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• Saddle fit issues have similiar physiological factors with bed sores.
• Skin and muscle tissue require a constant intermittent flow of blood to remain healthy.
• Exercise requires increased blood flow.
• Excessive presure causes the capillary vessels to collapse.
• Capillary closing pressure becomes the critical issue.
• A poor fitting saddle can affect the trapezius, latissimus dorsi and longissimus dorsi muscles.
• When the back of the horse works correctly and is free of pain, forward moton becomes effortless and supports the rider.  When he uses his back incorrectly, he will have rough gaits, difficulty moving forward, and his hollow back will cause his nect position to be high and stiff.

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Signs of an Ill Fitting Saddle

• Flinching or laying back their ears while being groomed along the back.
• Reluctance to pick up hind feet for shoeing.
• Refusing to stand still whele the saddle is placed or while being monted.
• Inability to bend laterally and/or inability to travel straight.
• Wringing or carrying tail off to one side.
• Shortened, choppy or disjointed gaits, short striding, dragging toes
• Higher than normal head carriage, head tossing
• White hairs along the withers under the saddle indicating blood circulation to the skin has been cut off for lengths of time due to pressure
• Sores on the back, soft blisters or hard painless lumbs, hair loss under the saddle.
• Temporary swelling after removing the saddle.
• Muscle atrophy on one or both sides fo the withers, behind the withers or loin.
• Front leg lameness including stumbling and tripping, hock, stifle or obscure hind limb lameness.
• Unwillingness to move forward under saddle.
• Hollow back, will not life its back, "cold backed", back sinks when mounted.

Mission Statement:

To distribute the weight of the rider evenly over the muscles covering the ribs of the horse allowing maximum unhampered movement of the scapula and loins during completion of the chosen profession.