Does anyone on here place their saddle farther up than just behind the shoulder blade?
I've always put my saddle there, but a girl I know says I put it too far back and it shouldn't be directly behind the shoulder blade, but on it?
Lift the saddle-flap and find the tree-point. You'll see it sitting in a pocket just in front of your billets.
Now with your fingertips, locate the rear edge of your horse's scapula. Mark it with chalk or corn-starch if that makes it easier for you.
Now make sure your tree-points are sitting at least 2" (about 3 fingerwidths) behind the rear edge of the scapula.
Just to satisfy your curiosity, with the saddle off and the scapula marked so you can see it, have someone help you lift your horse's front leg and pull it gently a forward forward and back, while you watch the scapula move. The scapula will end up sliding about 2" behind your original chalk-mark throughout the leg-movements.
If the tree-points are on the shoulder, or too close to the shoulder, imagine the pain the horse feels every time the shoulder-blade bangs into that rigid tree. Imagine having something on your back that jabs into your shoulder-blade ever time you move your arm.
Now the flap can be on the shoulder - it's not rigid. It's the tree that needs to be behind the shoulder-blade.
Yeah, that's what I meant. I check by sliding my hand down behind her shoulder blade
Thanks
I was pretty sure I was correct in where I was placing my saddle
I recently bought a new saddle with a slightly wider tree and my mare loves it. I can really notice that she moves more freely in it Posted via Mobile Device
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