Driving Saddle Placement
- jess3152
- Feb 9, 2023
- 1 min read
Driving saddles generally have trees just like riding saddles. It's very important that the saddle not be placed too far forward. It will affect the movement of the shoulder. I find most drivers that have come from a riding background really want to put the saddle too far forward.
The saddle should sit a solid hand behind the shoulder blade:
The girth should hang straight down from the saddle and be about 4 fingers behind the elbow so it does not affect the movement of the elbow; the elbow needs to move without being knocked by the girth.
The girth need not be tight as well. Especially because driving saddles are not carrying weight like a riding saddle, they do not need to be tightened down. I always say a hand between the barrel and girth is good.
Hope this helps with understanding how saddle placement should be!!
Very good information! Have a little question/dilemma… My Arab seems to have her withers “set back” a bit more, than my Morgan and her girth area seems small and is more forward of the back of the wither… I know sounds weird… but when I put the saddle on and girth her the whole saddle sits a bit of an angle… and then when I try to girth her to keep it all straight.. the girth of course slides forward and then is to loose… but if I tighten her there where it wants to go… this is where the whole saddle/girth combo “ride” on an angle… and I’m pretty sure the saddle should lay straight and balanced … AN…