Equitopia presents Jochen Schleese - CMS, CSFT, CSE - Proper Saddle Support Area Protects your Horse
Preventing Scapular Damage - Check the Tree Angle of the saddle
By Jochen Schleese German CMS CSE
In this video excerpt from a demonstration at Equitopia in Fairfield, German Certified Master Saddler Jochen Schleese demonstrates an easy way to check for correct tree angle, simply by using a stick pen!
It is important to ensure the points of the gullet plate in the saddle tree lie flush on the horse’s muscles, in the same angle as the shoulder angle to avoid adding extra pressure at the sides of the withers. The angle of the gullet plate - the tree angle - needs to be parallel to the angle of the shoulder blades. You may notice the shoulders could have different angles because of the natural asymmetry of the horse. This is the case in 9 out of 10 horses. Where this is so, it is very important that the gullet plate be adjusted to conform to the asymmetry of each shoulder angle. This allows the rotating shoulder blades the freedom for unencumbered backwards/upwards movement during motion - avoiding the tree points. In effect the shoulder slides freely under the gullet plate. When the shoulder angle is correct, you will notice enough space at the sides near the top of the tree for the withers to contract and shoulders to pass through. If the tree angle is too narrow, or is the same as the angle of the withers (sitting flush on the withers), the shoulder blades will hit the tree with each step. This is very painful for the horse and can result in irreversible scapular damage if the cartilage cap is chipped off by the gullet plate.
If the tree angle is (incorrectly) adjusted to the wither angle, there is no way the shoulder can pass through; it will hit the gullet plate. If the angle is too steep, the tree will pinch the withers and hit the scapulae.
Several companies have developed measuring tools to determine shoulder and wither angles. The fitted saddle needs to lie within the saddle support area of the horse’s back and the gullet plate needs to accommodate the shoulder angles - which can differ from left to right. The shoulder angle measurement is that angle between the vertical axis of the horse and the distance to the shoulder blade, as well as the distance between the two shoulder blades (shoulder width). You can only determine how much freedom at the shoulder is actually required by measuring this angle.
Your tack shop should be able to use this shoulder angle measurement to determine whether or not the front panel seam is parallel to the shoulder before you even take out a specific saddle to try. The saddle should be fitted on site to ensure the gullet plate fits the horse. If the gullet plate is too tight on the one side (because of the natural asymmetry of the horse’s musculature or bone structure) and the angle doesn’t line up with that of the shoulder blade, the result is that the saddle will slip to one side at the back during movement. The rotation of the shoulder blade and the bigger muscles on the one side will push the saddle out of position if the gullet plate is not fitted to accommodate this.
Jochen Schleese’s mission is to educate riders through Saddlefit 4 Life to protect horse and rider from ill-fitting saddles. Prevent scapular damage by ensuring your saddle provides adequate shoulder freedom. Sign up for your 80 point saddle fit Evaluation to horse and rider.
Saddlefit 4 Life Find solutions for saddle fit issues
www.Saddlefit4life.com www.SaddlesforWomen.com 800-225-2242
Jochen Schleese, German Certified Master Saddler, is author of “Suffering in Silence - The Saddle Fit Link to Physical and Psychological Trauma in Horses” (Trafalgar Books 2013, 2015, 2017) © Saddlefit4Life 2019. All Rights Reserved.
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Equitopia presents Master Saddle Fitter Jochen Schleese, CMS, CSFT, CSE discussing how to property fit both western and english saddles. Poor saddle fit can cause pain, sheer cartilage from the shoulder blade, cause spinal subluxation and unwanted behaviours. Pressure on involuntary reflex points, such as the side of the withers and behind the saddle support area can cause the horse to stop moving forward and even buck.
Пікірлер: 42
Thank you for this very clear explanation how a saddle should properly fit. Learned a lot from it.
Precisely, "not by opinion", but by science & anatomy. Thank you!
I wish more people would actually watch this
Thank you, for showing me how to fit a saddle properly on my horse. I’ve been told time and time again that my saddle didn’t fit my horse properly, but your video came along and i found out my saddle does fit(i ride western) i’m really glad that you showed both english and western saddles. Thank you again.
EVERYONE who rides should know this information- I am going to check my lesson horse's saddle next week, she is VERY difficult to get forward into trot (I am a relative novice, I am JUST about ready to canter, but not yet... Well, ~I~ am ready, but my body isn't yet, put it that way, haha) I don't know what I'll do if her saddle is ill fitting, there is a limited selection at my barn, I know several of the horses there would no doubt benefit from a saddle fit check... Thanks for this information, it is very important, and something even seasoned horsepeople seem to often overlook!
My horse tried on several saddles (English) before we found the one that fit properly. I actually bought 2 of them. Wonderful presentation, and thank you.
Best saddle fit video. so clear and informative. thank you!
Great video, thank you, this has made the basics clear for our search for a good saddle fit.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wonderful information! I feel so much more prepared to make an educated and appropriate choice of saddle for both my horse and myself.
@SCHLEESESADDLERY
Жыл бұрын
That is so wonderful to hear! We are happy to help.
I love this guy. Very knowledgeable but not demeaning or rude. Kind and wise. Makes clear and concise statements based on fact not opinion or even emotion. Can tell he cares highly for the horses well being and future. Because he wasn’t only trying to sell his products but truly educating others to make better choices - didn’t hear not one product placement or ad. I don’t have horses but I love them from a distance. My daughter is obsessed and I imagine if I ever did cave one day I would definitely buy this mans products OR follow his points. Now I can’t take my daughter horse back riding without watching for these points and symptoms given LOL!
This information is the best quality information out there. Thank you.
@SCHLEESESADDLERY
4 жыл бұрын
Glad you think so!
Excellent explanation, comprehensive and correct. Great job! Thank you very much.
Great video!!! Thank you so much!
Thank you!
Thank you
Brilliant thank you
Incredible demonstration.. thank you 😊
Thank you your a friend of friends..... beautiful.
Brilliant explanation thank you
rock on bro, this is great info.
GREAT GREAT VIDEO! EYE OPENER! Thank you.
@SCHLEESESADDLERY
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
So much awesome information
Very informative, very clearly presented. I'm going out to re-check my saddle right now.
Glad my western is almost certainly clear of the spine! I know it avoiders that triangle to, but I need to double check then shoulder
thanks
Wow! this is very helpful. I really appreciate the deep study and research for the proper fitting of saddles. Question: Do you have any research on Aulstrailian Saddles?
@dlmalley8639
4 жыл бұрын
Good question .👍 I have one too.🤗
@furyxvanity2946
3 жыл бұрын
It doesn't matter what saddle you have, the bars of the saddle should sit right behind the shoulders,the only difference is high withered narrow shouldered horses need thicker pads than low wide shouldered horse, its just that these English "saddle fitter" panzies always come up with biggest bullshit, the last few hundred years, there were basic principles that you used to fit a saddle, now people come up with all of this complete stupid things, the shoulder blade almost doesn't move, go put your hand right behind the shoulder and let a friend pull the leg as far forward and up, it almost doesn't move, the last 50 years I've been around horses, its all just came up recently in the past 2 decades with all of these bodyworkers, shockwave therapy, acupuncture, professional saddle fitters is just a bunch of BS.
You're a saddlery rock star!
Danke!
thanks 👏👏👍👍👍
Very informative, thank you. What brand/model saddle is the shoulder relief dressage one you show us at 8:00?
would you recommand wood of fibre glass for the tree? lightness/flexibility?
sorry would you recommand wood OR fibre glass for the tree? lightness/flexibility?
What model is the black English dressage type saddle?
👍👍
But wait.. most English brands tell you to measure gullet size three fingers BEHIND the shoulder which is narrower than right by the shoulder. Point being that the bar should be out of the way totally for the shoulder. Or am I missing something?
The music is annoying.
Thank you