The Horse's Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book: Ensure Soundness and Comfort with Back Analysis and Correct Use of Saddles and Pads

by Joyce Harman

A comprehensive study of the impact of saddle fit on horse and rider health and performance.

Genres: Horses

232 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jessie Beaumont Schmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

All horse owners should have this book for their library. It is a go to for me when considering saddle fit.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for every horse owner. This volume is English saddle-centric, so be aware of that if you're a western rider.

[marczaggg · Rating 5 out of 5]

~4.5 stars~

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyce Harman is a veterinarian and massage therapist. She specializes in equine backs. She has a very insightful, no non-sense way of conveying how important saddle fit is to horse and rider harmony. I picked up this book after seeing a rash of images of saddles that clearly didn't fit and were causing horses pain and usually accompanied by the phrase, "a saddle pad should fix that". Many riders are quick to blame the horse for misbehaving. Some problems are saddle related. This book offers real understanding rather than slapping a band aide on the problem.

There are many illustrations and photographs of movement and fit to help readers understand the points. She also has comparisons of fitted saddles on horses in motion as well as "bad" fit so readers can visualize.

This particular book has an English slant. So if you ride western, Joyce also has a book that is focused on western. Some images and information contained within this book also shows up in the western book, but the information is relevant.

I also recommend Joyce's DVDs for both the English and the Western saddle fit books.

Even if you think you know the ropes on saddle fit, I highly recommend this book and think that it should be part of any modern equestrian's library.

[Lida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful information. I knew when I picked this up that it was intended for English saddles. So much so, that the only mention or image of a western saddle is somewhat negative. One image of a horse and rider performing a sliding stop (western maneuver) in an English saddle; horse and rider look like they're communicating well. The second photo is the same horse and rider, same maneuver, but in a apparently poor fitting western saddle which causes pain and an awkward undertaking of the stop. Harman used these images to illustrate her point that "the type of saddle is really irrelevant to a sport, as long as it provides the horse comfort and the rider balance." Unfortunately, the way she words the rest of the passage makes it unclear whether THIS western saddle is the problem, or if ALL western saddles are poor fits. Harman has also written a book on fitting western saddles, so obviously she thinks that western saddles can fit a horse.