03/09/2026
THE GRASS IS GREEN 🌱
And perhaps the most important thing to remember right now is:
The grass isn't just green.
It is different.
After the summer we've had in the UK, followed by this mass amount of rain, our fields can change remarkably quickly.
And when the grass changes, the horse changes too. We often see this in the saddle fits too.
This is where I think we need to look beyond the obvious.
The forage changes.
The hindgut microbial population can change.
Fermentation changes.
The gut environment changes.
The horse may feel different.
Posture and muscle recruitment can change.
Movement can change.
And consequently, the way the saddle sits on and interacts with the horse can change.
Research demonstrates that season, pasture, forage type and management are associated with changes in the equine faecal microbiota. We also know that disturbance of the equine gut microbiome is associated with gastrointestinal problems and can have consequences beyond digestion.
And this is the bit that interests me when we talk about saddle fitting.
A gut disturbance doesn't have to present as dramatic colic for us to consider its possible influence on the horse.
The horse may simply be:
• less comfortable
• more reactive
• more guarded through the abdomen
• different in how they carry themselves
• reluctant to engage
• changing the way they use their back
• developing or losing muscle differently
• moving with a different pattern of tension
And if the horse's posture changes…the back we are fitting the saddle to changes.
This is why saddle fit cannot sensibly be considered in isolation.
At LM, we describe their approach as holistic and remedial, with a focus on the relationship between the saddle, the horse's natural biomechanics, posture, movement and performance. Their philosophy is very much about assessing the whole horse rather than looking at the saddle as an isolated object.
We also highlight an important biomechanical principle: when a horse works correctly over its back, the back can naturally lift and widen during movement. Their fitting system therefore considers the horse dynamically rather than simply fitting to a static outline.
Now think about that in the context of gut disturbance.
If the horse isn't comfortable internally, could that influence how they hold themselves? Yes
Could that influence abdominal carriage? Yes
Could that influence spinal movement? Yes
Could that influence muscular recruitment? Yes
Could that influence how wide or lifted the back becomes during movement? Yes
And if the shape and movement of the back changes…
what happens to your saddle?
It may move differently.
The balance may feel different.
Your horse may feel different underneath you.
You may notice resistance, tension or a change in way of going.
And the immediate conclusion is:
“Its the saddle.”
Maybe.
But maybe not!!!
Perhaps the more useful question is:
“What has changed in my horse?”
This doesn't mean every saddle-fit problem is a gut problem.
It doesn't mean green grass automatically causes saddle-fit issues.
And it certainly doesn't mean we should ignore the saddle fit.
It means we need to stop treating each part of the horse as though it exists independently.
Gut.
Posture.
Muscle.
Movement.
Saddle.
Rider.
They are all interacting.
Nothing is in isolation.
So, if your saddle suddenly seems different after the grass has exploded into life…
Before you blame the saddle, look at the horse.
Look at the body.
Look at the posture.
Look at the movement.
Look at the management.
Look at the forage.
And consider what might be happening inside the horse as well as what you can see on the outside.
Because sometimes the saddle isn't telling you:
“I don't fit.”
Sometimes it may simply be telling you:
“Something about this horse has changed.”
And that is a very different conversation.
🌐 lmsaddles.com
📸 a picture of our Directors horse Dolly.. Whilst Jemma is away in the US she couldn't believe how quickly the grass has turned green
