13/08/2026
Sometimes the best saddle fitting appointment... is the one where you don't fit a saddle.
This horse recently arrived a few days ago with their owner after spending over a week in transit.
One of the first things I noticed was the loss of topline. Long-distance shipping is incredibly stressful on a horse's body. Changes in routine, hydration, nutrition, limited movement, and the stress of travel can all contribute to muscle loss in a surprisingly short amount of time.
In addition to the loss of muscle, I also noted some mild asymmetry through the topline. Whether that's a result of the shipping, previous compensation patterns, or simply where this horse is today, it's another reminder that this body is still changing.
As a saddle fitter, my job isn't just to find a saddle that fits today. My job is to think about where this horse is headed.
The owner of course wants to ride because she's excited. Could I have adjusted or flocked a saddle to fit this back? Probably. But should I? I don't believe that's in the horse's best interest. There is not healthy back to support a saddle just yet.
Instead, today we completed a full set of topline tracings to establish a baseline. Those tracings will allow us to objectively track this horse's muscle development over the coming weeks rather than relying on memory or photos alone. As the horse regains condition, we'll repeat the tracings and compare them so we can see exactly how the back is changing and determine the right time to move forward with a saddle fitting.
My homework for the owner was simple: focus on helping this horse recover. Good nutrition, appropriate conditioning, time to settle into the new environment, and consistent work on the ground will do far more right now than trying to make a saddle fit a body that's still in transition.
I asked the owner to keep me updated with photos and progress, and once this horse has rebuilt its topline and we're seeing more consistency, I'll head back out.
Sometimes the best thing we can say is not always the easiest thing to say. No one wants to hear they shouldn't ride their new horse. But MOST horse owners love and care for their animals so that once I point out the issue, are more than willing to be patient so they don't risk further damage.
Its not always easy to have the hard conversations. But fitting the horse always comes before fitting the saddle.
