Finding the right horse and finding the right trainer are both very difficult things to achieve, but once you have found them there is another element that may seem small, but when you think about it, it is actually what lies between you and your dressage partner: the right fitting saddle.
Often we see riders who are confused as to why their horse doesn’t seem to be comfortable in his movement, or who they spend hundreds on osteopaths and physiotherapists when they miss what the horse is really telling them. Your saddle doesn’t fit your horse!
After ten years in the saddle making, fixing and adjusting Robert Biddlecombe admits he mainly deals with people who realise that their horses have changed shape and they can feel that the movement of their horse is somehow being restricted.
“The most common problem I see is that the horse has grown, or changed its shape due to the training. The saddle is making the horse uncomfortable and restricting his shoulder movement or relaxation over his back," Rob explained. “The most obvious sign is the saddle tipping either forwards or backwards on the horse's back.”
Beginning his horse career as a jockey, Rob got too big to be at the top of the sport and completed his apprenticeship to become a saddler instead.
“I learnt everything from saddle and bridle making to saddle fitting, and I think it is really important that a saddle fitter also has learnt how to make a saddle, so they understand the complexities involved.”
While he mainly deals now with fitting the right make of saddle to the right horse, Rob also does a lot of alternations, and feels that people often don’t understand just how much can be done to a saddle before you just opt to buy a new one.
“A lot can be done to change the shape and width of the saddle to adjust it to the changes in the horse. I deal a lot with tree alterations, general flocking of panels, adding wool, etc, all things that can help the saddle you have today become a better fit for the horse you have today, and not the one that you had yesterday.”
Budget is usually the key factor, according to Rob, in restricting people from finding their perfect saddle match. Rob’s advice is sometimes to look at the long term, rather than the quick fix.
“Pay right or pay twice is my advice, and while you may think you are saving, in the long run you will just have to pay more to fix it.”
So once you have found the right saddle, the life span of this saddle can be up to 10-15 years. However this depends on how you look after it.
“Don’t over oil a saddle in the beginning. I would recommend oil only for the first 2-3 weeks, and after that don't use soap as it can strip the leather of its colour," he stated. "The best way to clean a saddle is to use a damp sponge, or hyde food balm about three or four times per week."
by Sarah Warne - Photo © Astrid Appels
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