Saddlefit 4 Life®
Protecting Horse and Rider from Pain and Long-Term Damage

Saddle Ergonomics Curriculum Outline


Introduction

  • Equine Back Health - Current moral and legal dilemmas concerning issues in saddle fit
  • Historical Perspectives and Current trends facing equine professionals and riders
  • Equine Protection at what cost? Am I protected?
  • Your role in the team of equine professionals helping horses live life to the fullest
  • Professional and rider education - key to improving horse's comfort, freedom and performance

Fundamental Principles of Equine and Human Anatomy Crucial to Achieving Proper Saddle Fit

  • Recent research findings in the equine back every rider needs to know
  • The gender of saddle fit - anatomical gender differences
  • Implications of Rider Gender for:
         a.  saddle design for women and men - relevance to the fit and construction
         b.  communication and comfort for the horse
         c.  back health for horse and rider
  • Growth stages of the horse and saddle fit requirements
  • Saddle fitting science and art - saddle fitter methods and qualifications

Applying Saddle Fitting Principles to the Conformation of the 'Horse in Motion'

  • understanding equine anatomy and how it relates to the fit of the saddle
  • analysis of dust patterns and the saddle support area
  • tree angle and width, gullet width, channel requirements
  • implications of biomechanics of movement, training and development
  • protecting the horse's skin, nerves, cartilage, spinal ligament system, musculature
  • factors to consider when selecting a saddle for optimal fit, comfort and performace
  • evaluation of saddle pads, girths, air flocking, treeless saddles

Identifying Common Saddle Fit Challenges leading to Back Soreness and Behavioural Issues

  • recognize signs of poor saddle fit and secondary back pain for horse and rider
  • prevention of pain and long term damage to horse and to rider
  • solutions: long-term versus short-term

Saddle Tree Technology

  • review of various trees and innovations
  • how the tree affects the comfort and health of the horse

Steps to Check Saddle Fit

  • diagnostic tools, systems and aids to evaluate saddle fit
  • 36 point evaluation of saddle fit
  • use of 'Professionals Kit'
  • saddle fit aids and solutions

Saddle Fitting to Horse and Rider

  • evaluation of adjustable saddles and non-adjustable saddles and their implications for fitting
  • understanding the theory of saddle tree adjustments and re-flocking
  • demonstration of saddle tree adjusting machine and Arc Device™
  • measuring of rider