I've recently bought a new (and expensive) saddle, but it doesn't feel right compared to my old one. How can I tell if this saddle doesnt fit?

I too bought a new horse and noticed the saddle was poorly fitted, by his previous owner. You could see light marks on his coat / skin where the hair had been rubbed away. If the saddle flaps do not sit flat against the horse, or you cant get 4 fingers inbetween the underside of the poll and the horses withers, or the cantle raises up and down easily when moving in the saddle are all ways you can check / notice. The horse itself will also tell you if he is uncomfortable but you need to be aware that he is trying to tell you something rather than maybe interpreting it as bad behaviour!

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~Hayles - horse mad!

Anything Equine

When i bought Caddy he came with his saddle this was 10 years ago but within a few months he was having problems so i called the vet and he suggested I had the saddle fitter out, any way it turned out his saddle was incorrect for him. i bought a new saddle ( falcon) which we have had ever since and it is re stuffed and fitted for Caddy by the qualified saddle fitter that I use every year...... well it should be but as Caddy hasn't been ridden for a few years and only just started to be ridden again maybe I should be having him out again lol

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www.tonette.co.uk

If you don't feel able to assess it yourself and have no one experienced enough to check it for you I'd call out a saddle fitter, it will cost you but your horses's back is worth the money.