That's quite a story, I feel bad for the poor horse!

I just got a new horse & saddle last August and for the first little while everything was fine. Then my horse's movement became very choppy and short-strided, and I didn't think anything of it until I started watching the Schleese fitting videos. They are so amazing! I also hadn't realized my horse had become quite girthy, to the point where he'd stomp, swish his tail and turn his head towards me as if telling me it didn't fit him. The saddle itself was fine, it just wasn't the right saddle for my horse. So I got rid of it and am currently borrowing a saddle (which also doesn't fit my horse, but is better for him than my old one!) and on Monday I'm going to pick up a brand new saddle to take it on trial. I really hope it fits my guy because he's old and deserves a saddle that isn't going to keep hurting him! He's also really hard to fit because he's fairly wide, and has high withers. But this saddle I'm getting (a Courbette Bernina) claims to have a tree that conforms to the horse's back, so here's to hoping it actually works!

Thanks for posting! :)

-- Edited by SiobhanDressage on Friday 11th of March 2011 10:09:22 PM

Yes this is how I found this website my friend and fellow physiotherapist went to his course to learn more on how to fit sadles while I went the other way for rehad and training this man has some amazing things to share with us I can say
In my line of work I see alot of sadle issues and the problems of the horse can bring it back to the sadle. An illfitting sadle can cause the horse to do alot of things bucking and bad paces (trot, walk, canter and gallop) is the dead giveaways but also bad moods and the like. If you want to know anything I'm willing to help out with my thoughts as much as I can from this side of the sea

I just bought a saddle on Monday and it doesn't fit. Grrr! I guess I'm going to have to order an extra wide because I didn't realize I had such a big boy!