Does our equipment truly impact the way a horse moves? I understand proper saddle fit is important, but now with these ergonomic designs in bridles and girths—are they worth it?
“This is a very valid question as we try to distinguish between marketing and function. It involves a leap of faith since we can seldom try the equipment out to see if it is helpful before making a purchase. Labeling a piece of equipment as ergonomic or anatomic does not necessarily mean it’s beneficial to your particular horse.
Girths, for example, have to be chosen based on the shape of the horse, particularly where the girth channel is located, in addition to your particular saddle. Some horses DO require an anatomic girth which comes forward into the girth channel to keep the saddle from shifting forward over the shoulder blade. The horse with a blocked shoulder is going to be forced to have a shorter, and sometimes, uneven stride. Girth selection is very important to the horse’s movement, but it is sometimes a standard girth that is called for, not an anatomic girth.
Bridle fitting is also important since a badly fitting bridle induces pressure on sensitive nerves around the ears and along the face causing resistance and tension that extends along the neck and back. That means the horse cannot move in an optimal way. Some horses benefit from a bridle with a cut back crown, allowing more room for the ears but sometimes just giving the horse a larger brow band will achieve the same result.
A comfortable horse is always going to move better than a tense, uncomfortable horse. The equipment we use and how we use it is a big factor that we are learning more about as veterinary research continues. Knowing how to fit tack (whether it is a saddle, girth, bridle, or bit) is going to allow you to decide whether you need to invest in different equipment, have your equipment modified by a saddler (like moving the buckles on your bridle) or simply adjusting what you already have in your tack box.”
Beverly Harrison had a place in the horse community as a rider and extended her role in 1997 when she began a business in Boulder County, Colorado, called The Tack Collection. She quickly determined she wanted to make a positive difference in how riders choose saddles for the diverse horse population, and so she pursued an education with the Society of Master Saddlers, UK (SMS), who honored her with the title of Qualified SMS Saddle Fitter from the year 2000 to the present. Harrison now specializes in the modification, repair, and customization of saddles for her clients—both human and horse. She offers educational clinics and seminars to all levels of riders and professionals, including at veterinary clinics and universities, and has trained a number of apprentices while continuing her own education through world-class experts in the field. Harrison’s primary passion has been, and is, to spread tried-and-true tack fitting information in a way that helps both horse and rider (tackcollection.com). She is the author of “The Illustrated Guide To Tack Fitting” available by Trafalgar Square Books.
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