If your blue jeans were two sizes too small, it’s likely your body would show signs of (major) discomfort, such as pinching and red marks. Now, unless they’re the last pair to your name, you’re likely not wearing those jeans again, let alone tomorrow, the next day, or for days to come.

Now, imagine how your horse might feel, if he is consistently ridden in an improperly fitted saddle.

How Does Your Saddle Fit Your Horse?

Your horse’s comfort, happiness and your proper positioning as a rider all weighs on your saddle’s fit. An improper saddle fit causes your weight to be distributed unevenly, which can result in pressure points, rub marks, soreness, or the development of white saddle spots on your horse.

Monitor your horse’s attitude and behavior while riding, which can clue you in on a painful saddle fit, but keep in mind: some horses are more stoic than others. It’s best that you take a step back and take a close look at your horse while he is saddled to determine fit.

Your saddle fits just right if it sits level on your horse’s back and the bars of the tree do not pinch. The front of your saddle should be positioned behind your horse’s shoulder blade, allowing him freedom of movement.

Your saddle is too narrow if the front of the saddle sits high. When the saddle is sitting directly upon the horse’s withers, pinching can often occur.

Your saddle is too wide if the front of the saddle is low. This also results in pinching but at the top of the saddle’s bars. In this scenario, the gullet of the saddle may be too low and rest on your horse’s withers causing pain and discomfort.

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Continue reading for additional guidance to help ensure you and your horse enjoys the most comfortable and secure ride possible.

What to Consider When Selecting a Saddle Pad

Selecting a saddle pad is an important decision that should not be based on look and color patterns alone. Some saddle pads are uniquely designed and contoured to fit your horse’s back immediately, relieve wither pressure and wick away sweat and moisture.

Be sure to avoid over-padding your horse, a common practice that can result in your saddle rolling and sliding more easily. Choose a saddle pad that offers your horse the support he needs. Shop saddle pads and blankets

How to Measure For a Cinch

For your saddle’s fit and proper positioning on your horse, it is important that your horse’s cinch fit well, too. In the video above, Professional’s Choice representative and professional rodeo cowboy, Brodie Poppino, shares how to properly measure and fit a cinch to your saddle.

Keep in mind, though: non-nylon cinches could stretch up to a full size, so based on your preference, consider the material before ordering a cinch for your horse.

What to Consider When Choosing a Cinch

When choosing a cinch for your horse and saddle, keep in mind there are two different types of cinches: Western cinches and roper cinches. A roper cinch is wide and contoured, so when they are cinched up and stop quickly, the weight is distributed more evenly over a wider area of the horse, reducing uncomfortable pressure on the horse’s abdomen.

When tightening your horse’s cinch for an everyday ride, consider how tightly you wear your belt, and offer your horse the same level of comfort. Overtightening a cinch can add pressure and discomfort for your horse before you even step into the stirrups. Shop cinches

Remember that the longevity of your saddle and tack all depends on how well it is cared for over the years. Cleaning and oiling your tack regularly helps to prevent cracking and protect the leather. Oiling your saddle also aids in a safer ride, as dry, cracked leather can result in breakage, which can potentially lead to a mishap and rider injury.

For safety, closely observe your tack and the quality of your leather pieces. Are they oiled and secure, without any sign of dry rot or cracking? If so, happy trails. If not, for the safety of your ride, it is time for repair or replacement. Shop leather care

This article originally appeared on Valley Vet and is published here with permission. Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians for people just like you - people who want the very best for their four-legged friends and livestock.

All photos courtesy of Valley Vet.

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by Kentucky Equine Research Staff

Time, weather, and suitable facilities, rather than an owner’s knowledge and ability, were the three main factors limiting how much human-led exercise (HLE) a horse receives, said the authors of a U.K.-based survey exploring exercise as a means of weight management.

Many horses in the U.K. are maintained in “obesogenic environments,” defined as a setting that promotes gaining weight and one that is not conducive to weight loss. Even though horses are turned out for self-directed exercise (SDE), the pasture is too often nutrient-rich. As a result, horses get the benefits of turnout, including free movement, socialization, and grazing, but overconsume calories. Obesity is therefore common, and 40% of the 804 survey respondents admitted that their horses were either overweight or obese.

“This number is probably much higher than suspected, as previous research found that owners frequently underestimate their horse’s weight and body condition,” explained Ashley Fowler, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research.

Obesity is a welfare issue because horses are at risk of developing osteoarthritis, laminitis, and metabolic problems.

Traditional means of managing obesity center on nutrition, primarily reducing dietary intake by restricting grazing and maintaining horses in individual stalls. This approach breaches the three “f’s” of equine welfare: freedom, friends, and forage.

“Instead of solely focusing on nutrient restriction, another approach to weight management is increasing energy expenditure either by HLE including longeing and riding or encouraging voluntary movement (SDE) during turnout,” Fowler said.

Based on the survey, most owners indicated that their horses had daily turnout even in the winter. The bulk of the horses also engaged in HLE, primarily hacking or flatwork three to five times per week.

“The top three barriers to HLE were weather, time, and the availability of suitable facilities in which to exercise,” Fowler indicated.

But even with HLE, horses were believed to be overweight or obese because exercises were low-intensity and “unable to neutralize the obesity risk promoted by grass-rich environments,” stated the survey authors.

While owners indicated that they realized exercise was important in managing obesity, they felt increasing SDE rather than HLE would be a more realistic option due to lack of time combined with weather and lack of suitable facilities in which to exercise their horses. The researchers then suggested “track systems” for improving SDE. These are low- or no-grass tracks built around the perimeter of a field. Resources are then distributed throughout the track to promote movement.

Even though this study was conducted in the U.K., research on horses in the U.S. has also indicated a high prevalence of obesity in the equine population. Further, one U.S. study found horse owners also felt that caring for overweight horses increased time and labor input.^**

As stated by the researchers, exercise plays a vital role in weight management, reducing the risk of insulin dysregulation, a key feature of equine metabolic syndrome. Nonetheless, dietary restriction still plays a key role in weight management, and Fowler reminds owners the importance of forage.

“Horses require at least 1.5% of their body weight in forage each day to support a healthy gastrointestinal tract and to minimize the chance of developing equine gastric ulcer syndrome,” she said. “Even though overweight horses require a reduced-calorie diet, they still need to be fed sufficient vitamins and minerals. Including a ration balancer or vitamin-mineral supplement can help achieve this goal without overproviding calories.

Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Kentucky Equine Research is an international equine nutrition, research, and consultation company serving horse owners and the feed industry. Our goals are to advance the industry's knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology, apply that knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses, and support the nutritional care of all horses throughout their lives. Learn more at Kentucky Equine Research.

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