Dressage Today OnDemand

English Tack

Credit: Arnd Bronkhorst - Arnd.nl

What you need to know about caring for your horse's tack

By Kelly Sanchez
May 31, 2018

DT - FitTip - SkinIrritationsandGirthsPart2 - May2017 - Thumbnail - 20170327

By Jochen Schleese CMS CSFT CSE
Jan 23, 2019

DT-FitTip-Apr2017-SkinIrritationsandGirthsPart1-Thumbnail-20170404

By Jochen Schleese CMS CSFT CSE
Jan 23, 2019

In both a treeless saddle as well as in a treed saddle made for a man, a woman does not have the necessary support behind her pelvic area to sit correctly in balance and in position. She should be able to sit along the axis shown in green; without the necessary support she will tend to fall back along the red dotted axis.

By Jochen Schleese CMS CSFT CSE
Feb 13, 2017

The areas marked in white on the horse's back are the saddle-support areas, which are essentially the position of the longissimus dorsi muscles.

By Jochen Schleese CMS CSFT CSE
Jan 23, 2019

This saddle that was made for a man gives the female rider no other choice but to sit in a chair-seat position with her legs out in front of her and sitting on the fleshy part of her seat and not her seat bones. The desirable verticle shoulder-hip-heel alignment cannot be achieved in this case.

By Jochen Schleese CMS CSFT CSE
Jan 23, 2019

Credit: Trafalgar Square Books Most horses can be observed with their left front leg forward during grazing.

The horse’s asymmetry must be part of the equation.

By Jochen Schleese CMS CSFT CSE
Feb 13, 2017

Left: Sweat marks occur in areas where there is friction and air circulation. Right: Similar to a collar on a white shirt, most of the dirt occurs where there is the most access to air circulation and friction. Here we see an excellent dust pattern on a saddle pad [from a correctly fitted saddle].

By Jochen Schleese CMS CSFT CSE
Jan 23, 2019

Watch this hilarious video, starring Jochen Schleese, explaining the importance of purchasing the correct size saddle for You and Your horse.

By Jochen Schleese CMS CSFT CSE
Feb 13, 2017