| One of the most important things you can do to | | | | The first thing you want to do is place the horse riding |
| ensure the health and comfort of you and your horse | | | | saddle on the back of the horse forward of the wither. |
| is not only to select the right horse riding saddle, but | | | | Once you have done this, slide it backward down the |
| properly fitting that saddle to your horse. Having a bad | | | | horse until it cannot go any further. Do not force it. You |
| fit can not only create back ache and muscle pain for | | | | should see now that the lowest part of the saddle |
| the rider, but it also very uncomfortable for the horse. | | | | should correspond to the lowest part of the horse's |
| There are companies that will measure you and your | | | | back. In order to verify that you positioned saddle |
| horse and suggest a correct saddle size. I highly | | | | correctly, the saddle tree should not press on the |
| recommend this service to begin with. | | | | scapula or shoulder of the horse. It should lie in the |
| Once you have purchased the correct sized horse | | | | groove behind it. This is a common mistake when |
| saddle, it is also important to remember that the | | | | positioning a saddle. People have a tendency to place |
| position of the saddle on the horse's back is very | | | | the saddle too far up and put pressure on the scapula |
| important in making sure that the horse is comfortable | | | | of the horse. This can hamper the movement of the |
| while being ridden. There are basically three main | | | | horse as well as create saddle sores. |
| muscles in the horse's back which can be negatively | | | | Properly fitting your horse saddle to your horse will |
| affected by bad saddle placement. Please familiarize | | | | come easier after the first couple times you do it. It is |
| yourself with these muscles and their location on your | | | | worth taking the time to learn the correct way to do |
| horse before you attempt to position the saddle on the | | | | this in order for your horse to remain happy and |
| horses' back. | | | | healthy. |