Make sure your saddle fits (Part 5) An indispensable guide to finding a saddle that fits your horse prepared by horse, rider and saddle fitting expert, Ken Lyndon Dykes. Examining the saddle under the rider Once the saddle has passed all seven steps, the Qualified Saddle Fitter will want to check it 'under load' i.e. with the usual rider on it. This one puts the rider in a nice position, with her shoulder, hip and heel aligned correctly. He'll check all aspects of it again, watching closely from behind to ensure the saddle fits evenly. He'll also watch for any movement of the saddle away from the horse's back, side to side or up and down - a well fitting saddle only moves with the horse's back; it isn't thrown up at every stride and is not affected by the rider's movements. After riding, the clearance at the front will be checked again - this is fine.   The sweat patches made by a saddle provide good evidence of the evenness or otherwise of the pressure exerted by the saddle panels - this one looks pretty good!    Next instalment: Saddle fitting Questions and Answers Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4