The Ten Step Procedure for Assessing Saddle Fit

This is the second of several articles on the Master Sadders Association Ten Step saddle-fit procedure. It covers steps #2 POMMEL/CANTLE RELATIONSHIP, #3 SEAT LEVELNESS, and #4 TREE’S POINTS ANGLE. In subsequent articles, I will cover the remaining six steps. Two or more of the remaining steps may be combined in one article. All of these articles will require concentration and participation from the reader to obtain the full benefit. Expect to find yourself asking new questions as you obtain answers to old ones. I promise you will learn a lot. Please feel free to contact me about any and all questions you may have as we go along.

Last month, we covered the first step in assessing proper saddle-fit: Correct Saddle Placement. If you have not read or understood this first step, it is necessary that you do so; otherwise, the execution of the remaining nine steps will be meaningless. For all the steps, the saddle should be evaluated without a pad. For steps 1-8, the horse should be standing square on level ground . All steps are interrelated and none is completely independent of the other.

STEP #2—POMMEL/CANTLE RELATIONSHIP
Assuming you have placed your saddle in the proper position on your horse’s back, you can proceed to the second step, evaluating the saddle’s pommel and cantle relationship. The pommel is the top front of the saddle at its highest point, and the cantle is the top back of the saddle at its highest point. This step determines the saddle’s basic balance for both horse and rider. In general, most saddles, cross-county, stadium jumping, all-purpose, and dressage, are designed “in balance” so that the point of the cantle is higher than that of the pommel. Examining the saddle on the horse’s back, we want to ensure that the cantle is higher than the pommel. A pommel that is level with, or higher than, the cantle, can reveal one of three problems:

Some manufacturers provide specific guidelines in terms of “how much higher” the cantle should be in relationship to the pommel (e.g. “one inch”). Also, riding discipline may dictate acceptable proportions in the pommel/cantle relationship. For example, a dressage saddle’s cantle will be proportionately higher to the pommel than a jumping saddle’s, mainly because dressage saddles have deeper seats. If you are unsure about this relationship for your particular brand of saddle, contact the manufacturer for their advice.


STEP #3---SEAT LEVELNESS

“The deepest part of the saddle’s seat should be level.” This determines where the rider will sit naturally in the saddle. The deepest part of the seat should encourage the rider to adopt the proper position for the intended discipline. Many manufacturers suggest that the deepest part of the seat should be exactly in the middle--some farther forward, some farther back. Regardless of the individual manufacturer’s viewpoint, what is important is that:

Also, a level seat helps assure proper distribution of the rider’s weight over the horse’s back longitudinally and laterally.

STEP #4---TREE’S POINTS ANGLE.
Properly trained saddle-fitters usually focus on the acuteness or obtuseness of the tree’s points angle to evaluate the tree’s fit—not the distance between the ends of the tree points. The tree’s points angle is absolutely fundamental in determining whether the appropriate “width” of the tree is proper for the horse’s back behind the shoulder. The measurement of the distance between the two points’ ends is commonly measured in “centimeters”--wide or narrow. Regardless, it usually is unrelated to and reveals very little about the “angle” of the tree’s points—especially when comparing this measurement among various manufacturers. For example, you could have two manufacturers whose trees’ points measure equally---30 centimeters for each. This does not mean their respective tree’s points angles are equal in terms of degrees. Conversely, you could have two manufacturers whose measurements are different (e.g. 30 versus 34), but the angles are exactly the same. Why?

If you are still foggy on this very important point, try this. Draw and compare an upside down U and V. Make or assume that the distance between the end “legs” of each letter is the same (e.g. equals 2 inches for each letter). You will now realize that even though this is true, the angles of the legs differ significantly.
Compared with your horse’s shape behind his shoulders (where the tree points rest), you will notice that legs of the upside-down “V” will fit him better than those of the “U”, even though both measure equally in distance between the ends of their legs (or points). The “U” leg ends will dig into wither. The “V” legs follow the vertical contour of this back right behind the shoulder.

(You can take this experiment a bit further; with the “V” now “lengthen” the legs. The “angle” remains the same but the distance measured between the ends increases!)

In short, the angle of the tree’s points defines its width. Specifically, the vertical ANGLE of each tree point should be compared with the vertical ANGLE of the horse’s musculature behind the shoulder--on each side of the horse. Ideally, these two angles should be parallel to one another. Also, you should always fit the larger side of the horse (horses tend to be asymmetrical from one side to the other) and adjust or fill in the narrower side with wool or shims, if possible. If the angle of the tree is too narrow or acute, it will act like the “U” and the tree’s points ends will “dig into” the horse’s. If they are too wide or obtuse, the inside top of the tree’s points near the gullet head will press into the horse wither or back.

Step #5 WITHER CLEARANCE, and Step #6 GULLET/CHANNEL WIDTH will follow in next month’s issue. Keep in mind that all of these steps are interrelated. If you achieve one of the steps, but not the other(s), your saddle’s fit is in question.

Sandy Panek is a Master Saddlers Association Certified Saddle Fitter and County Saddlery Agent and who has been fitting saddles since 1997. She can be reached at. 540-272-0797 or sandypanek@cs.com  © 2003, Sandy Panek
 

Click here for information on the VADA Celebrity Freestyle:  advertising, sponsoring, dinner reservations, etc.

A panel of noted celebrities will judge horse and rider teams. Those celebrities invited to judge are: former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger , actress Sissy Spacek, author Rita Mae Brown, newscaster Margaret Warner, poet laureate Rita Dove, actress Angelica Houston, actress Mary Bantam Wilt and photographer Sally Mann . Other celebrities will be announced soon.
General admission is $ 10.00 per person (advanced purchase) and $15 at the door. Special ‘ Patron ’ seating is offered and includes admission for the program, and a specially prepared dinner under the tent at ringside with the ‘Celebrity Panel of Judges’. The cost is $ 125.00 per person. This year a ‘Picnic Tent’ (Preferred seating) will be set up for those wishing to bring a picnic and enjoy the summer evening in a more casual way. The cost is $65 per person.

There will be a variety of exciting and interesting animal exhibitions- including the Spiritdogs, western reiners and Jesus Morales , the famous Doma Vaquero rider of Spain .This classic form of Spanish riding style has been shown by Mr. Morales in Europe. Flamenco dancers also complement the exhibition.

The ‘Calcutta’ (a fun auction which encourages spectator to bid on their choice for the winner at the advanced level of competition) will take place with favorite equine auctioneer Jeff Marsh presiding.
A wide range of sponsorships for the classes of the day is available and encouraged.
Further information:
‘Patron ‘ seating, Preferred seating, or General Admission call Marlene Eagleburger @ 434-977-7175.
Sponsorship information: Tigger Montague @ 434-979-7421 or Barbara Schulman @ 434-825-5867
Entries for riders: Nancy Lowey:  nlowey@rocketmail.com  or Molly Layfield: mshl@mindspring.com
Visit our website www.vadressage.org for entry information.

Listing of VADA Fix-a-Test Clinics

• CENTRAL CHAPTER:  Judge - Sally O'Connor, "S" (NOVA) date and location TBA
  Contact: Molly Layfield, 804-730-6468, mshl@mindspring.com
• CHARLOTTESVILLE CHAPTER:  Judge - Libby Anderson, "S" (NOVA)
  May 3, 2003 at Karen Lewis' Foxhorn Farm, Afton, VA
  Contact: Beth Jandl 434-286-4548, bethjandl@aol.com, or
  Susan Goode, 434-971-9760, urqhartsj@aol.com
• FREDERICKSBURG CHAPTER:   Judge - Heidi Berry "R", (NOVA), date and location TBA;
  Contact: Nina Bellavance, 540-582-8846; nbellavance@yahoo.com
• NORTHEAST CHAPTER:   Judge - Kathy Rowse, "S", (SVDA)
  Tentative date: May 4, 2003, at Scripture Farm,  Heathsville, VA; Contact: Deborah Scripture, 804-580-6319

• NORTHERN VA CHAPTER:   Judge - Helen George "r", (CC/CH) date and location TBA
  Contact: Robin Dannels, 540-439-0994, reigndear01@aol.com

• SHENANDOAH CHAPTER:   Judge - Harriet Peterson "r", (SW) April 27, 2003, at Leslie Sebers’ Lighthorse Farm, Linville, VA $40.00/ride for non-members; Closing date: 4/17/03 Contact: Jane Palmer, 540-856-2580, dpalmer@shentel.net, or Leslie Sebers, 540-833-2414, CALIBAN71@aol.com

• SOUTHEAST CHAPTER:   Judge - Barbara Wiefelstede "R", (CC); February 22, 2003, at Joan McClellan's Happy Valley Equestrian Center, Suffolk, VA; Contact: Cathy Giambalvo,
  757-434-8131, Cathyg@earthlink.net

• SOUTHWEST CHAPTER:   Judge - April Rivers "L"
  April 12, 2003, Salem, VA
  Contact: Pam Bennington, 540-774-6924, pambenning@cox.net