Hey, my saddle does not fit!

Is your horse saying to you – Hey my saddle does not fit! Would you even know if your horse was trying to communicate that to you? Here is a list of things that your horse might do that could help you determine if your saddle does not fit.

Obvious signs -

White hairs around the withers

Pain at the withers

Broken hairs at withers or anywhere the saddle sits

Attitude or your horse communicating to you that the saddle does not fit -

When preparing for saddling the horse’s breathing rate (respiration) increases, or he passes manure, or he moves around a lot

The horse pins its ears, bites at its side, or nips at you when being brushed or curried.

The horse pins its ears, bites at its side, or nips at you when you bring the saddle out.

The horse pins its ears, bites at its side, or nips at you when you place the saddle on or when you girth it up.

Cowkicking when girthing or even trying to girth the saddle (cinchy)

The horse may need to be longed before you can safely mount up.

Communicating to you while riding -

Not willing to go forward

Decreased shoulder movement

Swishing the tail or holding it off to one side

Not willing to collect or raising the head and swaying the back

Bad canter leads

Crow hopping or bucking

Attemping to throw you or brush you off, anything to get you off its back

These are the most common signs of a saddle not fitting your horse. If your horse is saying these things to you you really should listen. A horse is not a jerk just for being a jerk. He is telling you something is not right, you jerk, please fix it. So if your horse tells you this do something about it. Get his saddle fit correctly.