HOME ABOUT US CONTACTS & ORDERING PRODUCTS LEATHER & LEATHER CARE SADDLE FITTING  Contact Us:         Stuart Lilie, Saddler         130 Mansfield Rd.         Ashford, CT 06278         info@stuartliliesaddles.com         (860) 208 3111	Proper Saddle Fitting
	The fit of a saddle on the horse's back is aboslutely vital to its safe use. Ideally, I prefer to custom fit every saddle to each horses back. This isn't always practical so when you order a saddle, especially an officers saddle be prepared to provide pictures of your horse, and measurements of their back. This will ensure your horse's comfort and your safety. Basically all enlisted military saddles including anglo-american ones are built with a small pannel, that covers the saddle tree only. The pannel is made to accomodate a soldier's blanket folded up underneath. You should do the same thing. Keeping your sleeping blanket below your saddle is just an incentive to keep your horse clean. Images and manuals indicate that fitting a soldiers saddle was partly achieved by increasing or decreasing the number of folds in his blanket. The number of folds generally increased as the horse lost weight over a campaign season, thus creating a thicker pad. Below are the steps for two period folding patterns (click on images for a larger view). To fold in quarters: First, fold your blanket in half width-wise. Then fold it width-wise again. The folded edge goes toward the front. Make sure the blanket covers your horse's shoulders. To fold in sixths: Lay your blanket out and fold one end into the middle. Take the other end and fold it back over the first fold. Fold the whole thing in half width-wise, making a thick squarish pad. Again, a neat folded edge goes toward the front and make sure the shoulders are covered. In either case, the blanket should provide complete coverage beneath the saddle. The saddle should fit snugly just behind the horse's shoulders.