Saddle Fit and Skiing

Last week after Family Day I had the chance to go skiing in Collingwood on one of my quick two days home between trips. The analogy of the day’s experience and how it paralleled what I sometimes come across in saddle fitting was interesting.

I have these really old Raichle ski boots that I bought in 1990 but that I love and that are comfortable and warm. My wife talked me into leaving my 215 cm old straight K2’s at home so I could try out the parabolics for the first time. Unfortunately, when we got to the ski rental place they said my boots were too old and they didn’t want the liability of fitting them onto a new pair of skis (they could possibly ‘fly’ apart; they didn’t want to be responsible if I killed myself…) Okay, so I tried out several other pairs of rental boots so that they could adjust the ski bindings to a newer pair of boots, but without exception they all didn’t fit. Too small, too big, wet inside (ugh!). But since I drove all that way and didn’t want to spend the day in the chalet, I figured the best of the options would be a too big pair, that unfortunately still squished my toes while letting my heel ride up. Not great but workable...

Anyway, I got the skis and we went out and after about two runs – honestly – my feet were numb and I simply didn’t feel the pain on my toes or heels anymore. I had paid for the ticket, my instructor was fairly unsympathetic to my plight, and I basically ‘sucked it up’. So it worked and we skied. But – was it the optimum solution? No. Was I doing something I loved? Yes. Did my feet scream at me when I took the boots off a couple of hours later? Yes – once the feeling came back.

Okay you’re probably wondering what does that have to do with saddle fit? Well, you would be surprised the number of times when I am doing an evaluation the client tells me “don’t watch me; I have to go warm him up first. He’s kinda frisky right now…” What does that tell me? Basically, his back has to ‘numb’ up before he’ll do anything responsive – which is generally substantiated when I see the saddle they are using. Too tight over the withers, too narrow in the gullet, too long in the back, etc. etc. I know how the poor horse feels, making do with a piece of equipment that simply is just adequate. The rider ‘sort of’ has fun (but knows ‘something’ is wrong); the horse is really a good guy and wants to please. Think about how much better this situation (and my day on the slopes!) would be with equipment that fit!

Jochen Schleese, CMS, CSF, CEE

www.schleese.com