Many of us are aware of the effects that mounting from the ground can have on a horse’s back, but did you know that it can cause your saddle’s tree to twist?  According to Master Saddler Michael Dainton, mounting from the ground is one of the #1 causes of  twisted trees.  And understanding the mechanics of mounting is important to ensuring the health of your horse and your tack.

The act of mounting from the ground requires the rider to literally defy gravity, and according to Jeff Thomason, associate professior of biomechanical science at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Canada, the force that the rider exerts in ground mounting doubles the rider’s weight in the stirrup!   This results in the saddle being jerked down and toward the rider, causing discomfort for the horse, and, over time, damage to your saddle’s tree.  And the farther away the rider is from the horse in height, the more torque (or twisting) the horse experiences.  Considering how tightly girthed our saddles have to be in order to mount without ending up underneath the horse, you can imagine how painful it must be to be jerked around like that. 

Since horses are built more longitudinally stable (their fairly long backs coupled with feet close together),  mounting from the ground inevitably  displaces the horse’s position and throws him off balance.   The pull of the saddle forces the horse to shift his weight to the left legs, thus causing  imbalance to the right.  To compensate for this, the horse must then raise his back on the left side, and, coupling this with the rider’s grasp on the reins, the horse is unable to rebalance himself using his head and neck as a counterweight.

As the rider mounts the horse, the panels of the saddle press against the horse’s spine especially at the withers and digs into the muscles on the near side.  Over time, this regular jarring can have a devastating effect on the health of the horse’s back.  For a horse with chronic back pain, this could mean a greater chance of injury, and, at the very least, an undermining of his chiropractor’s hard work!  A fascinating article on the subject, written by Karen Smith and found at http://equisearch.com/horses_care/health/anatomy/ease_mounting_pressures_021009/, discusses studies done on the effects of ground mounting on the horse. 

Mounting from the ground actually puts the rider at risk, as a horse’s discomfort can lead to misbehavior that can cause the rider to become off-balanced.  According to Doris Bixby Hammett, MD of the AMA, the first 15 minutes of riding (including mounting time) is when the rider is most susceptible to injury, including muscle and tendon strains to concussions from being dragged or tossed off by a misbehaving horse.  Using a mounting block whenever possible will lessen the odds of a mounting-related injury, as there is less strain to the rider as well.

Using a mounting block will provide less strain on the horse, the rider, and the saddle.  Stirrup leathers will last much longer (although you still will want to rotate them regularly to avoid uneven stretching), and your saddle’s tree will definitely experience greater longevity, as there is  significantly less torque applied when mounting from a block.  Considering that a saddle is pretty much useless if the tree has been compromised, it may be considered wise to prevent harm to the tree whenever possible.

Of course some riders will say that they’re not always around a mounting block (like on the trails, for example).  Occasional ground mounting may be necessary, but if your horse will allow you to mount from, say a log on the ground or a strong fence rail, you might want to consider doing so (safely, of course).

I’m excited to report that my vacation to Chicago will bring with it a remarkable educational opportunity for me.   I will be spending some quality time with Master Saddler Michael Dainton, touring his workshop and tagging along on farm calls!  Michael has been a Master Saddler for decades, and his work includes that of the English Royal Family.  I can’t say how thankful I am for this awesome opportunity!   We’ve sent saddles to Michael for repair and reflocking and have always been impressed with the quality of his work.  That he is willing to keep me entertained and suffer my inquisitive nature for a couple of days has me absolutely elated.  I will definitely be reporting back on everything I’ve learned.

Of course a HUGE thank you not only to Michael but also to Frances Bowers, owner of Saddler’s Row, for allowing me to spend time in their wonderful shop.

Cheers!

So by now we’ve finally figured out the importance of saddle fit when it comes to the quality of our horse’s movement and general well-being.    Now it’s time to raise the bar in how we as riders influence our horse’s movement (and contribute to lameness issues).   In the act of riding we’re looking for suppleness and relaxed movement in the horse, and yet time and again we see riders whose bodies are stiff and unforgiving.  How can we expect ANY level of suppleness if we ourselves are tense and unyielding in our bodies?

We need to be able to move with our horses.  This can be difficult with a horse with a big stride and especially so if our saddles don’t fit our horses (or ourselves) properly.  But if we’re riding with our muscles tight, our horses will be unable to provide us with the cadent stride we ask of them.  Test it out:  On your next ride, go down the long side of your arena at the trot with your body as relaxed as possible.  On the next long side, tighten your muscles and brace with your legs.  Do you notice your horse’s footfalls sound LOUDER when you’re tight? Imagine the extra concussion that happens each time your horse’s feet land on the ground.

Understanding the consequences of this extra concussion as a result of rider tension is key to learning how to relax.  You can’t force relaxation.  Believe me, I’ve tried.  Learning how to relax as a rider is something that you do when you’re not even at the barn.   It takes practice, and time, and a level of self-acceptance that some days seems impossible to attain.  I’ve finally learned that if I’m in a stressed-out or otherwise irritable state-of-mind, my horse and I are both better off if I refrain from riding.  I’ll feed her carrots and maybe give her a spa day, because every time I tacked up and rode when I was in a sour mood I hated the ride, and I never could quite relax into it.  My mare, sensing my tension, inevitably acts up, or is super stiff, or decides that the mounting block has suddenly sprouted fangs and is bent on attacking her.  If I ride from a state of relaxation, my mare is relaxed.  She moves freely, willingly, and yes, her footfalls are quieter.

Any bracing on the part of the rider will cause bracing in the horse.  They are our mirrors, so if we do with our bodies what we want our horses to do with theirs, we will automatically notice a rounder, more relaxed horse.  As riders we often tend to grip with our legs and hollow out our backs.  If your back is hollow, the horse’s back will follow suit.   It’s also worth pointing out that riding with tension often leads to (or exacerbates) lower back pain in the rider, and can quite possibly cause neck and shoulder pain as well.  Our best protection for our backs and our horses’ backs is to ride from a state of relaxation.

We need to flow as riders if we want our horses to move with floating, cadent strides.  This can only be achieved if we become balanced in a neutral position that allows us to be in the saddle without bracing.  Riding with our seat bones ever so slightly forward from where we may have been taught to sit, and allowing our legs to move with the horse (as opposed to being perfectly still) is a great way to encourage roundness and suppleness in the horse.  Making sure we are not sitting behind the vertical will also encourage the horse to lift its back and move forward willingly.  At the risk of sounding a little “out there,” we need to become as one with the horse as possible.

A GREAT article on how to achieve the balance and freedom of movement that every rider craves can be found in a November/December issue of Topline Inc. Magazine.  You can access that article here.  Books or audio on relaxation are helpful as well (in all walks of life, not just in the barn).  Breathing exercises will soften muscles and help overcome performance anxiety (perfect for pre-show jitters).    But perhaps the best thing to keep in mind is how much your horse will appreciate it if you’re relaxed when you’re riding, and how much more you’ll enjoy being in the saddle.

Mark your calendars, because next week March 1st – 7th, is our Prestige custom saddle event! For one week only, when you purchase a Prestige saddle, you will receive a gift package worth $350! The package includes complimentary fillis irons, Prestige wrapped stirrup leathers, and your entire saddle fitting fee will be credited toward your new saddle – a $175 value! We have a wide range of Prestige saddles in both Dressage and Jump styles. These innovative saddles offer fantastic fit and optimum performance for both horse and rider! Space is limited to be sure to book your fitting appointment right away!

Why choose Prestige?   These saddles are extremely comfortable and well-designed, crafted of fine Italian calfskin, and offering a fully-adjustable composite tree that boasts a lifetime warranty. The tree points flex with the horse’s movement, allowing for optimal freedom at the shoulder. The dressages saddles are flocked with a synthetic wool that is more elastic and more resilient than traditional white wool, creating a comfortable, low-maintenance ride. The jump saddles that we care have a high quality natural latex panel that is anatomically shaped to ensure a perfect fit. Flocked models are available.

Check out the saddles that we stock!
Jump: Jumper R, Meredith D, Versailles D.
Dressage: Academy D, Optimax, 2000D

I myself ride in the Prestige Academy D dressage saddle, and both Contessa and I love it!

It’s been a busy month fitting custom saddles, as more and more people are realizing what an amazing difference having a saddle made for you and your horse can have.  Currently, Olson’s offers custom fittings for L’Apogee and Prestige Dressage saddles and Prestige and Antares Jump saddles.  The quality and craftsmanship found with these particular brands of saddles  is unparalleled (we wouldn’t carry them if they weren’t simply fantastic!).

Here’s a basic breakdown of each saddle’s unique attributes:

• Antares saddles have as many options as one can imagine!  From custom panel options for the perfect fit for the horse to the rider’s ability to choose the length and forwardness of the flap, the depth of seat, and even the twist of the saddle, the Antares saddle is the perfect choice for the most discriminating rider.  The sticky French calfskin leather keeps you secure in the seat, allowing greater confidence and stability as you tackle the most exciting jumps.
• L’Apogee saddles, like Antares, offer a truly custom fit with unparalleled comfort.  The buffalo monoflap design coupled with French calfskin seat offers an amazingly close contact with your horse.  The high quality natural latex panels allow for the perfect fit without a lot of bulk that can be found with traditionally flocked saddles, and the short tree points allow for optimal shoulder movement.  The laminated beechwood spring tree has a 5 year warranty, and there is a 5 year warranty on the leather.
• Prestige dressage and jump saddles are built upon a revolutionary composite tree that is fully adjustable and boasts a lifetime warranty.  The fine Italian calfskin leather is supple and comfortable, breaking in in no time.  The jump saddles have an anatomically correct natural latex panel that maintains elasticity while adapting to the horse’s unique back shape.  These panels retain their original shape when removed from the horse’s back.  The dressage saddles are flocked with Dacron, a synthetic wool that is highly elastic and resists the tendency to ball up like traditional wool can, making it much less maintenance while allowing for the adjustability of traditional wool.

What’s best about our custom saddles is that they’re backed by the Olson’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee:  if you’re not completely in love with your new custom saddle within 30 days of riding in it, we’ll make it right.  You will not be stuck with a saddle you don’t absolutely adore!

Dawn Anderson and her horse, Contessa

Olson’s is pleased to present our new blog dedicated to saddles and saddle fitting, moderated by our very own Saddle Fitting Specialist, Dawn Anderson.  Join Dawn as she shares her knowledge and tackles common saddle fitting problems.  Please feel free to share your comments and questions about issues pertaining to saddle fit.

And be sure to visit our Saddle Resource Page!  Check in frequently, as we add more content.

DAWN’S IN-STORE HOURS

Monday 10 – 6

Wednesday 10 – 6

Thursday 10 – 6

Friday – Available for Appointment Only

Sunday 11 – 5