On 6th November 2021, I was delighted to be part of the innovative virtual event, ‘Fit For Welfare’, hosted by the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS). Today I’m sharing with you some of my learning from the day.
In a twist that I haven’t seen at other online conferences, the day began with an address from HRH The Princess Royal. To me, this was a reminder of just how important tack is in terms of the welfare of the horse.
Kate Naylor shared a clear and informative video of a saddle fit assessment for a new horse. It was such a great reminder of how much goes into the assessment. Kate took details about horse and rider, watched the horse standing and moving without tack, took relevant measurements, and watched the horse in walk, trot and canter on both reins. In the Q&A section, Kate was clear about how important it is that a saddle fitting includes seeing the horse ridden in walk, trot and canter (as long as it’s safe to do so), and that saddle fit cannot be assessed well otherwise.
Take home message: Seeing the horse ridden is an essential part of the saddle fitting process.
© Sue Palmer, The Horse Physio, 2021
Treating your horse with care, connection, curiosity and compassion
