How to Check If a Saddle Fits Your Horse Properly

By Dr Duncan Houston

A saddle can look perfectly acceptable while the horse is standing in the stable, then tip, rock, slip or create concentrated pressure as soon as the rider gets on.

Poor saddle fit can contribute to back discomfort, altered movement, poor performance and defensive behaviour. However, the saddle is not always the entire problem. The horse’s conformation, weight, muscle development, soundness, the rider’s balance and the fit of the saddle to the rider all influence what happens under the saddle during exercise. (The British Horse society)

The most important question is not simply, “Does this saddle look level?” It is:

Does this horse, saddle and rider combination remain comfortable, balanced and stable during actual ridden work?

Quick Answer

A correctly fitted saddle should sit behind the horse’s scapula without restricting shoulder movement, provide clear space over the withers and spine, make broad and reasonably even contact through the panels, remain balanced and stable, and fit the rider as well as the horse.

A basic owner assessment can identify obvious problems, but it cannot replace a professional static and ridden assessment. Stop riding and arrange veterinary evaluation if your horse develops back pain, swelling, skin damage, lameness, persistent saddle slip, sudden bucking or a significant change in performance.

What Does Correct Saddle Fit Actually Mean?

Correct saddle fit is not one measurement, one finger rule or one photograph.

The saddle must:

• Match the horse’s current back shape

• Distribute the rider’s weight through an appropriate area

• Avoid pressure on the spine and withers

• Permit movement of the shoulders and thoracolumbar region

• Remain reasonably stable during all required gaits

• Accommodate the horse’s normal asymmetry without creating focal pressure

• Fit the rider’s pelvis, legs and riding discipline

• Work with the chosen pad, girth and stirrup configuration

Research has shown that changing tree width by even one fitting can alter pressure distribution and thoracolumbar movement. A saddle that was too wide increased pressure toward the front, while a saddle that was too narrow increased pressure toward the rear in the horses studied. (MDPI)

This is why the idea that “wider is always kinder” is incorrect. A saddle can be too narrow, but it can also be too wide and unstable.

Why Is Saddle Fit So Difficult to Judge?

A horse’s back is not a rigid shelf.

Back shape can change with:

• Weight gain or weight loss

• Fitness

• Muscle development

• Time away from work

• Rehabilitation

• Age

• Season

• Pregnancy

• Lameness

• Changes in workload

• Changes in rider

The horse’s back also changes shape during movement and exercise. A saddle therefore needs to be assessed both statically and dynamically, with the usual rider working the horse in both directions and through the relevant gaits. (The British Horse society)

A Swiss study of apparently riding-sound horses found that only 10 percent of the saddles examined were free from the assessed fit problems. However, only 15 percent produced pressures above the study’s clinically relevant thresholds, and pressure magnitude did not correlate neatly with back pain. This demonstrates why neither a visual check nor a pressure reading should be interpreted in isolation. (PubMed)

How to Perform a Basic Saddle Fit Check

This assessment can help you recognise warning signs. It does not certify that a saddle fits correctly.

1. Examine the Horse Before Adding the Saddle

Stand the horse squarely on level, firm ground.

Look from both sides and from behind for:

• Uneven shoulder development

• Differences between the left and right sides of the back

• Hollows behind the scapulae

• Loss of topline muscle

• Prominent withers or spine

• Localised swelling

• Rubs, scabs or broken skin

• White hairs

• Uneven hair wear

• Signs of weight loss or recent weight gain

Gently run your hands along both sides of the thoracic and lumbar back. Watch for muscle tightening, dipping away, ear pinning, tail movement or an attempt to move away.

A reaction during palpation does not automatically prove saddle pain. Back pain may arise from primary spinal disease, muscle injury, sacroiliac pain or lameness elsewhere, especially hindlimb lameness. (PubMed)

2. Inspect the Saddle Itself

Before placing it on the horse, examine the saddle for:

• Uneven or compacted flocking

• Lumps or hard areas in the panels

• Left-to-right panel asymmetry

• A twisted tree

• A cracked or damaged tree

• Loose stitching

• Damaged billets

• Uneven stirrup leathers

• A distorted gullet or channel

• Previous alterations that no longer match the horse

Place the saddle on a level stand and view it from the front, rear and above. A saddle that is structurally damaged should not be used until it has been inspected by an appropriately qualified saddler.

3. Start Without a Saddle Pad

For the initial static check, place the saddle directly onto the clean horse’s back without the pad.

This allows you to assess:

• Saddle placement

• Tree angle

• Panel contact

• Spinal clearance

• Length

• Balance

Once this has been checked, repeat the assessment using the pad, girth and other equipment normally used for riding. Pads change the available space and pressure distribution, so the complete setup matters.

4. Position the Saddle Behind the Scapula

Do not position the saddle using a fixed “one or two inches behind the shoulder” rule.

Horse size, scapular shape, saddle design and panel construction vary too much for one measurement to suit every combination.

A practical method is to:

1. Place the saddle slightly forward.

2. Slide it gently backwards.

3. Allow it to settle into its natural position.

4. Locate the rear edge of the scapula with your fingers.

5. Confirm that the load-bearing front of the tree and panels are not sitting directly on the scapula.

The saddle should not be pushed far forward onto the shoulder, but it should not be deliberately placed too far back either. Professional fitting guidelines assess tree angle behind the scapula and then confirm the result during ridden exercise. (MDPI)

5. Check the Saddle’s Length

The weight-bearing panels should remain over the supported thoracic portion of the back rather than extending substantially onto the lumbar region behind the last rib.

A saddle may be too long for:

• Short-backed horses

• Compact ponies

• Horses with a long scapula and short saddle platform

• Horses that require a large seat for the rider

This can create a difficult compromise. The horse may need a shorter saddle, while the rider needs enough room to avoid sitting on the cantle and concentrating pressure at the back.

A saddle that fits the horse but is too small for the rider still does not fit the combination.

6. Assess Tree Width and Angle

At the front of the saddle, the tree angle should correspond reasonably closely to the angle of the horse behind the scapula.

Possible signs that the saddle may be too narrow include:

• The front appears perched above the horse

• The pommel sits unusually high

• The saddle tips or rocks backwards

• Pressure appears concentrated lower down the tree points

• The cantle is pushed down

• The saddle becomes tight when a thick pad is added

Possible signs that the saddle may be too wide include:

• The front drops excessively

• Wither clearance reduces markedly when mounted

• The saddle tips forward

• The pommel approaches or contacts the withers

• The back of the saddle lifts or moves excessively

• The saddle feels unstable from side to side

These are clues, not definitive diagnoses. Balance, panel shape, flocking and horse conformation can produce similar appearances. Experimental work confirms that both excessively wide and excessively narrow saddles can alter regional pressure and movement. (MDPI)

7. Check Wither Clearance

Assess clearance:

• Above the top of the withers

• Along both sides of the withers

• With the saddle lightly placed

• After girthing

• With the rider mounted

• During movement

The saddle must not press on the top or sides of the withers.

The commonly quoted two-finger or three-finger rule is only a rough screening method. Finger sizes differ, pommel designs differ, and a saddle with generous stationary clearance can still become unstable or create pressure when ridden.

More clearance is not automatically better. Excessive clearance can occur when a saddle is too narrow and perched above the horse.

8. Check the Gullet and Spinal Channel

Look down the channel from the front and rear.

There should be continuous clearance over:

• The dorsal midline

• The spinous processes

• The supraspinous ligament

• The sensitive tissues immediately beside the spine

The panels should load the muscles on either side of the spine, not the spine itself.

Check that the channel:

• Is wide enough throughout its length

• Does not narrow sharply at the rear

• Is not pulled onto the spine by the rider’s weight

• Remains centred rather than twisting to one side

Professional saddle-fitting qualifications specifically include assessment of spinal and wither clearance, panel contact, saddle length and the fit for both horse and rider. (mastersaddlers.co.uk)

9. Assess Panel Contact

Slide a flat hand between each panel and the horse’s back, working from front to rear.

You are looking for broad, reasonably even contact rather than one hard pressure point.

Bridging

Bridging occurs when the saddle contacts strongly at the front and rear but has reduced contact through the middle.

This may occur when:

• The saddle is too curved for a relatively flat back

• The tree is too narrow

• The panels do not match the horse

• Flocking has become uneven

Rocking

Rocking occurs when pressure on the front causes the rear to lift, or pressure on the rear causes the front to lift.

This may indicate:

• A mismatch between saddle curvature and the horse’s back

• Incorrect tree width

• Uneven flocking

• Insufficient stable panel contact

Excessive centre pressure

A saddle can also concentrate pressure through the middle while failing to support the front or rear appropriately.

A static hand check is useful, but it cannot reproduce the rider’s weight or the changing shape of a moving horse. Certain panel and channel problems correlate with pressure patterns, but not every subjective fit finding predicts dynamic pressure accurately. (PubMed)

10. Check Saddle Balance

Viewed from the side, the saddle should appear balanced rather than obviously tipping the rider toward the pommel or cantle.

Do not rely entirely on whether the seat looks perfectly parallel to the ground. Saddle design and horse posture influence this appearance.

Instead, ask:

• Does the rider sit naturally near the intended centre of the seat?

• Does the rider feel pushed forwards or backwards?

• Does the rider have to fight to remain upright?

• Does the saddle drive the rider’s legs forwards or backwards?

• Does the cantle lift during movement?

• Does the pommel descend when the rider mounts?

A saddle that does not fit the rider can make the rider unstable or asymmetrical, changing the forces transmitted to the horse. Correct fit therefore applies to the entire horse, saddle and rider combination. (The British Horse society)

11. Girth the Saddle Normally

Attach the usual girth and tighten it gradually as you would before riding.

Recheck:

• Position

• Balance

• Wither clearance

• Panel contact

• Stability

• Whether the saddle is being pulled forwards

Some horses have a forward girth groove that encourages the girth and saddle to migrate toward the elbow and scapula. Billet arrangement and girth design may affect this, but they should not be used to disguise an unsuitable saddle.

12. Check for Rocking, Rolling and Sliding

With the horse standing calmly, apply gentle pressure to the pommel, cantle and each side.

The saddle should remain reasonably stable. Excessive movement may include:

• Front-to-back rocking

• Side-to-side rolling

• The cantle lifting

• The saddle rotating around the horse

• The entire saddle sliding forward

• Consistent displacement to one side

Do not use extreme force. This is a screening check, not an attempt to wrestle the saddle into submission.

Why a Ridden Assessment Is Essential

A proper saddle assessment should include the horse being ridden by their usual rider, using the normal pad, girth, stirrups and relevant equipment.

The horse should normally be observed:

• At walk

• At rising and sitting trot where appropriate

• At canter

• On both reins

• On straight lines

• On circles

• During transitions

• During movements relevant to the discipline

• Over fences when the saddle is used for jumping and it is safe to do so

The fitter should assess:

• Saddle movement

• Clearance

• Rider position

• Left-to-right stability

• Front-to-back balance

• Horse behaviour

• Stride quality

• Back movement

• Whether the horse can work normally through the topline

Industry-standard fitting methods combine static examination with ridden assessment in all gaits and both directions. (MDPI)

What Are the Signs of a Poorly Fitting Saddle?

Possible signs include:

During saddling

• Moving away when the saddle appears

• Ear pinning

• Biting or threatening to bite

• Tail swishing

• Dipping or tightening the back

• Restlessness during girthing

• Attempts to kick

• New reluctance to be mounted

During riding

• Bucking

• Rearing

• Hollowing the back

• Reluctance to move forward

• Shortened stride

• Difficulty in transitions

• Resistance on one rein

• Difficulty maintaining canter

• Cross-cantering

• Sudden rushing

• Refusing fences

• Persistent tail swishing

• Head tossing

• Saddle slip

• Rider feeling consistently pushed to one side

After riding

• Focal swelling

• Heat

• Skin abrasions

• Broken hairs

• Ruffled hair

• White hairs

• Localised back sensitivity

• Muscle spasm

• Persistent dry areas surrounded by sweat

• Uneven sweat patterns

None of these signs is specific to saddle fit. Musculoskeletal pain commonly produces changes in ridden behaviour, and poor saddle fit may occur alongside lameness, rider imbalance or primary back disease. (PubMed Central)

Can You Diagnose Saddle Fit From Sweat Marks?

No.

Sweat patterns can provide useful clues, but they are affected by:

• Exercise intensity

• Weather

• Coat length

• Saddle pads

• Previous clipping

• Local skin function

• Air movement beneath the saddle

• Saddle pressure

• Duration of work

An isolated dry spot does not prove damaging pressure, and an even sweat pattern does not guarantee a good fit.

Similarly, thermography and electronic pressure mats can contribute useful information, but they should supplement rather than replace a physical, ridden and veterinary assessment. Research has shown only limited relationships between pressure magnitude, subjective fit findings and clinical back pain. (PubMed)

Why Does the Saddle Keep Slipping to One Side?

Consistent saddle slip may be caused by:

• Uneven flocking

• A twisted or asymmetric saddle

• Horse back asymmetry

• Rider asymmetry

• Mounting repeatedly from one side

• Unequal stirrup length

• A crooked girth

• Poor saddle width or shape

• Hindlimb lameness

The last point is particularly important.

Research has demonstrated a strong relationship between consistent saddle slip and hindlimb lameness. In many affected horses, the saddle slip resolved when diagnostic analgesia removed the hindlimb lameness. (PubMed)

Do not automatically add a tighter girth, breastplate or non-slip pad to a saddle that has suddenly begun slipping to one side.

Those additions may hide the movement without addressing the underlying lameness.

What Else Can Look Like a Saddle-Fit Problem?

A horse showing pain or resistance under saddle may have more than one problem.

Important possibilities include:

Limb lameness

Hindlimb lameness can alter pelvic motion, back movement and saddle stability. Forelimb lameness can also change how the horse loads the back.

Primary back pain

Possible causes include:

• Impinging dorsal spinous processes

• Articular process joint osteoarthritis

• Supraspinous or interspinous ligament injury

• Longissimus muscle strain

• Vertebral injury

• Disc disease

• Sacroiliac region pain

Back pain should not be diagnosed from one reaction during palpation or one radiograph. Clinical findings, gait assessment and imaging must be interpreted together. (PubMed)

Rider imbalance

A rider who collapses through one hip, carries one stirrup shorter, sits behind the movement or lacks sufficient stability can produce uneven saddle forces.

The saddle itself may also be too small, too large or poorly shaped for the rider, making balanced riding extremely difficult.

Girth or skin discomfort

Pain may originate from:

• Girth pressure

• Skin infection

• Rubs

• Insect bites

• Wounds

• Scar tissue

• Local swelling

• Dirty or folded saddle pads

Behaviour and training

A horse may have learned to anticipate discomfort from a previous saddle, rider or painful experience. Even after the original physical problem is corrected, rehabilitation and gradual retraining may be needed.

Conditioning and fatigue

A horse that has lost topline muscle or returned rapidly to work after a break may fatigue under a saddle that previously appeared acceptable.

How Worried Should You Be?

Low Risk

The horse:

• Has no back pain or lameness

• Performs normally

• Has no swelling or skin damage

• Has a stable saddle

• Has only a minor static fit concern

• Is due for a routine check

What to do: Continue light, normal work only if the horse remains comfortable. Arrange a qualified saddle-fit review within the next few weeks.

Moderate Risk

The horse has:

• Repeated minor saddle movement

• Mild asymmetry

• Hair ruffling

• New girthing sensitivity

• Mild resistance under saddle

• A recent change in weight or muscle

• A saddle that visibly tips or rocks

• No obvious lameness or severe pain

What to do: Avoid demanding ridden work and book a saddle assessment within several days. If the behaviour is new or persists after adjustment, arrange a veterinary examination.

High Risk

The horse has:

• Definite back soreness

• Focal swelling

• Skin damage

• Consistent one-sided saddle slip

• New bucking or rearing

• Reduced stride length

• Poor performance

• Visible lameness

• Significant muscle loss

• Increasing resistance to saddling or mounting

What to do: Stop using the saddle. Arrange veterinary assessment promptly, ideally within 24 hours when pain or lameness is obvious. Saddle fitting should follow or occur in collaboration with the veterinary investigation.

Critical

The horse has:

• Severe acute back pain

• Non-weight-bearing lameness

• Sudden neurological abnormalities

• Repeated falling

• A major wound beneath the saddle

• Suspected spinal or pelvic injury

• Collapse

• Severe pain following a fall

What to do: Do not ride or move the horse unnecessarily. Contact an equine veterinarian immediately.

When Is This an Emergency?

Saddle fit itself is rarely the only emergency, but the signs blamed on the saddle sometimes indicate a serious injury or neurological problem.

Seek urgent veterinary care if the horse develops:

• Sudden severe lameness

• Inability to bear weight

• Marked back or pelvic pain

• Weakness or incoordination

• Repeated stumbling or falling

• Inability to rise

• Severe swelling or bleeding

• A deep saddle wound

• Collapse

• Acute distress after a riding accident

• Sudden dangerous behaviour combined with obvious pain

Do not keep riding to “see whether the horse works out of it”.

A horse with acute pain, instability or neurological signs needs assessment, not another lap of the arena.

Should You Call a Saddle Fitter or Veterinarian First?

Call a qualified saddle fitter first when:

• The horse is comfortable and sound

• The concern is routine fit or maintenance

• The horse has changed weight or muscle

• You are buying a new saddle

• The saddle needs reflocking or adjustment

• There is no sudden behavioural change

• There is no focal pain, swelling or lameness

Call the veterinarian first when:

• The horse is lame

• Back pain is present

• Behaviour has changed suddenly

• The saddle has begun slipping unexpectedly

• The horse is losing muscle

• There is swelling, skin damage or marked sensitivity

• The horse cannot perform movements it previously managed

• The horse stumbles, appears weak or loses coordination

In many cases, you need both

The best results often come from collaboration between:

• The veterinarian

• A properly qualified saddle fitter

• The farrier

• The physiotherapist or rehabilitation professional

• The riding coach

• The rider

A saddle fitter assesses and adjusts the saddle. A veterinarian investigates pain, lameness and disease. One should not be expected to replace the other.

How Do Veterinarians Investigate Suspected Saddle-Related Pain?

A veterinary assessment may include:

• A detailed history

• Examination of the horse’s back

• Assessment of muscle symmetry

• Observation in hand

• Lunge examination

• Ridden examination

• Evaluation of the saddle and rider

• Flexion tests

• Diagnostic nerve or joint blocks

• Radiographs

• Ultrasound

• Scintigraphy or advanced imaging in selected cases

The clinical examination remains the foundation of diagnosing equine back pain. Imaging findings must be interpreted in relation to the horse’s signs, because an abnormal image does not automatically prove that the abnormality is painful. (PubMed)

What Should You Do Next?

1. Stop using a clearly problematic saddle

Do not continue riding if the horse is sore, the saddle is unstable or there is swelling or skin injury.

2. Record what is happening

Take clear photographs of:

• The horse’s back without tack

• The saddle viewed from each side

• The saddle from the front and rear

• Wither and spinal clearance

• The horse with the normal pad and girth

• The rider mounted

Record safe video of:

• Walk and trot in a straight line

• Both reins

• Canter if appropriate

• The saddle from behind

• Any consistent slip or movement

Do not create a painful riding session solely to collect footage.

3. Check for recent changes

Ask whether anything has changed in the previous one to three months:

• Body weight

• Workload

• Rider

• Exercise type

• Training surface

• Hoof balance

• Saddle pad

• Girth

• Saddle flocking

• Injury

• Time off

• Medication

• Behaviour

4. Arrange the right assessment

Use a recognised, appropriately qualified saddle fitter in your country. The assessment should include the horse, saddle and usual rider, not just the saddle sitting on a stationary horse.

5. Investigate pain before repeatedly altering the saddle

A sore or lame horse may change posture and back shape, making the saddle appear wrong because of the underlying medical problem.

The mistake I see most often is treating every behavioural or performance issue as a tack problem without first asking whether the horse is painful.

6. Reassess after changes

After reflocking, adjustment, rehabilitation or a change of saddle, monitor:

• Behaviour

• Symmetry

• Saddle movement

• Back comfort

• Stride quality

• Muscle development

• Rider balance

One good ride is encouraging, but it does not prove the problem has been permanently resolved.

Can a Saddle Pad Fix Poor Saddle Fit?

Sometimes a carefully selected corrective pad can improve pressure distribution in a specific situation. However, a pad cannot reliably correct:

• A damaged tree

• A saddle that is far too narrow

• A saddle that is far too wide

• Incorrect panel curvature

• Excessive saddle length

• A channel that presses on the spine

• A seat that does not fit the rider

Adding a thick pad under an already narrow saddle usually reduces available space further.

A half pad is a tool, not a magic eraser for a mismatched saddle. Its effect should be checked with the complete ridden setup.

Common Saddle-Fit Mistakes

Using a fixed finger rule

Wither clearance must be assessed vertically and laterally, with the rider mounted and during movement. A stationary finger count is not enough.

Positioning the saddle by inches

The scapula and saddle design should guide placement, not an arbitrary distance measured from the shoulder.

Fitting only the horse

A saddle that is too small or unbalanced for the rider can still overload the horse.

Using a thicker pad to fix everything

More padding can worsen a narrow fit and alter stability.

Ignoring one-sided saddle slip

Persistent slip may be a sign of hindlimb lameness, not simply a slippery pad.

Relying on sweat marks alone

Sweat, dry areas and thermographic patterns are clues, not stand-alone diagnoses.

Checking only while stationary

The saddle must also be assessed during ridden movement.

Continuing to ride a sore horse

Repeated exposure can strengthen defensive behaviour and potentially worsen tissue irritation.

Assuming a saddle still fits because it once did

Horses change shape. Saddles and flocking also change with use.

How Often Should Saddle Fit Be Checked?

The British Horse Society recommends assessment by a suitably qualified saddle fitter every six months. Earlier review is sensible when the horse’s shape, work or rider changes significantly. (The British Horse society)

Arrange an earlier check after:

• Noticeable weight gain or loss

• A prolonged break from work

• Rehabilitation

• Rapid muscle development

• A change of rider

• A change in discipline

• Pregnancy or return after foaling

• Saddle repair or reflocking

• New behavioural signs

• New lameness or back pain

• Persistent saddle movement

Young horses, horses returning from injury and horses undergoing rapid conditioning may require more frequent reviews.

How Can You Prevent Saddle-Fit Problems?

• Schedule regular professional checks

• Monitor body weight and muscle condition

• Photograph the horse’s topline monthly

• Investigate lameness early

• Keep the saddle clean and inspect it for damage

• Check that stirrup leathers remain equal

• Use the normal rider and equipment during fitting

• Avoid sharing one saddle between multiple horses without assessment

• Recheck fit after changing pads or girths

• Develop the rider’s balance and symmetry

• Build workload gradually after time off

• Watch for small behavioural changes before they become dangerous

• Record when the saddle was last fitted, adjusted or reflocked

The aim is not to chase perfect visual symmetry. Most horses and riders have some degree of asymmetry. The aim is to create the most comfortable, stable and functional arrangement possible while identifying medical problems that require treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my horse’s saddle fit myself?

You can perform a useful screening assessment and identify obvious warning signs. A final fit decision should include a qualified professional assessing the horse, saddle and rider both statically and during ridden work.

How many fingers of wither clearance should a saddle have?

There is no universally reliable number. The saddle must avoid contact with the top and sides of the withers when girthed, mounted and moving. A finger count is only a rough guide.

Why does my saddle slip to one side?

Possible causes include saddle asymmetry, horse shape, uneven flocking, rider imbalance and hindlimb lameness. New or consistent one-sided slip warrants a lameness assessment rather than simply tightening the girth.

Can a half pad make a saddle fit?

A correctly selected pad may help in a specific, professionally assessed situation. It cannot correct a fundamentally unsuitable or damaged saddle and may make a narrow fit tighter.

How often should I have my saddle checked?

Every six months is a sensible general schedule. Check it sooner after weight change, muscle development, time off, rehabilitation, a new rider or any sign of pain, instability or poor performance. (The British Horse society)

The Real Takeaway

Saddle fit is not a single measurement taken while the horse stands still.

It is a dynamic relationship between the horse, saddle and rider. The saddle must clear the spine and withers, match the horse’s back, remain balanced during movement and allow the rider to sit securely without creating uneven forces.

A basic owner check can identify obvious concerns, but pain, lameness, sudden behavioural change and persistent saddle slip require more than another pad or a tighter girth.

When a horse becomes uncomfortable under saddle, assess the whole picture. Sometimes the saddle is the cause. Sometimes it is the victim of changing back shape, rider imbalance or underlying lameness. Quite often, more than one factor is involved.

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Unsure whether your horse’s behaviour, back sensitivity or saddle movement points to poor fit or a medical problem? ASK A VET™ can help you organise photographs, safely recorded videos and clinical history so you can decide whether your next step should be a saddle fitter, an equine veterinarian or both.