The Saddle Shed

It is important that the saddle does not interfere with the natural movement of the horse. The saddle should be placed forward on the withers and slid back until it finds its place securely behind the shoulder without pressing on the withers. Attach the girth using only the first and third billets. The second billet is used only as a spare. Split end girths allow for equal tension without creating bulkiness under the leg when using the first and third billets. This allows for a quiet fitting saddle with equal tension distributed from front to back.

If the saddle is placed too far forward on the withers and shoulder, the constriction will interfere with the stride! To check the fit with the saddle girthed, lift the foreleg forward and be sure the points of the tree are not on the shoulder blade.

When it is girthed, the pommel of the saddle should be approximately 1" lower than the cantle. When the pommel-cantle relationship is correct, then you must check the clearance between the withers and the channel under the pommel. On a new saddle, the clearance should be a minimum of 2 fingers. Keep in mind that once the saddle is broken in, the panel flocking will compress slightly and give your horse a custom fit. Stübben saddles should not need to be reflocked except in instances where there is a change in horses, extreme weight gain or loss, or if you are experiencing other fitting problems.

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