Galloping Ahead Saddlery

10/09/2026

Can your horse stand square? 🟥

It’s surprising how many horses struggle to stand square, not only with their hind legs canted in or out, as discussed in this article, but also with their front feet positioned as a matching pair.

For saddle fitting, a horse needs to stand as squarely as possible so that accurate templates and assessments can be taken. However, many horses find this difficult or are very reluctant to maintain the position.

So, what might this tell us?

An uneven stance does not automatically mean there is a problem. It may relate to habit, conformation, balance, weakness or the way the horse has been trained to stand. However, a horse being unable to stand square may also warrant further investigation for discomfort or an underlying musculoskeletal issue.

How a horse stands can offer useful clues about how they balance, load their limbs and use their body in motion. All of which effect saddle fit.

Next time your horse is standing on a level surface, take a moment to look:

🐴 Are the front feet positioned evenly?
🐴 Are the hind feet a matching pair?
🐴 Is the horse consistently resting or unloading the same limb?
🐴 Do they quickly return to an uneven stance after being repositioned?

Standing square is only one small part of the overall picture, but it can tell us more than you might think.

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: While we tend to focus on how a horse moves to try to figure out how he feels, maybe we need to look more at how he stands. New research is exploring what a horse’s posture says about his health. Click the link the comments to learn what they've uncovered.

08/09/2026

I have to explain this at 99% of saddle fittings!

It’s an issue I’m faced with daily and a particular bugbear of mine.

There are lots of compact TBs out there for who this is a very real problem.

The stated saddle size, such as 17”, refers to the seat size. It does not dictate the panel length. Several saddles can have exactly the same seat measurement, while the panels underneath vary considerably in length.

This is another reason why you can’t simply buy a particular size of saddle and assume it will fit your horse.

That’s where a qualified Saddle Fitter comes in!

✉️ [email protected]
📞 07736 855366

Saddle length is still among the most common saddle fit issues seen today.

Historically, saddles were designed with long panels under the assumption that a greater weight-bearing surface would better distribute pressure. This worked reasonably well for horses with long, broad backs at the time.

However, modern sport horses have been selectively bred to be shorter coupled to enhance collection, agility, and power. Unfortunately this also means that the real-restate for saddle fit has significantly reduced over the years.

Despite this, many saddles have retained the same panel lengths as their historical predecessors. The result is an increasing mismatch between saddle length and the horse’s safe weight-bearing zone, with many saddles extending beyond the last thoracic rib.

The equine lumbar spine represents a region of mobility, not load-bearing.

Anatomically, it bridges the powerful propulsive forces of the hindquarters with the more rigid thoracic region, facilitating transmission of motion and stabilization through dynamic muscular control. Unlike the thoracic vertebrae, the lumbar vertebrae do not articulate with ribs and therefore lack the structural scaffolding required for weight support.

Each lumbar vertebra features prominent transverse processes, which extend laterally to provide broad attachment surfaces for key epaxial musculature, including the longissimus dorsi, iliocostalis lumborum, and multifidus.

These muscles act collectively to stabilize the spine, modulate dorsoventral flexion and extension, and maintain postural integrity during locomotion.

When a saddle extends caudally beyond the thoracic region or applies direct pressure over the lumbar transverse processes, this compromises the intended biomechanical function of the area, leading to hypertonicity across the thoracolumbar region.

This often manifests as ventral flexion of the thoracolumbar region (“dropping the back”), a protective postural response to avoid further compression of sensitive structures.

This compensatory response alters thoracolumbar mechanics, restricts energy transfer through the back, and diminishes engagement of the hindquarters.

Over time, sustained mechanical loading in this region can lead to muscular atrophy, altered coordination of the thoracolumbar fascia, and reduced lumbosacral mobility, each of which negatively influences performance and comfort.

From a saddle-fitting perspective, it is essential to respect the functional boundary between the weight-bearing thoracic region and the non-weight-bearing lumbar region.

The lumbar spine is designed to move and transmit, not to support external load.
Ensuring the saddle does not infringe on this zone preserves spinal mobility, prevents compensatory tension, and maintains biomechanical efficiency through the horse’s back.

07/09/2026

My daughter goes back to school today! It’s been a lovely but long summer holiday, juggling work and childcare, with lots of time spent in our caravan without any signal. Throw in a sprained ankle and a few personal challenges along the way, and it’s certainly been eventful!

I’m conscious that I have lots of loose ends to tie up, messages to respond to, appointments to book and new saddle orders to chase.

Today is the day! ✍️

If you’re waiting to hear from me, I’ll be in touch very soon!

✉️📞😎

30/07/2026

A great explanation of something we often simply refer to as muscle atrophy. Understanding why muscle changes occur is just as important as recognising that they have. 💪

If you’re concerned about your horse’s muscle development, remember that saddle fit can be a significant contributing factor. If you’d like your saddle assessed, I’d be happy to help.

📅 Limited appointments are now available until mid-September due to the summer holidays and childcare commitments.

✉️ [email protected]
📞 07736 855366

That hollow behind your horse's shoulder blade, what is it?

Many believe it's wastage of the trapezius muscle, but that's not entirely correct.
The trapezius is actually thin and only covers the upper part of that area — nowhere near enough to explain hollows that can be 10cm deep or more. So what's really going on?

It could be:
🔹 Longissimus dorsi atrophy (check for a matching hollow in the neck too)
🔹 Natural conformation — high-withered types often show more of a hollow than flat-backed cobs
🔹 Posture — a weak thoracic sling letting the ribcage drop forward and down between the front legs (often the biggest culprit!)
🔹 Poor saddle fit, which can make posture worse

Encourage your horse to lift its thorax up between the front legs, and the "hollow" can disappear almost instantly.

Want to see this for yourself — the muscles and skeletons up close?

At the Inside the Horse Equine Anatomy Exhibition, you can see the trapezius, longissimus dorsi and thoracic sling in place on painted horses, and learn the exercises that help fix postural hollows for good.

14 different zones to help you understand more about how your horse functions - a fascinating way to learn with lots of interactive exhibits where you can get hands on and improve your knowledge.

📍 Wavendon Grange, Leicestershire
📅 14th–23rd August 2026

Come and find out what's really going on under the saddle.

Comment AX and we'll send you more details.

10/07/2026

Sorry clients and horses… it’s happening. I’m wearing shorts 🫣

08/07/2026

I have this exact saddle on my own horse. 👌

Is he a Friesian? No. ❌

He’s an awkward Irish Cob with no recorded breeding. He has a good-sized wither, big shoulders and a long, wide back. To make things even more interesting, he has virtually no defined girth groove, so many saddles have a tendency to slide backwards.

The shorter tree points on my Ryder Baroque suit him perfectly, allowing freedom through the shoulder while providing the stability he needs.

Joe Kinvara (Jojo), the horse who inspired me to become a saddle fitter! ❤️

Every horse is different and although this saddle was originally designed with Friesians in mind, it certainly isn’t limited to them.

If you think your horse could benefit from trying one, I would be delighted to help.

✉️ [email protected]
📞 07736 855366

02/07/2026

Gorgeous Horse Alert‼️

It was a pleasure to fit four-year-old Friesian Thade with his very first saddle today.

A horse’s first saddle fit is such an important milestone. Getting the fit right from the beginning helps support comfort, freedom of movement and positive experiences as they start their ridden career.

Thade was fitted with this beautiful Arena Iberian Dressage Saddle, which suited him brilliantly.

For any saddle fitting enquiries, please get in touch now:

✉️ [email protected]
📞 07736 855366

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16/06/2026

Hi All

I am now back from holiday and I think I am all caught up with messages.

However, I have an impending sense of doom that I have missed some and people may have fallen through the cracks.

If you are waiting for me to get back to you, please feel free to send me a reminder.

Many thanks

Emma

26/05/2026

It’s not all about new saddles! 🤩

This dinky Ideal pony saddle did the trick for a tiny little Welsh A.

If I didn’t have this one on the van, it would have been a case of getting one made 12/13”.

A saddle sold on commission and a bargain at £295.

It has cleaned up beautifully. 😍

Happy ponies

Happy customers

Happy Emma! ♥️

25/05/2026

🌞 HOLIDAY NOTICE 🌞

I am now away with my family for the next two weeks. I will still try to respond to messages as usual, but please bear with me whilst response times may be a little slower.

The best way to get in touch is via email:

✉️ [email protected]

This ensures your enquiry remains in the proper queue and is less likely to get lost amongst Messenger, text or WhatsApp messages.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Emma x