Saddler's Diary

Just buying a pony bridle off the shelf is not a good idea, because you need to take measurements of the pony's head to get the right fit.

One of my pet hates is the throat that is swinging down to the noseband, with everything buckled on top hole '“ which is what happens when an off-the-shelf bridle doesn't fit properly.

We still see many horses with sore backs. The causes are numerous:

Wrong fit of saddle for that horse

Lumpy flocking in a saddle that has not been checked by a saddler for years

Saddle too big or too small for horse

Hefty rider on a saddle too small for their bottom

A saddle's panel that is akin to bricks, used for several years without any attention.

I was called out recently to check a pony saddle .

The tack came with the pony and the new owners suspected something was not right, as the pony was being difficult, bucking off the teenager.

The saddle was much too narrow, so the teenager was sitting on the back of the saddle.

The pommel was at least four inches above the wither and there were tender spots on either side of the spine under the cantle area.

After three weeks' rest for the pony, I returned to fit a new saddle, made to fit both him and the rider.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette November 28