The Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center heavily relies on public donations of saddles and tack for our program. Ninety-eight percent of the time, we can find a well-fitting saddle from the wide range of donations we receive, but Sink falls into that other 2% who have a hard time fitting into typical saddles.
Sink has a wide barrel but a very short back. This makes it difficult for his body to fit into tack that is manufactured for more standard body types. In the last two years at CTRC, I haven’t been able to find a perfect fit. We were able to make a treeless saddle work for some time, as it allowed his back to move freely without interference or pinching from a saddle made for a more uniform horse. Unfortunately, we found that this type of saddle doesn’t provide the necessary stability for our riders that a saddle with a tree would provide.

Why does a well-fitting saddle matter?
  • Comfort: A properly fitting saddle alleviates the horse from feeling pain in its body. This also reduces the risk of behavior issues and stress associated with riding.
  • Performance: A well-fitting saddle ensures the horse is utilizing its muscles as efficiently as possible while also preventing muscle atrophy.
  • Health: Ill-fitting saddles can lead to long-term physical issues, including damage to the horse’s back and withers.
  • Safety: A well-fitting saddle helps the rider maintain proper balance and stability, which further reduces the risk of accidents or unplanned dismounts.
All of these reasons are even more pronounced in a therapeutic riding program. Many of our riders have challenges with balance and require assistance with coordination, and a well-fitting saddle helps ensure that the horse is comfortable and safe while working with these participants.
Sink is a horse who can provide programming for some of our heavier and more independent riders. By ensuring he has a properly fitting saddle, we know we won’t have to spend necessary training time addressing saddle-fit issues.
Used saddles usually cost between $400 and $1,500, and having a professional saddle fitter come out costs another $400. If anyone wants to provide financial support to help us obtain properly fitted saddles, they can donate at ctrcinc.org.
By donating to this cause, CTRC will be able to ensure that we have properly fitting tack so our horses can provide programming to our participants to the full extent of their abilities, all while remaining comfortable.