The Horse

JUN 2017

The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.

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39 June 2017 THE HORSE TheHorse.com SPORTS MEDICINE HEATHER SMITH THOMAS TheHorse.com/Sports-Medicine I t's clear from the dry pressure spots and general back soreness that the sad- dle you bought a decade ago for your now-retired show horse doesn't fit your new prospect. But you don't want to rush out and buy a new one for a horse whose body is still changing as he matures. How can you find a saddle that fits or modify your existing one for the time being? How do you know when you've found the right fit—for both you and your horse? It's probably time to seek a saddle fitter's help. Finding a Saddle Fitter Mike Scott, an equine massage thera- pist and Master Saddlers Association- certified saddle fitter based in South Carolina, has trained extensively with sad- dlers in England and the United States. He opened his own School of Saddle Fitting and Flocking in 2006. He explains that while there are no standard qualifica- tions for calling oneself a "saddle fitter," in the U.K. fitters can get certified with the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) and in the United States with the Master Sad- dlers Association (MSA) program. Some saddle fitters are affiliated with certain brands, selling one company's saddles to their clients—these are known as company reps. "The MSA claims to be independent but trains their fitters to sell a certain brand of saddle," Scott says, adding that the course he teaches is an independent program involving all types of saddles and focusing on equine anatomy and physiology. "We are not claiming to diagnose physical problems but to be aware of what is going on with a horse—to determine whether a problem is caused by the saddle or if it's something we need to get a veterinarian involved with to help the horse." When choosing a saddle fitter, ask about that individual's credentials and where he or she went to school or with whom he or she trained. "If they trained with a fitter or saddler who knows what they are doing and did an internship, worked in the shop, and gained experi- ence and understanding, they certainly could be a good saddle fitter without a piece of paper stating their certification," says Scott. Sarah Odell Fredrickson is a horse trainer and equine massage therapist who became a saddle fitter through MSA to help her clients. She trains and rehabs horses of all breeds and disciplines at her farm on Bainbridge Island, Washington. "While rehabbing and reschooling horses, I started saddle fitting because that is part of the whole picture," she says. If you know your saddle doesn't fit but think it can be altered and improved, My Saddle Doesn't Fit … Now What? ISABELLE ARNON How to find a fitter, buy or modify a saddle, and recognize the right fit A saddle is a big investment, and finding one that helps you and your horse perform at your best can be a daunting process.

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