In mid-February I had the chance to spend a week skiing in Utah at four of the most beautiful ski resorts I have ever experienced. This was a welcome change in pace and scenery after a gruelling (but always fun) two-week Saddlefit 4 Life training course. We were lucky enough to enjoy fantastic (almost too warm) weather with blue skies and sunshine – and amazing conditions! So why am I writing about skiing in a horse blog? Well, the analogy of the week’s experience and how it paralleled what I sometimes come across in saddle fitting was somehow an epiphany and I had to tell you about it.
I have these really old Raichle ski boots that I bought in 1990, but that I love and that are comfortable and warm. My wife talked me into leaving my 215 cm old straight K2’s at home so I could try out the parabolics for the first time. Unfortunately, when we got to the ski rental place they said my boots were too old (not normed for today’s bindings) and they didn’t want the liability of fitting them onto a new pair of skis (they could possibly ‘fly’ apart; they didn’t want to be responsible if I killed myself…) Okay, so I tried out several other pairs of rental boots so that they could adjust the ski bindings to a newer pair of boots, but without exception they all didn’t fit. Too small, too big, wet inside (ugh!). But since we flew all that way and I didn’t want to spend the day in the chalet, I figured the best of the options would be a too big pair, which, unfortunately, squished my toes while letting my heel ride up. Not great. (Adding another pair of socks helped, but still…)
Anyway, I got the skis and we went out and after about two runs – honestly – my feet were numb and I simply didn’t feel the pain on my toes or heels anymore. I had paid for the ticket, the instructor was fairly unsympathetic to my plight, and I basically ‘sucked it up.’ So it worked and we skied. But – was it the optimum solution? No. Was I doing something I loved? Yes. Did my feet scream at me when I took the boots off a couple of hours later? Yes – once the feeling came back. The next day at the next resort we were lucky enough that the ski rental shop did agree to adjust their bindings to work with my ski boots so things were much better. I was happy and comfortable and skied much better too.
Okay you’re probably wondering, what does that have to do with saddle fit? Well, you would be surprised the number of times when I am doing an evaluation the client tells me “don’t watch me; I have to go warm him up first. He’s ‘kinda’ frisky right now…” What does that tell me? Basically, his back has to ‘numb’ up before he’ll do anything responsive – which is generally substantiated when I see the saddle they are using. Too tight over the withers, too narrow in the gullet, too long in the back, etc. etc. I know how the poor horse feels, making do with a piece of equipment that simply is just adequate. The rider ‘sort of’ has fun (but knows ‘something’ is wrong); the horse is really a good guy and wants to please. Think about how much better this situation (and my day on the slopes!) would be with equipment that fit!
This situation is really well illustrated in our three-minute YouTube video below, which is a similar analogy and will also clear up for you why you see that little red shoe in our ads and at trade shows.
Point is – just because something works for your friend, your sister/brother, your trainer, does not mean that it is necessarily right for you or your horse. Take the time to determine the correct saddle for you and ensure that it also fits your horse. You have two living entities that need to be taken into consideration – don’t fall into the old school of thought “as long as it fits my horse, I’m happy.” Trust me – it doesn’t work this way. If you as the rider are uncomfortable and sitting in a saddle that is not gender appropriate and doesn’t fit you, your horse will never perform to his optimum capability because your discomfort will translate down through the saddle and he will feel it. He feels the tiniest fly on his skin; what do you think it does to him when he feels your unbalanced weight on his back?
Book your saddle fit consultation today at schleese.com/saddle-fitting-registration and make sure that those ski boots fit!
~ Jochen Schleese CMS, CSFT, CSE, courtesy of Saddlefit 4 Life
