Setting things up to enjoy the rides of your dreams: Why do we shim? When people ask: If your saddles are supposed to be so great, why do you need to shim them?, we understand why they would wonder. It seems counter-intuitive within the traditional frames of reference for saddle fitting...but our experimentation on countless breeds and sizes of horses proved that horses were happier if we built the saddles too big for their stationary backs. That means that we must take responsibility for managing the interface, between the saddle and the horse s moving parts if we want to get the most out of these revolutionary saddles. When people say, I really don t want to shim...i just want to get on and ride, we pose the question, If you love someone, wouldn t you take just a moment to fluff the pillows for them? Letitia Glenn demonstrates how to look at your horse s body and determine where shims (shims will be placed inside the saddle pad) would add the right amount of connection under a saddle built with room for the horse to use his back properly. Eventually, the long center shim (which fills in for the damaged long center back muscles on this horse until he can strenthen/re-develop them) will be removed and just the shoulder shim would be necessary. See diagrams on this website and demos on Parelli Saddles YouTube. How can you be CONFIDENT that your Parelli Saddle will fit your horse? It is highly unlikely that a Parelli saddle would not fit your horse. Our extensive experience has shown that it is critical that your saddle NOT lock down tight onto your horse s back shape when he is standing still, sit too far forward on his body nor dump rider weight on his forehand. We have been passionately scientific about designing Parelli saddle systems to help you AND your horse achieve optimum performance and comfort. As a result of more than a decade of research, development and testing on thousands of horses, we have created saddles that can fit almost every breed and back type, so that they ENHANCE your relationship during your pursuit of excellence in the Parelli Freestyle and Finesse riding Savvys. We are all familiar with saddles that DETRACT from our relationships with our horses! We build our saddles with the room your horse needs when moving. SHIMS under the saddle help customize your saddle system to accommodate your horse s particular back shape. (Note the simple diagrams and comparison photos on subsequent pages to help you understand how to assess your horse s back type, choose appropriate shims and position them effectively). Use just 1 or 2 in most cases. You ll be amazed by what a difference it makes! Use the CHECKLISTS (on the next pages) as your guide to understanding the basic principles involved in taking care of the biomechanical needs of your horse and yourself when riding. You should BOTH feel VERY comfortable, and your horse will thank you!
The TOOLS for interfacing between saddle and horse: We recommend using shims inside the special pockets designed into technically superior saddle pads to 1. Help facilitate horse s scapula clearance to enable full range strides 2. Help rider access Balance Point security 3. Insure comfort for horse and rider. We strive to use as few shims as possible...1 or 2 sets is usually sufficient. We aim for 1. It is rare to need more than 3 sets at one time, and horse s backs should improve with our saddle systems, so you will likely remove shims as this happens. Our 2 SADDLE PADS: Illustrations on subsequent pages are simulations showing shim placement on top of the pads. In reality, shims belong inside the pad s pockets. Always place shims in position on TOP of the air cells in the Theraflex or SmartFoam Inserts in the Smart Pad. Note: Western air cells are longer in size than English ones, due to length of Western tree bars. Please see more technical information in the Saddle/Pad section of this website. We highly recommend our revolutionary THERAFLEX non-slip pad system for many situations. Our ongoing testing of a variety of products has led to the development of our SMART PADTM, which contains SmartFoam inserts that conform / compress for optimal comfort for long hours in the saddle, trail/endurance and hi-pressure performance sports. SMART PAD seems more forgiving if you have been having issues with dry spots. Its thermo-dynamic fibres woven beneath the natural wool underside insure oxygenated blood flow and more. Above: Smart Pads (left) and Theraflex pads (right) illustrations showing some suggested shim positions typical for certain back types. See more further on in this section Our SHIMS: All shims (Foam or Felt) come as a SET of 2 (one for each side of the horse) of any particular shape. Our favorites are TheraFOAM (tapered, closed-cell, perfect density), sometimes in combination with our TheraFELT shims (which we have also used successfully by themselves for many years). TheraFELT Shims TheraFOAM Shims Foam is generally better in the SMART PAD than Felt. Thick (black strap) = 1/2 Thin (red strap) = 1.4 5/8 at thickest portions, with beveled ends SHOULDER: 10 x 6.75, 5/8 thick on round edge, tapering to 0 on other end CENTER: 14 x 6, REAR: (can also be used 5.8 in center, at Shoulder): 9.5 x 7 tapering to 0 on each end 5/8 thick on round edge, tapering to 0 on other end Below: Set of 3, viewed from above, showing advantage of taper for smooth transition SHOULDER, Thick: 7.75 x 6.75 x 1/2 CENTER Thick: 12 x 5 x 1/2 SHOULDER, Thin: 7.75 x 6.75 x 1/4 CENTER Thin: 12 x 5 x 1/4 Our research has indicated consistently that all breeds, including gaited and short-backed horses benefit tremendously when we employ Parelli saddles, practices and tools. KEEP IT SIMPLE when shimming your saddle: Start with BASIC SHIM PATTERNS for your horse s BASIC BACK SHAPE. See helpful photos, diagrams and checklises on following pages. Copyright 2014 Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc. and Natural Horseman Saddles, LLC Parelli Saddle Fit Education PAGE 1
Checklist #1: PREPARATION BEFORE YOU SADDLE: your horse s BASIC BACK SHAPE: 1 KNOW Observe/compare horse s topline profile/posture to these 3: DOWNHILL UPHILL (WITHERS are LOWER than croup) (WITHERS are HIGHER than croup) HOLLOW (CENTER area sags much LOWER) Horse can be Uphill, Downhill or Level Please, also notice if your horse s Downhill or Uphill posture includes any sag in the center or muscle atrophy issues. It will be necessary to shim your saddle to address this, whether sag is shallow or deep. the location of the back edges of your horse s SCAPULA: It will move back when 2 KNOW the leg reaches forward in stride. You can simulate this by lifting leg and pulling it gently forward. 1. When horse is standing still: Feel (gently) for the back edge of the scapula with fingertips...mark it or remember 2. Find scapula s maximum backswing point: Feel it as it swings back when you lift foreleg and pull it forward...mark spot A saddle placement MUST: Be certain that the stirrup bar is located BEHIND that max backswing point. The point from which your stirrup leathers hang from the stirrup bar or saddle tree is the first weight-bearing point of your saddle. It should not be allowed to obstruct/inhibit the full, free motion of your horse s scapulae if you desire a healthy, balanced stride. This is critical, whether or not your horse has a short back. Also: the front of the saddle should be placed at the resting scapula back edge when possible. 3 SHIM your saddle pad to properly custom-fit your horse s BASIC BACK SHAPE. SEE SAMPLES further within these pages to guide you if you need it, and KEEP IT SIMPLE, while remembering the 3 basic reasons WHY WE SHIM: 1. SCAPULA CLEARANCE: to make sure there is room for shoulders to move unrestricted. 2. BALANCE POINT : to make sure the deepest part of the saddle seat is toward the back, and that you can feel secure in your seat while not dumping weight on horse s front end. 3. MUSCLE ATROPHY and/or SAGGING BACK : to make sure that horse s center back area is supported by the right consistency of fill under the saddle to encourage horse to round up/push up underneath you while getting hindquarters deep underneath. Copyright 2012 Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc. and Natural Horseman Saddles, LLC Parelli Saddle Fit Education PAGE 2
Checklist #2: AS YOU SADDLE and BEFORE YOU MOUNT UP: PULL FRONT OF PAD HIGH UP into saddle gullet prior to tightening girth, to prevent any pressure on the withers! NOTE: The information included here relates to custom fitting your saddle. It is provided in addition to basic SADDLE WITH SAVVY information provided by Pat and Linda Parelli throughout their materials. Of course, those basic Parelli principles and practices should be incorporated as you saddle. REACH UNDER your saddle and pad and make sure you can FEEL YOUR HORSE S 1 SHOULDER MOVING FREELY as he/she WALKS FORWARD. You ll need to walk backward, and feel all the way back to the stirrup bar. Though it is always good to check under the front area of the saddle while the horse is standing, it will feel tighter than when the horse is walking. Note: You may need a friend to help you by leading your horse while you do this. (If feeling for left shoulder, reach with left arm. If you use your right arm, your shoulder could be injured if horse should move suddenly). There must be SOME pressure, of course, as saddle tree must support weight all along its bars...but it should not be so tight as to restrict shoulder action. Take care and do not over-tighten the cinch, as doing so will add pressure to horse and possibly pull saddle forward. Our saddle systems should not require over-tight cinching. 2 Check to see if LOWEST POINT OF SADDLE SEAT is toward the back of the saddle. You can roll a lipstick/chapstick or something round to see where it stops, but note: When you sit in your saddle, the seat will sink a bit lower than when you are looking at it before mounting. But there should be no doubt that the lowest point is toward the back. This is important for good Balance Point access. For Western saddles, think of the low point being back toward the rear conchos...but you should not be jammed all the way back tight against the cantle. Note: On our Parelli Saddles DVD, Linda mentions that it is a good idea to try to level the front and rear conchos with each other. However, in our evolving years of crafting well balanced saddles, we have learned that the saddle makers cannot always install the front concho at the same height on different size saddles, so that principle does not always apply. When you are shimming your saddle to afford scapula clearance and good balance point access, do not rely on conchos being level. For our English Fluidity GP saddles, we like to have the cantle about 2 finger widths above the pommel when rider is seated. Dressage cantles can be a bit higher. 3 SEND HORSE OUT ON LINE and look for head/neck STRETCHING and BLOWING This indicates that shoulders are unrestricted, and your horse has plenty of room to push up/round up under the accommodating room underneath a Parelli saddle. Use cavaletti, jump something, change directions at all gaits, if possible. It s a good idea to allow him/her to experiment with this new feeling before you mount, as he/she may even buck a little at first if more familiar with restrictive saddles. Mount when horse looks relaxed and comfortable, and look for more reach, stretch and blowing as you ride. Note: For a helpful checklist of what to look for, download Horse Posture and Movement from www.parellisaddles.com Employing all the Parelli Riding-with-Fluidity principles that you can will yield pleasureable results for both of you. Even the best tools can t do the whole job! Copyright 2011 Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc. and Natural Horseman Saddles, LLC Parelli Saddle Fit Education PAGE 3
Checklist #3: AFTER YOU RIDE and unsaddle: 1 NOTE: The information included here relates to the process of custom fitting your saddle. It is provided in addition to basic SADDLE WITH SAVVY information provided by Pat and Linda Parelli throughout their materials.. Of course, those basic Parelli principles and practices should be incorporated as you saddle. CHECK your horse s SWEAT PATTERNS (after every ride) to see if there are any DRY SPOTS or RUFFLED HAIRS. Gathering feedback from your horse while you ride and examining sweat marks after riding provides a great opportunity to improve your riding skills as well as your relationship. DRY SPOTS can indicate PRESSURE and PAIN. They must be diagnosed and addressed if this is the case. Dryness can indicate NO CONTACT with the saddle, which can be ok, such as: Dryness along the center channel of the spine is ok, as there should not be any direct contact with the saddle there. Also, if horse is not very sweaty, it is difficult to assess dryness. Note: It is generally a positive indication if your horse has even-textured sweat marks all along where the bars of the saddle are located. If, however, you detect that there has been extra pressure in certain spots (you can also see indications of this by looking on the under side of the saddle pad to see if it looks like excessive pressure was applied), do your best to adjust next time. RUFFLES generally indicate FRICTION or opposing motion, which is likely a FLUIDITY issue. Apply Linda s principles. In this example, the sweat marks would indicate that there is excessive pressure at the back, and not enough contact with the saddle through the center. We would guess that the rider shimmed the shoulder area to lift the front of the saddle for this horse s downhill posture, but neglected to shim the center, where he has a low spot. Therefore, the saddle bridged across the center, and was probably over-tilted into the loin area. See our shim suggestions for such a back shape on page 8. 2 3 ADJUST SHIMS if you have a good idea what to correct. We encourage you to feel free to experiment, and use as few shims as possible. Little shifts can yield great results! Also, make mental note of your own corresponding body parts, so you can adjust next time. Pat and Linda remind us that we need to do in our body what we are asking our horse to do. For instance, if we are stiff in shoulders or hips when we ride, our horse is likely to have corresponding ruffled hairs at shoulders or hips. For some help if you need it: See our extensive library of horses back types, suggested shim patterns, and success story testimonials further on in this presentation. If you want help DIAGNOSING how to make things better next time you ride, refer to our TROUBLESHOOTING guide (page 11) and/or Linda s volume of Fluidity and other riding lessons. www.parellisaddles.com has many educational tools and downloads available. Click on DOWNLOADS at the bottom of our Home Page to see them. www.parelli.com has a Savvy Vault full of information that is easily digestible, employable and unparalleled in the world. If you need further help, email us: saddles@parellisaddles.com. We re here for you. Linda Parelli and her Saddle Team are passionately driven to see to it that you and your horse have extraodinarily enjoyable riding experiences together. We also remind ourselves of the importance of making certain that our horses are structurally balanced, whether or not we use shoes on them. (See www.healthystride.com). Employing all of the Parelli Riding-with-Fluidity principles that you can will yield pleasureable results for both of you. Even the best tools can t do the whole job! Copyright 2011 Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc. and Natural Horseman Saddles, LLC Parelli Saddle Fit Education PAGE 4