BASIC AUSTRALIAN TRAIL AND ENDURANCE SADDLE

Generally speaking, there are three points that must be taken into account when choosing our saddle:

• The comfort of the horse: for which we will undoubtedly have to analyze its physical constitution.
  It is necessary to take into account the size of our horse and select a saddle that suits his physique, even with the rider mounted
• The rider's comfort: each rider has his own tastes and a particular riding style. If the rider feels comfortable, this will be transmitted to the horse and the horse will also feel more comfortable
• The economic possibilities of each one: will mark the area where we can move, taking into account that the market offers a wide variety of models of all classes and prices

In addition to these three basic points, it is convenient to know a series of practical tips that we recommend you to take into account when choosing your saddle:

• Keep an eye on the padding of the saddle: if it has too much padding it can cause chafing, since the saddle will tend to move from side to side; but if on the other hand the padding is insufficient, we may be endangering the horse's spine.
  Furthermore, if the padding is caked, it will produce localized pressure, which will end up causing discomfort and chafing
• Do not choose very wide saddles: they rub the horse's withers
• The same can happen if you choose a saddle with a low front burr
• If the saddle is too far from the back, you should think that it is a small size for your horse (the saddle is narrow).
  You should know that the saddle bridge should have a minimum width of 7.6 cm from side to side
• If the saddle sits deep into the horse and the cantle is too close to the withers, the saddle is too wide for the horse

Para for a saddle to be comfortable for rider and horse it is essential that it is well adjusted, something that unfortunately many overlook.
If a saddle is not the right size for the horse's constitution or is not well fitted, it will become a constant source of problems that we often attribute to other reasons, we think the horse is rebellious or has a health problem, when in fact the only thing that is happening is that we force him to have a bad time when placing the saddle.
But how do we know that the saddle fits our horse correctly? The following points should be taken into account:

• When trying it on, check that the saddle's saddle tree is the right size and shape
• Once in place, the saddle should not put pressure on the horse's spine (with or without the rider), nor should it weigh down the back of the horse. The weight should be evenly distributed over the lumbar muscles
• The saddle should be well seated and level
• The front bridle should never press against the withers. Calculate that there is a space of approximately 4 fingers between the buckle and the withers
• Check that the saddle does not restrict the horse's movements in any way

Defects in the saddle can cause chafing known as mataduras: these are hardening of the skin that normally appear at the withers and in the middle of the back, along the spine.
Of course, if we notice this happening, we must take immediate action, either by changing the saddle or by going to a saddlery to have it fixed and adapted correctly to our horse. It is not a good solution to simply place a thicker saddle pad, it may solve the problem for a while, but it will reappear shortly and perhaps more seriously.

Finally, keep in mind that the fact that a saddle has worked properly with a horse for some time does not mean that it will always do so. The most normal thing is that the horse changes (a young horse can change its physique as it matures, it can become thinner or put on weight) and, in addition, the use of the saddle implies its wear and tear and therefore the adjustment will no longer be the same as in the beginning.
It is advisable that from time to time we take a look at how the saddle adapts to our horse.