OTTB Care

Michelle Anderson

English Saddle Fitting for OTTBs

Keep your horse comfortable as he transitions off the track

L ong gone are the days of one-size-

fits-all and off-the-shelf solutions
for English saddle selection. Both
manufacturers catered to their slender
body type.
However, over the past few
educated and empathetic about the
signs of saddle discomfort.
As an increased number of OTTBs
approaches were common 20 or decades, wider and heavier European make their way into competitive and
more years ago, when Thoroughbreds Warmbloods grew in popularity, and recreational homes, it’s important for
dominated competitive arenas and filled with them saddles became wider to riders to understand why saddle fit is
boarding barns. At the time riders often accommodate this market segment. important, identify signs saddles don’t
used one saddle on multiple horses The industry also gained a better fit and know the unique challenges
throughout the day and, because of understanding of equine biomechanics, associated with fitting Thoroughbreds.
the Thoroughbred’s popularity in the back pain, lameness diagnostics and Here’s a closer look to help ensure your
English disciplines, saddle-makers and saddle technology. Riders became more saddle fits your OTTB.

Alexandra Beckstett photos

A properly fitting saddle supports the rider and allows the horse to move freely through his shoulder and back.

52 OFF-TRACK THOROUGHBRED ❙ SPRING 2018

Why Saddle Fit Is
Important
A properly fitting saddle supports the
rider and allows the horse to move freely
through his shoulder and back. “The
saddle is the interface between horse
and rider,” says Scott Anderson, DVM, a
veterinarian at Woodside Equine Clinic,
You can make some saddle fit adjustments with padding and shims.
in Ashland, Virginia, where he focuses
on sports medicine and lameness.
“If a saddle fits well it facilitates to soundness. However, in addition to Early Signs That
communication between the two.” compromising soundness, saddle pain Something’s Wrong
A poorly fitting saddle that’s and discomfort can cause a cascade of A rider might first notice subtle issues.
uncomfortable for the rider and/or behavior and training problems, says The horse might drop his back when the
horse impedes that communication. saddle fitter Stacy Berger of Powell rider places the saddle and show signs of
For the rider, a saddle that doesn’t Butte, Oregon. resentment, such as pinning his ears or
fit will cause discomfort and poor biting when the girth is tightened. The
position, leading to balance and cueing horse might also drop his back when
issues. Fortunately, riders can usually “ The saddle is the in- the rider mounts and, once a rider is
identify their discomfort. The same
isn’t necessarily true for horses, which
terface between horse on, be reluctant to move forward off the
leg, which can progress to ear pinning,
might experience acute and potentially and rider. If a saddle kicking out, running off or bucking.
chronic pain from poor saddle fit. That Jumping horses might stop at fences.
pain can lead to unsoundness. fits well it facilitates “The tricky part is that those
For Anderson, a poorly fitting
saddle is one of the most frequent
communication be- behaviors can also mean a number of
other things, as well,” Berger says. “Some
causes of back pain he sees. “Practicing tween the two.” horses may have other issues that are
chiropractic and acupuncture initially causing pain, such as ulcers, laminitis
led me to palpate for soreness in the
—dr. scott anderson or hock pain. It’s always a good idea to
neck and back and to motion palpate bring your veterinarian in to determine
for identifying reduced ranges of Berger has more than a decade of why a horse isn’t willing to work. If
motion,” he says. “To understand the saddle fitting experience and training. your vet doesn’t find something that is
underlying problems, diagnostics such She initially became interested in the causing the behavior issues, ask a reliable
as radiography and ultrasound are field when she competed in endurance, saddle fitter to examine your saddle.”
helpful to diagnose vertebral disorders. a sport that requires long hours in the The saddle fit might need adjustment,
Recognizing when back pain is due saddle and keeping both horse and either through saddle modification
to or contributed to by a saddle is rider comfortable. While she currently or with pads or blankets that allow
extremely important in helping a horse represents Bliss of London and Custom for shims. Or, the horse might need a
with a sore back.” Saddlery, Berger offers independent completely different saddle.
Many veterinarians have an interest saddle fitting for horses in a variety of However, Berger warns that some
in saddle fit because of its relationship disciplines and brands. horses are stoic and won’t show

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OTTB Care

signs they’re uncomfortable under When evaluating saddle fit, run your
hand under the panels; they should
saddle. “They will do their work and
make full contact with the horse’s back.
not complain about a poor-fitting
saddle,” she says. “They either have a
constitution that just deals with it, or behind the shoulder or is too wide,”
they have been taught that their job is to she says. Conversely, “a saddle that’s
deal with whatever we ask them to do.” tipping back, but perhaps clearing
These horses require an astute rider the withers with ample space might
to notice initial signs a saddle doesn’t be too narrow.”
fit. They can also benefit from regular ■ Run your hand under the saddle. The
pre-emptive saddle-fitting appointments panels (which lie on either side of
to identify issues before they progress. the spine) should make full contact
Anderson notes other visual clues with the horse’s back without gaps.
riders can look for that indicate a saddle Any spaces permitting light to shine
doesn’t fit, such as hair loss, swelling, through indicate bridging, which
abrasions, sores and abnormal sweating in turn means the saddle will create
patterns in areas where the saddle pressure points. Tight areas could
contacts the horse’s back. indicate pinching.
■ S tanding at your horse’s tail (be
Other Signs a Saddle careful not to get kicked), look down
Does (or Doesn’t) Fit have billets (the straps the girth the gullet channel. The channel
A purposeful saddle-fitting session attaches to) that point perpendicular (space between the panels) should
can help prevent a horse from to the ground, not forward (saddle be wide enough to allow the panels
experiencing discomfort. When trying too narrow) or backward (saddle to sit on the muscles on each side of
a saddle for your Thoroughbred, Berger too wide). It should also sit level the spine and not the spine itself. The
offers the following advice: front to back, providing a balanced saddle should also clear the spine
■ S et the saddle on the horse’s back, surface for the rider. “In general, a front to back, including the withers.
behind the shoulders, without girthing saddle that is tipped forward either “Frequently, a saddle that is too wide
it. A properly fitting saddle should is stuck in the atrophied pockets is also sitting on top of the withers,

54 OFF-TRACK THOROUGHBRED ❙ SPRING 2018

OTTB Care
although if the saddle is contacting Special Considerations prominent wither; but the panels
the withers it could also be the head for OTTBs of a too-wide saddle also might not
plate (a piece that forms the pommel Berger and Anderson both caution make full contact on the horse’s back.
over the withers) in the saddle tree against making broad generalizations This reduced surface area increases
is not appropriate for that particular about certain breeds when it comes to pressure on the areas that do make
horse,” Berger says. saddle fit. Every horse is an individual. contact, creating the potential for
Another sign a saddle doesn’t fit Given that fact, Anderson says there are pressure and pinch points. “If the
well is instability when the horse is in certain similarities many OTTBs share back musculature is narrower,
motion, Anderson says. This can be the as a population when compared to other the panels under the seat must
cantle that bounces off the horse’s back breeds, such as Warmbloods or Quarter approximate the angle of the back
during riderless longeing sessions at the Horses. These include: as it drops from the midline,” says
trot or the saddle that rocks forward ■N  arrow withers. “A narrower wither Anderson.
and back or side to side with a rider. requires a narrower (saddle) tree,” ■ S loping backs. “On some
You can also tell if a saddle is moving by Anderson says. Thoroughbreds, even though the
looking at the saddle pad after a sweaty ■ Prominent withers. “If the wither point of shoulder and point of hip
riding session: A saddle that moves will is prominent then the saddle must are level (meaning the horse is not
also move the pad, which will pull dirt accommodate it, otherwise the built downhill), many have a back
away from the haircoat, leaving the pad pommel may apply pressure on the that slopes from their croup down
dirty where the saddle is moving (think dorsal processes (the tops of the toward their withers,” Berger says.
of it as the difference between laying a vertebrae) of the wither,” Anderson This means a saddle might tip and/or
towel on a horse and rubbing the horse says. “It can also lead to the saddle slide forward.
vigorously with one). being unlevel with the seat being You also need to give special
Misfit saddles might also list to one lower.” consideration to Thoroughbreds
side or the other. However, Berger ■ Narrow backs. As mentioned, many currently or recently transitioning from
notes that research shows saddles of today’s saddles are built for the racetrack, Anderson says. These
shifting sideways can also indicate other Warmbloods, which have broader horses are often young and will continue
problems, such as hind-limb lameness backs than many Thoroughbreds. to grow after they retire, and they will
or rider imbalance. A wide saddle risks sitting on a undoubtedly gain weight as they move

Look down the gullet channel ­— it should be wide enough to allow the panels to sit on the back’s muscles on each side of the spine,
rather than the spine itself.

56 OFF-TRACK THOROUGHBRED ❙ SPRING 2018

from intense race conditioning to a
more leisurely lifestyle. And, finally,
moving from track training to arena
work will change their musculature,
especially over the back, as the body
adapts from speed and endurance work
to bending and collection.
“The saddle you start with may not
be the same one you end up using as
the horse changes,” Anderson says. Avoid using a wide saddle tree on your typical narrow-backed, prominent-withered Thor-
oughbred. Otherwise, you risk it sitting on the withers.
With that in mind, Berger warns
against purchasing an inexpensive,
ill-fitting saddle with the idea that your many Thoroughbreds share physical veterinarian and an experienced saddle
OTTB will grow out of it anyway. If a similarities that affect saddle fit, “each fitter to evaluate your horse’s comfort
horse is compromising its movement to saddle needs to be evaluated on each and saddle fit. Doing so will ensure the
compensate for poor saddle fit, he won’t individual horse to see if it’s a match,” saddle continues to facilitate positive
develop as he would in a saddle that fits, Berger says. Proactive saddle fitting communication between you and your
she says. can help prevent pain and discomfort, Thoroughbred.
“OTTBs will change over time and and you can expect to replace or have
with work, but they need a saddle that saddles refitted as your OTTB’s body Michelle Anderson is the digital
fits correctly all the time,” she says. “Not and topline change with conditioning. managing editor of The Horse and lives
purchasing a well-fitting saddle because When issues do arise, work with your in Bend, Oregon.
the horse is going to change won’t help
the horse change for the better.”
Poor-fitting tack can lead to bigger
problems later in life. For example,
a pinching saddle can cause muscle
atrophy (wasting), especially along
the withers. On an already narrow,
high-withered horse, lack of muscling
can create pockets along the withers,
making him that much more difficult to
fit, Berger says.
The bodies of older Thoroughbreds
and war horses coming off the track will
also change with their new training.
These horses offer considerable
experience and heart required for
successful racing careers. However,
Berger notes they might also have
asymmetries that come from a lifetime
of rigorous training or past injuries.
“Sometimes this doesn’t impair the
ability of the horse, but it does become
an element to consider (when fitting
saddles),” she says.

Fit the Individual

Good saddle fit is important to
support an OTTB’s soundness,
well-being and training. And, while

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