05/19/2026
Wondering if some of that leather covered eye candy could be right (or wrong) for your horse?
My recent videos have focused on the biology of seasonal topline changes, and the why behind what is happening. Next, were looking at the mechanical architecture required to manage these changes. In addition to identifying atrophy and learning ways to mitigate changes, it is all contingent upon Tree Suitability and Panel Alignment.
Before you attempt to mitigate a tipping saddle with shims, you must be certain of your baseline. Shimming is a powerful tool when used as "Prosthetic Muscle," but it is not a remedy for a fundamentally mismatched tree.
In this video, I take you "under the hood" to show you how to feel the tree rails and springs through the leather. Understanding where your tree actually sits—not just where the panels appear to be—is the difference between providing support and creating a fulcrum.
If you shim a saddle that doesn't have a correct tree and channel baseline, you risk turning your equipment into a seesaw that hammers the horse's loin or shoulder with every stride.
For those of you following the Seasonal Saddle Fit series, this is the missing link between observing a problem and implementing a safe, effective solution.
Watch the full technical breakdown here: https://youtu.be/kiSPcddm9Ls?si=7_MathoTt49gNVlz
Before you put down money or a deposit on your next online saddle trial, run the model through my free Fit Risk Assessment at https://www.saddlefitsolved.com/fit-risk-assessment.html
🐴 Before you reach for a shim pad to mitigate winter muscle loss, you must verify your baseline. Is your saddle tree and it's panels/channel actually a func...
