Saddle Company Saddle adjustment and service
Do you require a saddle adjustment and flocking service? Then look no further than The Foxy Doxy Saddle Fitting Co. I offer professional advice, and I’m fully insured.
How to get the best from your saddle
The average recommended time between saddle services is 6 months. However, this is just a guideline as to the muscle condition of the horse, age. Other physical problems can change how often the saddle needs to be adjusted or altered, as can differ in how much the saddle is used – it can even depend on whether your horse has big movement. Also, it can depend on how much the horse is worked, changes to feed, or muscle wastage.
These are just some of the issues that may affect your saddle service schedule, so you can see many considerations to take into account. Young horses and those that need a remedial fit usually need to be seen more often than 6 months so that the saddle can be adjusted as they change shape. I cannot tell you how quickly this will happen or how often the saddle will need attending to, as the saddle needs to be adjusted and altered to change with your horse’s shape as they build muscle and change condition.
Incorrect fitting and lack of servicing can lead to the saddle being uncomfortable, putting the rider in an incorrect position, and can cause your horse discomfort. Each horse and rider are individual; no two are the same and must be treated as such when servicing your saddle. I recommend that you not share your saddle with other horses or have other people ride on it, even on your horse.
Bedding in the saddle
The saddle is made with serge panels which is a very soft, forgiving material to put onto your horse’s back. However, the flocking and serge mould to your horses back within the first few hours of use, so it is critical to bed it incorrectly. At first, the saddle clearance will be higher than usual, but within a few minutes, it will settle and sink lower onto the horse. This is perfectly normal, and the flocking will settle a lot quicker at the front of the saddle because most of the rider’s weight is placed over the stirrup bars.
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- At this point, it may look like the saddle is tipping slightly backwards. Again this is normal. The serge and flocking at the rear of the saddle take a little longer to bed in.
- Make sure the saddle is placed in the correct position, as shown by myself during our session.
- It is best to use a thin cotton high withered numnah or saddle cloth unless your horse needs something more remedial, which you would be advised upon during the fitting session.
- Tighten the girth holes one at a time until tight enough to mount. Once the girth is fully tightened check, the girth is fitting on the same girth strap numbers. If this is not so, make sure that you rotate the girth strap numbers next time you come to ride. For example, if on the mounting side you use girth hole 3 and you find the other is using hole 2, next time, try to use hole 2 on your mounting side and hole 3 on the other side. This helps to keep your saddle level.
- Stirrup leathers need to be checked to make sure they are both the same length. Otherwise, this can cause uneven pressure on the saddle and your horse.
- Where possible, use a mounting block or have a friend take the weight in the opposite stirrup whilst mounting.
- Make sure the saddle is central once you are sitting in it before riding off.
- It is recommended that during the first three hours of riding, you only walk and trot. This should be broken down into short sessions, for example, three one-hour hacks.
- During this time, keep checking that the saddle hasn’t slipped to one side, forward or backward. If the panel’s bed is crooked, the saddle will always try to return to this crooked position.
- If you have any issues or queries during the bedding process, please contact me for guidance and advice.
Once bedded in, the forgiving nature of the serge panel still allows movement and will adjust as your horse’s back changes shape over time. Because of this moulding process, it is not recommended that you share your saddle between horses, even if they are a similar shape. No two backs are the same, and you will compromise the fit.
Care for your saddle
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- Care depends on the model of saddle you have. You will only need a good leather feed on the Verona model. You will NOT need to oil this saddle as the hide is already supple.
- The Vicenza, Genoa and Sienna models need to be treated differently. On the soft side areas of the saddle, such as the seat and kneepads, you can use a good quality leather feed. The flap area uses a leather oil on the solid leather as you would a conventional leather saddle.
- I recommend a damp cloth and a soft nylon nail brush to remove horse hairs and grease on all saddles with serge panels.
- For models that have suede or nubuck, I recommend you wipe the nubuck or suede with a damp cloth and then use a soft nylon nail brush.
- Leather is a natural material, and natures signatures will be incorporated into it. These signatures may be in the form of healed scars or blemishes.
- I recommend a single bar saddle rack as this will allow the tree of your saddle to sit on a single pole and prevent the panels from coming into contact with anything that may compromise the saddle. If you are using a 3-bar saddle rack, please make sure the bars are well padded to prevent the saddle bedding into the bars.
I hope you have many years of riding in your saddle, and I look forward to helping you maintain your investment to a high standard. I offer a full aftercare service, too, so get in touch with me today.