Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Old saddle question

From: Andie

Dear Jessica, I can't remember what I did for good horse information before I subscribed to HORSE-SENSE. You're the best. This isn't my question, but I'd better ask it before I forget to. How would I find out how to arrange one of your clinics? I think there are enough people in my area that we could do a clinic if you have time. We have a great big indoor arena.

I have a saddle question. My grandfather had an old saddle that was pretty special, and my Mom got it when he died, and she saved it for me because she knew I liked horses. Well she forgot all about it for a long time, like years and years, but she remembered it last month and gave it to me. I am 27 now and I have a horse, so I guess Grandfather would be pretty happy to know that his saddle is being used. But that's the problem. When I put the saddle on my horse, even when I am very careful to put it in back of his withers, he makes faces, and then when I try to ride in it he moves funny and stops and bucks. I know he isn't comfortable in it. My trainer came out one day for a lesson, and I showed it to her, and she said "Of course he can't wear it, the points are too long!" I didn't want to sound stupid, so I just said "Yeah, I know." But I don't know! What does that mean, the "points" are too long? And is there some way I could get them shortened? Or should I just ride Dandy in my saddle, since that one fits him fine?

Thanks Jessica, you're the best!

Andie and Dandy

Hi Andie, thanks! First, if you want to host a clinic, just e-mail me with your snail-mail address and ask for a clinic information packet, and we'll go from there.

Okay, about the saddle. As you've found out, just owning a saddle isn't enough to make it fit the horse! Dandy is miserable in that saddle, so don't ask him to wear it. Since he and you are both comfortable in your own saddle, just use that. You can put your grandfather's saddle on a saddle stand, keep it clean and soft, and just keep it as a decoration, heirloom, and souvenir.

The "points" of an English saddle are part of the saddle tree; specifically, they are the ends of the arch made by the "saddle head", which is the part of the tree that keeps the front of the sadsdle saddle off the withers and arching OVER the spine. If you look closely at the front of any English saddle, you'll be able to see where the arch is, although both the arch and its ends (the points) are covered with leather. You can see where the points go, just by lifting the saddle flap and looking at the front of the saddle, just underneath upper front edge of the flap, and in front of the billets. On each side of the saddle, in the same place, you'll see a stitched-down area with a slight bulge to it -- that's the "point pocket", and the point pockets hold the points of the saddle tree. The stirrup bars are attached to the tree a little bit higher than the points; in the case of some old saddles, quite a bit higher, as the points are longer.

Older saddles were usually made with long points, which meant that they would only fit certain horses -- and many of them were made for particular horses, so that wasn't a problem. Newer saddles, like the one you ride in, are made with shorter points, and some are designed to flex outward according to the width of the horse. Therefore, they interfere less with the horse's back and shoulders, and they make it easier to use one saddle on more than one horse. It's still not a guarantee that a particular saddle will fit the horse you have. ;-)

As to whether there's anything you can do -- I'm not sure you'd really want to change your grandfather's saddle! If you're curious, and if you have a good saddler in your area, you might take the saddle in and ask to pay for a consultation. I think that if I were you, I'd just keep it as it is -- clean it, maintain it, and enjoy it as something special.

Jessica

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