Horses are born with their own natural movement and some have good conformation and move very well, while others have a poorer ability. Some horses are comfortable to ride while others are more uncomfortable and bouncy. But all horses can move freely without a rider on their back. It is when we interfere that problems arise. The slightest weight on the horse's back affects it, therefore our main task is to make the horse comfortable with a rider on its back.
Most horses have at some point had an ill-fitting saddle and to also have a human on their back, we can only imagine how it would feel. To give you an idea of what it feels like for a horse, imagine you are carrying a baby on your back who is bucking and twisting and you are walking or jogging. The slightest movement of the child throws you off balance.
In the same way, we affect the horses when we sit on their backs. That is why it is so important that we sit in the correct position and use equipment for the horse's well-being. It plays a big role in the horse's freedom of movement. More and more products such as saddles, saddle pads and girths developed to help horses become more comfortable while riding, are coming to the market.
To think about
Studies in Europe have shown:
- We ride in motion between 1.5 and 3 times our own body weight
- When we ride, we reduce the blood supply by 60-80%
- After about 15-20 minutes, inflammation starts to occur in the horse's back and the muscles start to cramp after 20-30 minutes of riding.
- In order for horses to move in a round shape and engage the hindquarters and lower the head naturally, (not pulled in by the reins) they lift and round through the back, which is the correct position for proper muscle development.
We need to ride light and balanced and then we need decent athletic ability and a saddle that fits properly. Lack of blood supply to the horse's back is due to long periods of a rider's weight in the saddle. It is a major cause of tissue damage and atrophy (loss of muscle mass and strength).
There is no doubt that the horse's back suffers from tingling and numbness due to this lack of blood supply. A good analogy is that if we were strapped to a hard chair for three hours and then released and asked to go for a jog, we would struggle to get up and walk because of the restriction of blood to the legs.
When we sit in the saddle for long periods of time, it does the same thing to the horse. We must constantly think about what we expose our horses to. So when we ride on the riding course we should take a break after 20 minutes for about 10 minutes and then we can ride for another 20 minutes. If you are riding a longer forest ride, get off every 45 minutes and lead your horse for about 10 minutes.
Giving the horse a rest break for a while or walking it with you on the ground provides a lot of relief for the horse and you get better motivation in the end. Saddle fitting is not only about the right fit for the horse, but above all the right shape and balance. A bad fit and a rider's weight will damage the horse significantly. It takes a lot of experience and knowledge to check the fit.