What is the purpose of a saddle?   A saddle is designed to offer the rider support and to distribute the riders weight over a large surface area, while allowing the horse to move freely.

You will have your saddle for a lifetime, but not your horse. So does your saddle fit more than one horse properly?
Doesn’t it just make sense to get a saddle that does?

No saddle will fit every horse but a flex-panel system will come as close as you can to doing so.

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EQUINE SPORTS MEDICINE
Excerpts from: Jack Meagher

The moving parts of the body were created and intended to move through a specified range of motion freely, easily and completely. When for any number of reasons they lose the ability to do this there will be a problem....

Muscular problems are most common to horses which are engaged in some form of competition. Athletics, horse or human, produce a situation unique to all sports. The amount of strain and exertion require to achieve maximum performance. What is maximum? How do you know when you have reached it? You don't...

Muscles can be an entire cause or a reflection of a deeper cause. It is always proper to eliminate a deeper cause first. This is veterinarian expertise. The proper therapy for a muscle problem could be the improper one for a deeper cause...

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INITIAL EVALUATION
by Cathy Sheets Tauer E.S.M.T

Before I begin any saddle fit or work as a Sports Massage Therapist, I always perform an evaluation on the equine. The following is a very light overview of what I do to uncover areas of concern. Realizing that muscle represents 60% of the entire body, massage makes so much sense. Massage is a practical, hands-on, non-invasive therapy for equines, enabling them to reach their full potential. Massage is most effective as a preventive measure and is not a substitute for veterinary medicine. Massage increases the range of motion, flexibility and circulation. It releases tension and improves the horse’s disposition. Equines love massage. How do we know if our equine friends have pain? They cannot talk, but do communicate non-verbally. Resistance in training or increased agitation resulting in poor performance and bad behavior are symptoms that something is wrong. Proper fitting equipment and massage address the cause of such trouble.

"Putting the Horse First" lets us know that they are enjoying our company as much as we enjoy theirs. Horses no longer are a beast of burden for man but a partner in a leisure activity that everyone can enjoy. As for equipment, there is no question as to what our equine friends should be saddled in: a properly fitted Delrin panel saddle. This saddling system allows the horse to move freely, bending and flexing. It’s orthopedic. Since as a rider we will never know how it feels to be saddled, doesn’t it make sense to get a saddle that feels as good to your horse as it does to you? If your current saddle fits correctly and your horse can move freely and is not in pain (as determined by physical palpation) then you have no reason to change your saddle. But how can you be sure?

Looking at the figure below, the circled areas are pressure spots, the cross hatch marks are where you run your thumb or finger tips in a smooth flowing fashion, observing areas of concern. When you begin, use 10-15 pounds of pressure. Along the top of the spine you should use 20# of pressure. (You should have NO reaction but if you do, contact a veterinarian or other professional for further advice.) Use a bathroom scale to judge your pressure and test on yourself first.

IMPORTANT- MUSCLE MEMORY
As told by: Mary Schriber- Equissage

When you are near the equines face, watch for teeth. There is a pressure point on the cheek where you can place your thumb and effectively prevent him from tuning toward you. It is not necessary to dig your thumb into the pressure point, just simply rest it on the surface. This action will dissuade any biting response. Also, as you work your way past the shoulder, keep your eye on the hind leg nearest you. Inspired by the fact that a horse is capable of kicking a fly off his ear, you are cautioned to place your free hand or fist, with elbow locked, near the stifle joint both as a warning and as a preventative for you, and a reminder for your client.
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Discover What a Saddle Should Be

The purpose of a saddle is to offer the rider support and to distribute the rider’s weight - efficiently over a large surface area.
The Delrin spring panels are positioned between the hard tree and the horse. These thin flexible panels are attached to the tree with mountings that provide a ball and socket effect allowing the skirts to flex at different angles from front to rear. (When the horse turns the panel flexes in an arc on the side of the turn and straightens on the opposite side). The panels move with the horse, allowing freedom of movement, preventing painful pressure points which can be the cause of bad behavior, resistance to training and poor performance. A rider will never know how it feels to be saddled but still wants the horse to be as comfortable as possible

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How to specifically test your saddle for fit on your horse

My horse has never had a sore back... How do you know?

Use physical palpation to determine if a saddle is potentially causing back and performance trouble.
By: Lisa Dawes Brown with supplemental additions by Cathy Sheets Tauer EMST:

If you are certain your horse does (or does not) have a sore back you can confirm your convictions by making clear non-biased evaluations. You will need to observe physical traits that indicate back soreness, record behaviors in your horse, which are common to sore-backed horses and then palpate the muscles. (Do this before riding and again 8 to 24 hours after riding.)

Physical traits: 

• Do the muscles in the loin (gluteals) or "rump muscles"  look especially tense ( some would call them well-developed) so that they stand out dramatically? (Figure 1and 1a) Please note that some breeds of horses "naturally" have over developed gluteals.

• Does the muscle which extends from the poll to the point of the shoulder down the lower side of the neck (brachiocephalicus) look thicker and more developed than the upper half of the neck, resulting in an almost ewe-neck appearance?  This may be caused by the horse traveling with a hollow back which forces him to fling out his legs to maintain his balance overworking the brachiocephalicus.  The brachiocephalicus helps pull the humerous forward which extends the foreleg.  It becomes over-worked and thicker due to repeated pinching of the trapezius muscle at the withers which causes the horse to raise his head and lock down his back muscles. (Figure 2 and 2a)

• Look for a hollow behind the shoulder on either side of the horse.  Muscle in this region tends to diminish or atrophy when the nerves and muscles are pinched repeatedly.  One almost never finds this trait in the young, un-ridden horse.  This hollow of atrophied muscles will disappear once the horse has free lift and use of the back if permanent damage has not occurred. Also note that the older horse will have gradual wasting along their top line and this is not to be confused with pinching  from an ill-fitting saddle. (Figure 3)

Figure 1 Figure 1a
The gluteals in the top of rump will often look "well-developed" when they are being forced to work too hard.  In fact, they are in spasm because the back is unable to function as it should due to pressure points from the saddle. Figure 1a show normal development.

Figure 2 Figure 2a
The neck is over-developed due to being ridden with a high head and hollow back. This maybe caused by pinching the trapezius at the base of the withers when the rider is positioned too far forward. (Figure 2)
Correct neck development (Figure 2a)

Figure 3
A hollow behind the shoulder frequently indicates long term pinching just behind the shoulder by the arch of the saddle. It is thought that pinching of nerves causes atrophy of these "saddle muscles" as the old-timers used to call them. With a properly fitting saddle this hollow will diminish as the muscles regain their proper function.

Behavioral Traits:

Once you have ruled out dentistry and shoeing as possible causes of bad behavior and performance, the following acts of disobedience are usually directly linked to saddling pain or the anticipation of it.

• Does your horse not tolerate saddling, cinching or mounting?

• Bucks, runs away, nips, sidesteps, and tosses head?

• Hollow-backed, cold-backed, dry spots under a wet blanket?

• Rears when girthed?

• Does not travel well down-hill?

• Refuses jumps? Hard to catch?

• Stumbles frequently?

• Difficulty walking calmly?

• Quits working mid-season?

• Tacks-up (moves tighter on one side) more on one side than the other?

• Do his gaits appear uneven?

Head tossing is a common result of discomfort under the saddle.

This cold-backed horse is throwing his head even before the rider puts weight in the saddle.

This horse humps his back against the pressure points of the saddle. When this series of photos was taken, this horse had no evidence of bruising on his back, but by the end of a summer's riding, white hair was beginning to grow on the sides of his withers from excess pressure.

This horse is alert but content while being saddled.

Test for soreness in the "check point" muscles

There are three important muscles that can let you know instantly if your horse is suffering pain due to his saddle even if there is no pathology visible on the back.  Most riders use enough padding and rest their horses just enough to prevent bruising of the back from becoming visible.  But their horses are hurting and they respond to the pain by tensing the muscles which are being pressed.  This tension flows to all connected muscle groups.  The horse operates in a tense and unnatural form and this places stress on other parts of his body, hard to believe a saddle could affect so many parts of the body.

Three major check point muscles are:  The semimembranosis (on either side of the tail - in the hind quarters), the brachiocephalicus (following the lower half of the neck from poll to shoulder) and the triceps at the elbow.  Many other muscles could also be probed, but these three,  combined with your other findings, are all you need to make a trustworthy diagnosis.  You will probe these muscles quickly and sharply with the ends of three fingers or your thumb held stiff.  Remember, any force of the bite of kick your horse is likely to receive in the herd environment is far greater than any force you could possibly exert by using the ends of your fingers, however sharply.  You will not injure your horse in any way by this probing, but you may discover that your horse's muscles jump violently when probed.  Most novices probe too softly to illicit a reaction from their horse and are left with the impression their horse is not sore.  TTEAM therapy inventor, Linda Tellington Jones, once stated that one must probe as firmly as necessary to get a reaction to see if the horse is sore.  She sometimes probes very strongly, in fact.  If there is no soreness, there will be little or no reaction.

YOUR HORSE'S REACTION-WHAT IS NORMAL AND WHAT IS NOT
Extreme contraction of muscle is not normal and should never be attributed to a high-strung temperament of so-called sensitivity.  When probed, the muscles should be flaccid and should produce no more reaction in the horse than a wary expression on the face or fidgeting.  Fidgeting should discontinue as soon as the horse realizes you are not going  to hurt him.

"If any muscle is sore, in spasm or strained, the pain can be detected at its origin or insertion"

Checkpoint 1: Semimembranosis (either side of the base of the tail).  This muscle originates on either side of the root of the tail.  This is a long and rather narrow muscle which runs down the back of the hindquarters beside the tail and attaches five to eight inches above the horse hock. Standing to the side of the horse's rear, not directly behind, probe sharply as described with the tips of your first three fingers in to the muscle's origin beside the base of the tail.  The muscle should feel loose and relaxed-technically, "quiescent".  The horse should react by slightly tucking his hindquarters and slightly raising his back - both natural reflexes.  But if he is tense from soreness, he will "hump" his back and tuck his hind quarters violently and he may even hop with both hind legs.  If so, he may have a great deal of trouble directly under his saddle.

Checkpoint 2: Brachiocephalicus (from the poll to the shoulder covering the lower half of the side of the neck).  Probe the base of the neck in front of the shoulder blade about five inches above the point of the shoulder. If your horse is sore, this muscle will jerk  visibly and the horse will probably try to step away from you or turn his head toward you, curving his neck away.  He may even bend away while many related and attached muscles jerk throughout his neck and shoulder. This muscle helps pull the humerous forward, extending the foreleg.

Checkpoint 3: Triceps (muscle forming a wedge shape from the shoulder blade rearward to the elbow).  You'll feel this muscle as the fleshy area just to the rear of the bony ridge, which runs the length of the shoulder blade.  Probe just above the bony elbow. This is a wedge shaped muscle that is from the shoulder blade to the elbow.   If your horse is sore, he will jerk, move away and may bend his knee, all in varying degrees, indicating a sore back.  How violent the reaction depends on how sore and how much spasm his back is in. You can also determine if your horse has been made sore by girth interference.

          #1                                   #2                                  #3

Confirm your findings with palpation of the saddle area

There are three types of soreness to look for when palpating your horse's back.  1) Deep muscle soreness caused by excess pressure in a concentrated area; 2) Friction soreness caused by movement of the horse under the saddle and/or by stirrup straps; 3) Spondylosis or impingement of the spinal processes caused by jumping, rider concussion and the horse's traveling with his back muscles in contraction.

What to watch for: When palpating look  for your horse to react in one or more of the following ways.  He may raise his head, dip his back , flatten his croup, step away from you , toss his head, pin his ears, or flick his hide where you are palpating him as if he is ridding himself of a fly. (termed here fly-jerk).  He may tense the muscles around your fingers, and his muscles may shudder in the area you are probing.  Remember to study his face as you are  working.  He may only tighten his lips, clench his teeth or have a steely expression about his eyes.  From the time they are young horses are taught how to operate with saddle pain.  Many "old pros"  will not readily admit they are hurting.  That is why you must palpate properly, know the natural reflex points and always keep an eye on the horse's face. 

Remember  what Mary Schriber of Equissage  says: When you are near the equines face, watch for teeth. There is a pressure point on the cheek where you can place your thumb and efficiently prevent him from tuning toward you. It is not necessary to dig your thumb into the pressure point, just simply rest it on the surface. This action will dissuade any biting response. Also, as you work your way past the shoulder, keep your eye on the hind leg nearest you. Inspired by the fact that a horse is capable of kicking a fly off his ear, you are cautioned to place your free hand or fist, with elbow locked, near the stifle joint, both as a warning and as a preventative for you and a reminder for your client.

Regardless, you should be able to get some kind of reaction from your horse as you palpate him.  If after studying this method carefully and applying it, you cannot illicit any response from your horse, even when probing his natural reflex points, you can be sure your horse has severe long-term saddling problems.

Natural reflex vs. Soreness
Natural reflex points along the back, especially at the base of the withers and at the loins, cause a mild momentary dipping or a fly-jerk reaction.  If you continue holding pressure at a natural reflex, the reaction will dissipate after a few  seconds and the horse will relax.   If his reaction gets worse or he steps away after a few seconds of holding, you can be sure you have found a sore spot.

Probe gently but firmly:  
When probing for deep muscle bruising, replace the poking action with a firm but steady downward pressure of 15 to 25 lbs for 10 seconds with the tips of your first three fingers or your thumb.  (Always use finger tips, never fingernails nor any narrow blunt object.)  Why hold the pressure for a full 10 seconds?  Because the slight natural reflex will dissipate with in a couple of seconds, and the horse which is not bruised will no longer show a reaction to the firm pressure.  But if the horse is sore, he will show an obvious reaction to the sustained pressure even after 10 seconds is up.Where to Begin: Start where the arch of your saddle rests on either side of the withers. This is the trapezius muscle. If your saddle rests farther back, it will be at the area where the trapezius meets the longissimus dorsi. If you position the points of the tree of your saddle directly on top of the shoulder blade, begin probing there. If a fly-jerk which continues longer than three seconds, the horse is bruised. If your horse is very sore, he will initially give the fly-jerk reaction and then step away, dip his back noticeably, bend his knees or toss his head. He may literally go down under sustained pressure. The horse is severely bruised if he does any of these things. If he is not bruised, the fly-jerk will dissipate and he will probably relax and go on munching hay for instance, while you continue to hold pressure. (Fig. #4 Rhomboid muscles, under the trapezius muscles and fig. #5 Trapezius muscles covering the rhomboids).

                         
            #4 Rhomboid muscles, under the trapezius muscles       #5 Trapezius muscles covering the rhomboids.

Continue down the length of the horse's back:  Probe your horse's back this way anywhere the saddle rests to locate sore areas.  Very few horses ridden extensively with any saddle will not be sore where the fork rests.  Some will also be sore under the middle of the bars or panels and some also under the rear of the saddle tree near the loins. Probing either side of the spine, moving down the length of the back, the sore horse's reaction will be slight; if very sore his back will drop sharply.

Probing the loins:  When probing the loin area be on the lookout for friction soreness which will cause the horse to flatten his croup or drop his back.  With deep bruising the horse will continue to show pain when pressure is applied longer than 15 seconds. So, If he continues to show pain or steps away  from you, he has deeper damage.  If, on the other hand, it is only friction soreness ( the palpation technique for which is explained below) then the reaction doesn't normally last any longer than the count of 5. Palpating for friction soreness: Friction soreness is easily spotted and frequently called "ticklishness," because horses react to it when being brushed or touched lightly. (This maybe the case, but you must test to see if indeed, your horse has true friction soreness.) Since riders may not see shaved hair, sores, or swelling, they deduce that their horses are ticklish. It is also the most overrated type of soreness because most veterinarians at endurance races and competitive trail rides can easily spot it while missing deep muscle bruising, which is far more serious. To palpate for friction soreness, spread apart your fingers and curve them as if you are about to play the piano. With about three pounds of pressure run your fingers down the horse’s back from the front to the rear, beginning on either side of the spine and alternating your way downward until all saddle contact areas have been covered. The sore horse will dip his back or flatten his croup or step away when you pass over a sore area. (Fig. #6.)

#6  Detecting spondylosis: Spondylosis deformans goes largely undetected in many horses suffering from it. It is characterized by irritation, pain, swelling or degeneration of the periosteum (surface) of the dorsal spinal processes. This occurs when the articulation surfaces of the vertebrae or tops of the spinal processes rub together (impinge) when the horse’s back hollows excessively. The impingement usually happens between the 10th and 17th thorasic vertebrae when caused by improper saddling and riding. It is very common in distance racing horses, who are allowed to travel great distances with hollow backs and heads up. It is also common in jumping horses who suffer vertebral impingement by the propulsion created by the hind quarters when starting the jump with all the back muscles contracted at the same time. The test for spondylosis is simple.How to check for Spondylosis: Beginning at the base of the wither, with three or four fingertips in line with the middle of the spine, press downward and hold. While maintaining a minimum of 10-20 lbs of pressure, slide your fingers toward the croup. No matter how hard you press, there should be no reaction! If the horse raises his head noticeably, dips his back or tries to drop to the ground, he is suffering. A very sore horse will be able to tolerate only light pressure here before dropping his back or bending his knees. Spondylosis is extremely painful and use of the horse must be stopped immediately as it can create a very unpredictable and sometimes explosive animal. With continued use, the body will form false joints of calcification between the spinal processes. Next, the vertebrae fuse in a condition called ankylosis, nature’s way of alleviating pain, which also results in a stiffer, nonathletic horse. If you do experience any reaction from palpating your horse’s spine, contact a veterinarian for medical treatment and consultation, for you may not have spondylosis but other issues that will need to be resolved before you ride your animal again.

   
               Normal spine                        Spondylosis- The pathology

Always extend the foreleg to probe the rear edge of the scapula

Another  important point to probe for bruising is often missed by veterinarians and therapists and unknown by horsemen: the rear process of the scapula called the "cartilage of prolongation".
When the horse extends his leg forward, his scapula rotates up to four inches to the rear.  It is in this rotation that it strikes-or must squeeze under-the arch of the saddle, however padded.  The scapula takes incredible punishment, especially during jumping and the sitting trot.
Yet when the horse is standing still, one cannot probe the "fin" of cartilage, because it is hidden under muscle bulk.  It can be extremely damaged and can cause lameness which is never diagnosed, because it can not be palpated when the horse is standing square.

How to: Have a helper stand in front of the horse and elevate the front hoof (leg straight) to normal extension, such as during extended trot or gait.  Firmly probe the rear of the shoulder blade now.  Often, horses which showed no soreness when standing square, nearly go to the ground when probed on this otherwise hidden cartilage of prolongation.

Find rear edge of the scapula with your fingertips

Trace around the scapula with a piece of chalk or spit on your finger and wipe the wetness onto the shoulder for a visual outline

 Have a helper elevate and extend the foreleg and again find the rear of the scapula, tracing around it.  Notice how far the scapula has rotated to the rear.  Be sure your saddle doesn't interfere with this rotation.

The arrow points to the "cartilage of prolongation"

Conclusion: If, after studying these methods carefully and applying them and you cannot illicit any response from your horse, even when probing his natural reflex points, you can be sure your horse has severe long-term issues. He is locked up and is blocking all stimuli. Therefore, contact a professional for further assistance.