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Introducing Common Saddle Fit Problems in Quarter Horses

October 24, 2022 by Jane @ THB 7 Comments

 

Are certain saddle fit problems related to conformation in Quarter Horses?

My goal with this article is to help you look at your Quarter Horse’s body and, if you see these conformation points, know what common saddle fit problems to check for.

Not all horses in the breed are the same shape, for there are many variations in individual conformation and posture – and there are just as many variations in saddles. The subject would fill many books.

This post is for horse owners who, like many of my clients, simply want to know where to start.

 

The Quarter Horse and saddle fit problems

The conformational points that feed into many Quarter Horse’s saddle fit issues are:

  • Heavy shoulders
  • Low withers
  • Wide flat back with rounded ribcage
  • Downhill conformation
  • ‘Curvy’ topline

Some horses have one or two of these, some have all. Some may have none.

Downhill conformation (c) J Clothier

 

So, without further ado, here are the problems they can lead to if not taken into account during saddle fitting.

And by the way, if your Paint or Appaloosa (or any breed of horse) has the same type of conformation, then this may help you too.

 

1. Low withers and wide back with rounded ribcage

Many Quarter Horses have broad ‘table top’ backs, with round ribcages and sometimes, but not always, with low withers that widen into solid shoulders.

These horses need wide trees with contours that match the back. With flush contact along the underside of the tree, weight is distributed evenly and the saddle is more stable.

What often happens is that the saddle is large enough to go round the horse, but it doesn’t match the contours of the horse’s back. If too wide at the front, it may fall forward and ‘nosedive’ (that’s not an official saddle fitting term, but hey it’s descriptive). The upper part of the pommel or fork creates pressure, leading to dropped muscle tone and white patches.

 

Wide saddles create pressure points higher up (c) Joyce Harman

If the saddle is too narrow for that broad back and shoulders, it perches on top, and may also be pinching at the lower points of the tree or fork.

Whether because it’s too wide or too narrow, the saddle that creates pressure in the wither pockets can cause hollowing and/or white patches or white flecking.

White patches show a saddle didn’t work for this Quarter Horse

And when there’s relatively little contact between the tree and the horse, the saddle is also unstable. If perched on top, it can very easily roll to one side or shift around as the horse moves. Likewise if it’s too wide.

 

2.   Large, well-muscled shoulders

Quarter Horse shoulders are often large, deep and powerful. If the saddle is too narrow at the front, such shoulders may lift it during movement. The saddle is rocked backwards and this creates pressure under the rear of the saddle. When ridden, the rider’s weight is now concentrated at the back of the seat, adding to the problem.

The narrow saddle may also bridge. This is when contact under the center of the saddle (lengthwise) is reduced or even entirely absent. As a result, there will then be four areas of pressure: two at the front and two at the back, on either side of the horse.

Briding saddle tree
A Western saddle tree bridging (c) https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/bridging/

 

With restriction at the front, the horse may have raised, overdeveloped muscles in the lumbar region, behind the saddle area. These may be visually obvious if there’s also weak musculature in front.

Quarter Horse overdeveloped lumbar muscles
Lumbar muscles are overdeveloped, while trapezius muscles either side of withers are underdeveloped. (c) J Clothier

3. Downhill conformation

It’s quite common to see Quarter Horses with a downhill conformation. They may be long through the back, with the lumbar spine sweeping up to the croup. The back often also has a deep curve through the saddle area.

Deep curve of the spine in the saddle area contributes to saddle bridging

This does not mean the horse has the back for a long saddle – it’s often quite the opposite, as these horses may need a shorter saddle to prevent bridging. A saddle may also need a more curved profile along the length of the tree to match contours of the back, while still having sufficient width to go around those shoulders.

The upwards sweep creates strong contact at the back of the saddle. With each hind step, the saddle is shifted forwards, especially if it extends over the lumbar muscles.

Sometimes, the lumbar spine becomes ramrod straight between the back of the saddle and the croup. This is caused by the horse’s efforts to both carry weight and stabilize it by bracing upwards – while moving, as asked.

Quarter Horse lumbar spine
The lumbar spine is raised, with no dip to the lumbosacral space (c) J Clothier

When ridden, the horse will often step short behind. At halt, it may consistently park the hind feet out behind.

Not surprisingly, in movement, the saddle is pushed forwards due to the high hindquarter action, as well as the forces of gravity. The shoulders can then become restricted, with hollowing in the wither ‘pockets’ and tense muscles across the shoulder itself.

Tension in the shoulder muscles (c) J Clothier

 

The horse may also drop through the sternum – this brings the line of the chest down, while the pectoral muscles bulge forwards as they work to stabilize the body.

The horse’s neck may be somewhat ‘upside down’ as compensates for the downward pressure while keeping its head elevated. This is compounded if the horse’s neck is already set low. Tight muscles become visible along the upper line of its neck, or there is a general lack of muscle development.

If the rider is also sat well back, even more pressure is created at the back of the saddle.

 

Useful saddle fitting resources

This article introduces the problems, so what about solutions?

The following resources provide more information on getting your saddle fit right (I’ll add more soon!)

Western Saddle Fit – The Basics 67-minute video on DVD or Vimeo streaming from Rod and Denise Nikkel

Western Saddle Fit: Well Beyond the Basics 6 hours for equine professionals from Rod and Denise Nikkel

The Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book eBook from Joyce Harman DVM

The Western Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book Soundness and comfort with back analysis and correct use of saddles and pads, from Joyce Harman DVM

Saddlefit4Life YouTube channel presents numerous educational videos, from Jochen Schleese of Schleese Saddlery.

THB Facebook Group
Jane\\\
Balanced Horse LinkedIn
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Filed Under: Saddle Fit Tagged With: GA, quarter horse, quarter horse back problems, quarter horse conformation, quarter horse english saddles, quarter horse saddle fit, western horse, western horses, western saddle quarter horses

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michele Holiastos says

    October 25, 2022 at 10:30 am

    hello Jane…love your information here plus all your most informative posts. Saddle fit is so important as I have found as there is so much variety in conformation of all horses. Have you any information about Baroque saddles as years ago I had a truck filled with these saddles but alas none of them fitted my very rounded broad back Australian Heritage Horse. They all sat like a pimple on a pumpkin! I bought my gelding as he had similar conformation to andalusians I used to breed but sadly thought these saddles would fit him. Have you had similar problems with Baroque style saddles or perhaps somebody reading this can recommend a brand of these that do fit a horses with well developed backs and rounded ribcages. I ride him in an old style french Colligate dressage saddle but would love to find a Baroque suitable “without pronounced knee supports” so my thigh/knee/inside lower leg sits flat close against the horse. I was taught decades ago to ride like this plus found that Mestre Nuno Oliveira who I also trained with in Portugal rides similar. Cheers

    Reply
  2. Bronwen says

    October 28, 2022 at 6:02 am

    Yes to all of this on my QH… would love to know what saddle features you have found to be successful here 💕

    Reply
    • Jane @ THB says

      October 28, 2022 at 7:32 am

      Thank you, Bronwen! I’ve included some saddle fitting resources at the end of the post, as the solutions are outside the scope of this article.

      Reply
  3. Deanna Drendel says

    November 12, 2022 at 12:42 am

    Great information. Thanks, Jane.

    Reply
  4. Francey Repp says

    January 8, 2023 at 2:58 am

    Would love your thoughts on the western pad that has air bags in it to help fill in the low parts of a horse’s back

    Reply
    • Jane @ THB says

      January 17, 2023 at 1:17 pm

      Please can you provide a link to the pad?

      Reply
  5. Anne says

    July 18, 2023 at 1:22 am

    It would seem that throw a saddle on a horse and ride, but there are so many nuances! I am just starting my acquaintance with horses and this post turned out to be very valuable for me. Thanks for the information.

    Reply

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