Tack Fitting Sessions

Checking for symmetry through his back and topline

My first horse of the day at the Holistic Horse Care Cooperative's tack fitting sessions was this bay gelding.  We were in Littleton, CO, at Happy Dog Ranch.

Discussing the worn out saddle pad that has to be replaced

Checking the horse's mouth for dental issues.  I found he was packing food in his L cheek, and on closer inspection found a large ulcer on the lower L bar of his mouth, precisely where the bit would rest.  Since that would have caused him significant discomfort, we had him ride in a hackamore with no bit in his mouth for his saddle assessment.

Examining the bit that we decided not to use because of the ulcer in his mouth.

The clear pad filled with dough goes on first

Then the saddle goes on

Take the horse for a 20 min. ride so the saddle can make an impression on the dough

Checking the pad and saddle mid-ride, it had shifted to the R

This was the impression from the treeless saddle with the barn's rider.  Because the pad shifted to the R during the ride, the dough was displaced where there was pressure on the left side of saddle.  This fit with the rider's awareness of her own body and riding tendencies. 

Post-ride, palpating the horse's back and noting some sensitivity in the location that corresponds with the impression pad's dough displacement.  The saddle has begun to break in/break down as well as the pad being worn out so we decided to replace the pad and see if he is more comfortable that way.