Blog

Pre Season Check

10th February 2020

The eventing season starts in March (assuming it ever stops raining) and entries have now opened for the first BE event! So it’s time for all your pre-season checks.  Are your horse’s vaccinations up to date? When did you last have the equine dentist out? Does your horse need a back treatment?  Do you need to squeeze in any lessons?…

SADDLE RACKS

27th April 2019

How do you store your saddle? Many people use saddle racks (middle picture), which press into the panel (underside) of the saddle, leaving grooves (first pic). The more you weigh the saddle down (ie heavy stirrups, girths etc, the worse this can be. This means that instead of a nice smooth bearing surface against the skin of the horse, you…

January Rub Marks

4th January 2019

Is your horse developing areas of rubbed hair in the saddle area? If so, it may be time to have your saddle checked.  Horses at this time of year (Winter) tend to be at their leanest, so your saddle may need a small alteration to minimise any movement.  However, even the best fitting saddles naturally move as the horse does,…

HUNTERS – The importance of saddle Fit

21st November 2018

As a saddle fitter, I see more problems with sore backs etc with horses that are hunted regularly than in any other equestrian field, for the following reasons:   Hunters tend to change shape as the hunting season progresses; they can start the season carrying some summer fat, but the more days they do, the more they become leaner and…

Saddle Care

28th October 2018

I often get asked, when I’ve sold a leather saddle, how best to clean and care for it.  My advice is to remove any dirt, grease or grime with a slightly damp cloth.  Then apply a good quality leather balm, grease or cream.  (Some manufacturers advise against using glycerine saddle soap, either bar or spray-on, as this can dry out…

Saddle Slipping to One Side

21st August 2018

One of the major headaches for a saddle fitter is to resolve the issue of a saddle that slips to one side.  It has been well publicized that this issue is linked to the horse being unsound/unlevel or even lame behind.  Sometimes this gait abnormality is so subtle that it cannot be easily detected. Foot balance is also a factor…