July 2013
Hello and Happy Summer!
The other day a client mentioned to me that one of the tack shops said that I would say a saddle doesn't fit because I wanted to sell a saddle. Those of you that know me know that is not true but for those of you that don't know me, I would like to share some information.
When I started the Saddlefit 4 Life training it was because I wanted to help my students and our horses. I am an instructor. I have been an instructor for over 30 years. "Helping Horses with Their People" is my passion. I knew that the saddles were affecting rider position. But, I did not know how much the saddle fit was affecting the horse's behavior, performance and ultimately the health of the horse and rider.
I knew that saddles cause rider hip and knee pain, pain to private parts and the most common, lower back pain and disc damage. (If you think a saddle is expensive just add up the costs of any of these.) But, as I learned about the pain and damage that saddles cause our horses, my passion shifted. I cannot undo what I have done in the past. (I was one of those riders that used the same saddle on every horse I rode.) But, what I can do is spread the word about proper saddle fit and help as many horses as possible.
As I started sharing this information the response was always the same, "Where do I find a saddle that fits?"
Out of necessity for my own horses and my students, I found Schleese Saddlery and Specialized Saddlery. These saddles are adjustable so that as the horse changes so can the saddle. I never want to tell someone that just invested in a nice saddle 6 months ago, that they need to buy another one. And, I can almost guarantee if you buy a proper fitting saddle today that in 6 months to a year it will not fit.
Honestly, I just feel that if I didn't share this information and these saddles I would be hurting horses. So, please help me spread the word s about the importance of proper saddle fit and how it affects our horse's behavior, performance and ultimately the health of horse and rider.
Don't take my word for it. Check my references. This is where I get the information. These doctors and vets don't sell saddles. You don't know, what you don't know.
Dr. Gerd Heuschmann, DVM specializing in the biomechanics of the horse, author of Tug of War and The Balancing Act.
Dr. Joanna Robson, DVM chiropractor, veternarian, acupuncturist and author of Recognizing the Horse in Pain and What You Can Do About It
Dr. Joyce Harmann, DVM one of the first veterinarians to recognize the importance of good saddle fit, author of The Horse’s Pain Free Back and Saddle Fitting Book. She has 2 books, 1 for the English riders and 1 for the western.
Dr. James Warson, MD a human chiropractor from Colorado author of The Rider’s Pain Free Back
TTYS & God Bless
Terry Peiper, CSE
Saddlefit 4 Life Certified Saddle Ergonomist
FIT RIGHT SADDLE SOLUTIONS
