The equestrian Saddle is produced with the horse's comfort in mind and should sit properly over the animal's back. The saddle, or mount, is also produced with the human's comfort and safety in mind in order to provide a safe and comfortable ride for rider. The mount is considered, and rightly so, the most important part of horse riding gear. No cost should be sparred when looking for the best mount.
The mount cannot sit on the spine of the horse or on any of the animal's pressure points. The ligaments must be protected because an animal can suffer an injury if the mount presses on the delicate back ligaments. The mount needs to be fitted with the human's weight evenly distributed on the animals legs and back.
The mount's tree, or skeleton as some call it, is produced to keep a rider's weight off the animal's spinal column. The skeleton must fit correctly in order to keep the beast free from injury. If the skeleton is too narrow it will pinch the animal's spine. If the tree is too wide it can slip and cause pressure on the animals ligaments. The animal needs to be protected at all times.
Some riders make the mistake of riding lopsided in the seat for long periods of time but this can harm the animals back. A horse cannot speak to the rider but he might decide to throw the rider off if he is feeling the pain of an improperly fitted mount. The mount must fit the rider's weight and height so that the weight will be evenly distributed at all times.
The mount's design should match the rider and animal so both animal and human enjoy the riding experience. If the mount is not lined up properly for rider then human will not enjoy the ride. If the mount is not fitted properly for the animal then horse will have a long and uncomfortable ride. If the horse pulls its ears to the rear when the mount is placed this could mean that the mount is not fitted correctly and could be apply pressure to the animal's spine.
A lot of inexperienced riders will make a mistake by buying a mount that has a crooked skeleton. Some sales people will alert the novice to this mistake while others simply want the sale. A new rider should take along an experience rider when going shopping for a mount so that the novice will not make this mistake.
It is simple to inspect a mount for a crooked skeleton by placing the mount on a hitching rack and looking at the mount from the front. If the mount hangs to one side of the rack then it is not the right mount. Choosing the right mount could take time and effort but it is worth the trouble. The proper mount will make for the proper riding experience.
The equestrian saddle should fit both rider and horse perfectly so that rider and horse are protected. The mount is the most important part of riding gear and no expense should be spared when choosing the right saddle. Make sure the tree is straight so that rider and horse will enjoy the ride.
Get the exclusive inside scoop on important reasons why an equestrian saddle should fit perfectly now in our comprehensive guide to the best pony saddle on the UK market.
