Smartpak Thanks in advance, I have referred to this vid several times! I have a question/comment... So I am to be clear: the saddle size i.e.: 17.5" Wintec 500 CC is not a measurement for the rider; rather it is for the horse weight bearing area for English purposes? Glad to have your services at Smartpak!
so is the same true for fitting a western saddle - ie 8 and 18? this was great by the way
Once we’ve found a saddle that fits well will the saddle pad make it sit differently?
Learned alot
Does this fitting technique apply to western saddles?
I just pick up an Australian saddle from an estate sale that is similar to an English saddle. Would I follow the same method in your video on my horses?
What about someone that needs a size 18 saddle, but it is too long for the horse? Are their alternatives?
Is any of this different for fitting a mule?
Is it bad to have a high wither clearance if the rest of the saddle fits balanced and has full contact? Or does that mean I need a wider gullet? I have a saddle with the easy change system but I’m unsure if I should go up one size.