| |
| Foundation Program |
| Basic Curriculum |
|
| Course History and Evolution |
| As practicing Equine Sports Therapists, we are highly aware of the importance of proper saddle fit. Many of the problems that we have seen and treated over the years have been a direct result of poor saddle fit. |
| Since 1993, we have emphasized saddle fit awareness in our Equine Sports Massage Program. That segment, Introduction to Saddle Fit, was taught by Master Saddler, Blake Kral. We continuously received positive feedback from students about the lectures. Students kept asking for more in-depth information about saddle fit. |
| We surveyed the industry and saw that there were a limited number of saddle fit training programs in the U.S. So, in the fall of 2002 we launched our first in-depth saddle fit training program. |
| The Principles and Fundamentals of Saddle Fit program is a tremendous success. Students leave here with a skill set that makes them better horsemen and an opportunity to earn a solid income in the horse industry. |
| Since our In-Depth Saddle Fit programs were launched in 2002, we have noticed some popular clinicians are starting their own saddle fit seminars. It is a good thing for the equine industry to encourage horsemen to be aware of the importance of saddle fit. However, not everyone who teaches saddle fit has the experience in saddlery to do so. It is one thing to be able to ride on a saddle and quite another thing to be able to build a saddle from scratch. |
| Our students are taught to how to look at a saddle from the inside out. Our students are not taught to sell a specific brand of saddles. Our students are taught to objectively evaluate each horse/saddle combination that is presented. Saddle recommendations are made based on what will work for both the horse and rider. |
| The basic principles of saddle fit are the same for both English and Western riding. Our earlier classes addressed both English and Western saddlery in the same segment. As our class sizes have grown, and in order to maximize the amount of hands-on-practice students receive, starting in 2005 our classes have been split into English or Western Focus. Students which enroll in both segments, will receive a 25% discount on their second segment tuition. |
| Our success with the saddle fit program snowballed into another related program: English Saddle Re-Flocking. There is a huge need in the U.S. for individuals that understand the principles of saddle fit and who also have the ability to strip down and properly re-flock an English saddle. We have recruited British Master Saddler, David May of the Cumbria School of Saddlery, Penrith , England to lead this program. David presents the program once per year with Animal Dynamics here in the U.S. Year round, David offers a variety of saddle and leatherwork programs at his school in Penrith , England . You can learn about about David and |
| his programs at his website www.saddlerycourses.com. |
| Our plans for the future include a Level 2 Advanced Fitting Program and independent certification testing. |
| Basic Training |
| Students will start with either the English Segment or the Western Segment. Each segment is a 5 day program |
| Basic Training |
| This aspect of the program is the same in both the English and Western Segments. |
| 1. The Horse |
| Equine Anatomy - The structures of the equine back |
| Impact of back pain on the biomechanical motion of the horse |
| Physical problems caused by improper biomechanical motion |
| Physical Observations and Palpations to perform as part of the saddle fit process |
| 2. Saddle Fit Requirements based on the Physical Needs of the Horse |
| 3. How to Properly Measure the Horses. Back |
| Lecture/ Demonstration of how to create the Equine Back Profile Templates and Rocker |
| Included with the class tuition, students receive a Saddle Fitting Tool Kit which has a retail value of $50. |
| Extensive Hands-On practice creating Equine Back Profile Templates and Rockers |
| Students are taught how to use these measurements to objectively determine which saddle is the best fit for the horse. The Profile Templates represent the basic measurements that are required when ordering a custom saddle. |
| 4. How to Use the Equine Back Profile Templates and Rocker in saddle fit evaluation and selection. |
| 5. How to evaluate whether a saddle fits a particular horse. |
| 6. Basic saddle construction fundamentals. How to evaluate an English or Western saddle for .Fatal Flaws.. |
| 7. How to properly tack up the horse with the saddle in the correct position |
|
| English Or Western Focus |
| These lectures and labs are presented in both the English and Western segments. The content varies depending on which type of riding is being addressed. |
| 1. | The Saddle Pad market, Computerized Saddle Fitting Procedures and new trends in the industry are discussed. |
|
| Master Saddler Blake Kral has over 5+ years experience in a privately funded Saddle Fit Analysis Project held in Texas . This project uses computer software to analyze pressure points under a saddle on a horse in motion. From his affiliation with the Saddle Fit Project, Blake has had extensive experience testing a wide range of saddles and pads. |
|
| Blake explains to students that .A horse in motion will get spontaneous pressure points from his own dynamics. This is much different than constant pressure from an ill fitting saddle. When performing a saddle fit, one must fit the median posture of the horse since the saddle has no dynamics to move with the horse.. |
|
| 2. | Students are taught about each basic component of the saddle and its. function (English or Western). This includes all of the parts that you see on the outside of the saddle as well as what most people commonly don.t see on the inside of the saddle. Students learn how to look at a saddle from the riders. point of view and from the horses. point of view. |
|
| 3. | Once everyone is clear on the fundamentals of the saddle, multiple in-depth lectures and discussions follow regarding all of the different variations of these fundamentals that are on the market. |
|
| The goal of this segment of the program is to sharpen the eye of the student to focus on the critical details when they look at a saddle. While there will never be a .perfect. saddle fit, we want students to recognize .Fatal Flaws. and steer clear of those saddles. |
|
| 4. | Students are taught how to test for twisted, cracked or broken saddle trees. |
|
| 5. | The class goes on field trips to various working horse farms. |
|
| Measuring and fitting demonstrations are performed. Students receive clear instruction on the proper way to saddle and girth a horse. How different horses. confirmations affect saddling procedures is demonstrated and discussed. |
|
| Students work in teams, under instructor supervision, to measure horses and create the Equine Back Profile Templates and Rockers. |
|
| Students learn how to use the Equine Back Profile Templates and Rockers in saddle fit evaluation and selection. The templates help the student identify what aspect(s) of a saddle does not fit the horse. |
|
| Hands-on saddle fit evaluations are practiced on saddled horses. Students are coached regarding 13 points of fit. |
|
| 6. | Students are given a final written examination. Each student has a private Exit Interview with Master Saddler, Blake Kral, to discuss their final exam, review the strengths they demonstrated in class and identify any areas in which the student needs further practice. |
|
| Saddle Fit Links |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
