We’ve all been there – riding a horse whose behavior either frustrates or frightens us to the point where we make the decision to try a stronger bit.  Before taking that step, however, you should check to make sure that your saddle fits properly.

Horses are amazing creatures in their capacity to oblige us good-naturedly for all the things we ask them to do that, quite frankly, go against their very instinct.  We ask them to haul us around on their backs and perform all manner of tasks in a collected frame, and we ask that they listen to us and remain calm in the face of situations from which they would prefer to flee.  The fact that they put up with our mistakes as riders (and we all make them), mistakes that often unwittingly create some degree of pain for the horse, is a testament to their remarkable natures.  I believe strongly, then, that as their caretakers and custodians we must ensure that they are comfortable and happy so that they can continue to oblige us.  It’s the least we can do.

I won’t bore you with the details of the history of bits and bitting, for it goes back centuries, but I will say that there are thousands of nerve endings in and around the horse’s mouth, and because of this, we must be careful not only of what we put in their mouths, but also how we use them, because even the mildest bit can cause excruciating pain if ridden with the wrong hands. (Stay tuned, though, for an article on bits and bitting to come in the future – it’s a fascinating subject.)

A horse will display a variety of symptoms when a saddle doesn’t fit well, and it’s easy to dismiss the behavior as the horse’s bad attitude.  But seeing as horses are generally good-natured and gregarious, surely the “bad attitude” has to come from somewhere, right?  Let’s take a look at those symptoms:

• Behavior Problems Under Saddle
  • Refusal to move forward
  • Bucking, rearing, excessive tail swishing, pinning of ears and/or tossing of head
  • General bad attitude
  • Lack of concentration
  • Shyness or “spookiness”
  • Inability to move in a straight line
  • Difficulty maintaining impulsion or collection
  • Tooth grinding

• Behavior Problems on the Ground
  • Hypersensitivity to grooming
  • Unable to stand still – can be difficult to shoe
  • Objects to being saddled or girthed, and often will attack the cross ties or try to bite out at the saddle

In addition to resistance, unwillingness, and other behavioral issues, horses whose saddles do not fit properly will often have increased lameness issues, which further perpetuate said behavioral issues.  Think about it – if you were forced to run a mile in shoes that were too small for you, would you be happy about it, or would you maybe lash out at the person(s) who made you uncomfortable?

Keep in mind that if the horse is reluctant to stride out or has developed the “habit” of rearing, the front third of the saddle is often restricting the horse’s shoulder at the withers. Interestingly, I recently had a well-respected equine lameness vet say that he attributes many of the front end lamenesses that he sees to having the shoulder being restricted.  Ensuring that the shoulders have adequate room to rotate is critical to keeping your horse comfortable and sound.

A horse that is hollow-backed and is reluctant to use his back or hindquarters is often experiencing discomfort from the back third of the saddle. This can lead to heel pain and also puts more pressure on stifles, tendons, suspensory ligaments, and hocks because the horse cannot engage the hind end properly.

Sure, there are occasions when a horse may require a bit that delivers a stronger message, but those horses are a lot rarer than I think many people realize.  If you truly scrutinize the horse’s comfort under saddle and make sure that the saddle fits the horse perfectly,  you might be surprised at how mild a bit a horse with a “bad attitude” may require.

It is important to note that a horse’s teeth should also be checked when a horse presents with a behavior issue, as ulcerations in the mouth could also create problems under saddle.  Also, be certain that there isn’t some form of lameness going on with a horse. If you have determined that your saddle is a perfect (and I mean perfect) fit, having the vet out to check up on the horse is a great idea.  If everything is clean, then and only then we should talk bits.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 12:40 pm and is filed under Saddle Fitting Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.