Principles Of Saddle Fitting And Farrier Science

Principles Of Saddle Fitting And Farrier Science

This course is a must if you plan to be serious about your work. It is impossible to separate saddle fit from bodywork sessions when evaluating the ridden horse. For owners, this is a prime opportunity to learn exactly how a saddle should fit instead of listening to marketing gimmicks and misinformation.

This 4-day course includes slides, examples of trees, pads, saddles, shoes, wedges, measuring devices, templates, demonstrations and a variety of horses with saddle fitting and shoeing issues. Saddle fit topics and practicals encompass 85% of the course. The remainder of the course addresses farrier topics. These includes issues we should look for in the foot and how they can also affect saddle fit.

Course Outline (2 Parts):

Part 1, Saddle Fitting:

• Indirect problems caused by poor saddle fit (behavioural, performance and referred pathology issues)
• Direct problems caused by poor saddle fit (trauma to muscles and skin)
• Anatomical and physiological signs of poor saddle fit
• Correct placement of saddles
• Saddle fit pertaining to the static posture (standing still)
• Saddle fit pertaining to the dynamic posture (movement)
• Correlation between the static and dynamic fit
• Existing and ideal solutions for saddle fit
• Actual science of saddle pressure and fit
• Evaluating the horse's back
• Correct palpation of the back
• Correct reflex testing
• Evaluating the saddle off the back, then the correlation of the saddle on the back
• Evaluating the saddle with the rider up
• Fitting and measuring the saddle using various current methods
• Pros and cons of various measuring device
• Instruction on making templates for use
• Saddle pad materials and functions

Part 2, Farrier Issues:

• Anatomy and care of the feet
• Normal functions of the foot
• Pastern/hoof axis
• Balanced shoeing and trimming
• Location and causes of lameness
• Reading the breakover
• How shoeing/trimming affects the performance of the horse
• The balanced hoof

In the farrier portion of the course,the teacher relates the lower leg conformation and shoeing techniques to the effect of the work of the equine carer, equine massage therapist, chiropractor and acupressure/acupuncture therapist as well as the effects on equine myofascial system.