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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Saddle Fitting Clinic

6/19/2012

 
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Tina Hoover adjusting my saddle
We went to a saddle fitting clinic yesterday.  I think it was a clinic. There were only three or four of us getting our saddles adjusted. Does that make it a clinic?

Regardless, Tina Hoover, the saddle fitter did an awesome job and happily answered my gazillion questions about saddles.

I expected to be laughed off the property when I sheepishly explained that I wanted my saddle adjusted to fit my Arabian and my Thoroughbred.  To my surprise, Tina's response was sure, I do that all the time.  Saddles are expensive and most riders can't afford multiple saddles.  

WHAT?!  My jaw dropped open.  I didn't show up expecting a total cold shoulder, but I'll admit that I was braced and ready for the your-saddle-is-a-crappy-fit-and-needs-to be-replaced-immediately sales pitch.  That's not at all how Tina operates.  She asked which horse was number one, to which I replied that I ride them both equally.  She gave them a quick once over and determined that since Speedy is the wider of the two, she would fit it more to his shape.

A pause is needed here.  Again with the WHAT?!  Speedy is wider than Sydney?  I would never in a million years have guessed that.  Yes, Speedy has ample withers and yes his rib cage is well sprung (Tina liked that visual for him), but Sydney is just so much bigger that I assumed he was also wider.  Hmmm ...

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Gray horse is wider than bay horse?!
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Photo from last summer.
We put Speedy in the barn aisle's cross ties, and Tina set to work.   She tactfully pointed out a few problem areas, but quickly reassured me that she could easily make some modifications.

One area that we looked at was the length of the saddle (17.5"). Even though Speedy has a longish back for an Arab, it's still short compared to many horses. Tina felt the back of the saddle dug into his loins slightly.

Along with being a bit long, the saddle has a tendency to sit too low in the back (on Speedy) which puts me slightly behind the center of gravity.  Tina demonstrated by placing a pen on the seat of the saddle.  Sure enough, it rolled just back of the saddle's center.  She raised the rear of the saddle slightly, and the pen settled into the center of the saddle where my own seat bones should rest.  Oh.

Other than those two issues, she felt that we had a good fit.  With her bag of wool flocking, a smooth mallet, and several long pointy tools, she settled down to reposition the flocking in my saddle.  She pushed and pulled the flocking explaining that she was giving Speedy more room in the front of the saddle so that it would drop down a bit in the front which would effectively raise it up in the back.  She had the saddle on and off Speedy's back dozens of times as she adjusted and readjusted.  She also had me ride both horses and lead them at the walk with the saddle just sitting in position.  

Tina also worked to smooth out any hard places and fill in places where the flocking had shifted, like under my thighs.  As she worked, she answered many questions about tree shape, panel design, and placement of the saddle.  She explained that most people place the saddle too far forward on their horses' backs, even me!  I had it close, but she suggested sliding it back another inch or so.

She demonstrated how to find the sweet spot by placing the saddle on the horse's back with no pad.  Start the saddle far forward of where it should be and then slide it into place.  Using one hand in front of the saddle, firmly bump the saddle backwards until it locks into place.  Again, oh!

When making a few minor adjustments for Sydney, the saddle was a nice fit for him, she agreed that his right shoulder is less "bulgy" than his left, but she said it was very normal for horses to be somewhat asymmetrical.  She adjusted the flocking still more until the saddle also fit Sydney.  In all, Tina spent several hours fitting the saddle to both boys.  

If you've never had your saddle adjusted, I highly recommend it.  Not only will you be giving your horse a more comfortable ride, but it is a fascinating process and you'll learn a lot about your horse's anatomy. 

If you live in California, Tina Hoover can be reached at 626-422-7382.  And just as a gotta know, Tina charged me $120 which included a portion of her travel fee.

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Tina sharing a saddle tree.
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Underside of the tree.
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Tina working on my saddle.
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Tina (left) fitting a Kieffer to Dugan with Sue watching. Sue organized the event.

Field Trip 

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As a side note, Sydney did really well on this outing.  He hasn't left our little barn since March so I was very pleased.  He loaded right up in the trailer, stood tied, did a small ride with no lunging needed, and ate and drank the whole time he was at Quiet Creek Ranch.

Speedy on the other hand was a bit of a stinker.  He is great if he travels alone, but once a friend joins him in the trailer, he gets VERY herd bound!  Grr ...

martina peterson
6/19/2012 09:44:04 am

interesting article. I love the new look of your web page and it's easier to read

Karen
6/19/2012 12:13:51 pm

Thanks, Mom!

Val link
6/20/2012 04:41:37 am

That sounds like a great opportunity and the price also sounds reasonable, considering that she worked on two horses and spent several hours on the entire process. Will you have to use pads or shims under the saddle for Sydney, now that the saddle is wide enough for Speedy?

I am not surprised at all that the TB is narrower than the Arabian. We used to receive donated saddles at the farm I worked at and I could always tell when they came from a TB owner. Nothing in our barn could wear those saddles and honestly, the small horses had the widest, flattest backs! Makes them good for bareback riding. ;)

Karen
6/20/2012 05:28:28 am

I was riding both horses with a fleece half pad over a dressage/all purpose pad. I'll now ride Speedy in just the square pads, but Sydney will be ridden with both pads. Initially Tina thought I would need to use a shim with Sydney, but she was able to tweak the fit just enough that the shim won't be necessary.

When the two horses stand side by side, Sydney dwarfs Speedy. I actually thought Sydney was pretty round for a Thoroughbred. Maybe that's why the saddle works for both - Speedy is pretty wide for an Arab while Sydney seems pretty wide for a TB. Funny the way their bodies work!


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home