Saddles
The interaction between horse, tack and rider is complex. Research has shown that rider position and stability in the saddle are vital for good performance, which is why it’s so important to have the saddle fitted for you as well as your horse. This sounds obvious but if your saddle is too small you will tend to find yourself sat on the back of the saddle rather than in the middle. And that’s important because with the addition of the rider the average force on the horse’s back is equal to the rider’s weight. At trot it’s equivalent to twice the rider’s weight and at canter it can be 2.5-3 times the rider’s weight! Sitting on the back of the saddle increases the forces transmitted through the back of the saddle and studies have shown when this happens the back pain scores of horses increase. Reducing saddle pressure is associated with improved movement in both dressage and jumping and relieving saddle pressure at the base of the withers allows the long back muscles to transfer power from the hind limbs more effectively.
Top Tips
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Choose a saddle with long, broad panels that allow the forces to be spread over a larger area.
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Be on the lookout for dry spots under the saddle after work as these indicate areas of increased pressure which are preventing the sweat glands from working.
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Get your saddle checked monthly, particularly around times when your horse is putting on or losing weight.
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When buying a new or second-hand saddle, work with a saddle fitter who has a wide selection for you to try and don’t be seduced or put off by a particular brand. Go for the one that fits both you and your horse (and is within budget!)
Girths
In the run-up to the 2012 Olympics, there was a lot of interest in studying the effects of tack on performance. Interestingly some of these studies showed that the highest pressures beneath the girth are located behind the elbows, not on the sternum where girth galls tend to appear. Since then, girth design has been modified to curve in at the elbow which improves the horse’s knee and hock flexion as well as the quality of the gallop. You may be familiar with the Prolite range of girths which were developed as a result of this research and many brands have now adopted this new shape. The addition of elastic to a girth decreases the stability of the saddle and can provide up to 6 inches of stretch meaning it is easy to overtighten. Over-tightening the girth affects the horse’s performance not because of constricting the chest and preventing the lungs from expanding but because it decreases the effectiveness of the muscles around the front of the chest and shoulder that move the forelegs. My personal preference is to use a girth without any elastic and actually I’ve found myself recently reverting back to an old-fashioned string girth which seems to provide stability, and distribution of the pressures over a greater area and my horse appears to sweat less.
Top Tips:
- Choose a girth that allows plenty of room at the elbow area.
- Think carefully about using a girth with elastic and take care not to over-tighten.
- Always clean your girth after every use just as you would the bit.
Bridles
One of the more surprising scientific discoveries is the effect bridle fit and design has on the locomotor apparatus of the horse. Just as studies have shown that reducing high pressures beneath the girth and saddle is associated with improved movement so too is reducing pressure from the bridle. It’s long been believed that horses experience bridle pressure at the poll but research found no significant areas of pressure there. However, areas of high peak pressure were located at the base of the ears where the browband attaches to the headpiece. The location of maximum pressure under the headpiece lies over an area of muscle involved in flexing the neck and bringing the forelimb forward. This helps explain why pressure at this location restricts movement and relieving that pressure frees up movement.
Areas of high pressure beneath the noseband can also have an effect on movement. Removing the noseband altogether doesn’t help as this reduces the stability of the bridle and it’s been shown that horses perform better when the bridle, as well as the saddle, is stable. Lesions and sores, across a variety of disciplines, are two and a half times more likely in horses ridden with no noseband compared to those in loosely adjusted nosebands. A specially designed Mexican grackle, that sits higher on the side of the horse’s head above the main artery and vein running under the facial crest, was found to exert the least pressure and was therefore associated with improved movement and an increased range of joint motion.
Top tips:
- Ensure your browband is long enough so that the headpiece is not putting pressure on the base of the ears.
- Check your noseband for tightness and remember you need to be able to get two fingers sideways (one on top of the other) between the noseband and the horse’s nose.
- Consider that your horse only breathes through his nose so if the noseband is too low and tight – perhaps with the addition of an overly tightened flash it may actually be restricting their air flow.
Martingales
Martingales are another interesting and somewhat controversial subject. At a British Eventing coaches day in 2018, Chris Bartle asked the audience to bear in mind that if a martingale comes into play then the pull is a downward one applying pressure to the tongue and lower jaw which can cause the horse to throw his head more. Research has shown that a martingale can provoke a stumble or fall particularly in a drop situation into water. The horse tries to land with a front leg out, sticks his head in the air in order to balance and the martingale comes into play. As a result, either the horse fights the martingale with his neck muscles which results in the front leg going backwards or the horse is obedient to the martingale, drops his head and fails to recover his balance. Using a martingale in show jumping is different because there generally aren’t fences with drops.
Top tips:
- Know why you are using a particular item of tack on your horse and not just because everyone else is or it’s the current fashion.
- Be aware of the advantages and potential disadvantages of the tack you are using or considering buying.
- There are many excellent saddle, bridle and bit fitters out there who will be able to advise on what is likely to best suit your horse’s shape/conformation.
