Is Your Saddle Hurting Your Horse? Saddle Fitting & Rider Balance with Claire Whitfield - Saddles Direct - Stop ‘Naughty’ Behaviour & Protect Your Horse’s Back

Episode 31 – Saddle Fitting, Classical Riding & Putting Horse Welfare First with Claire Whitfield from Saddles DirectIn this episode, host Aaron Englander (Just Horse Riders) sits down with Claire Whitfield (Saddles Direct) – classical riding instructor, IASF saddle fitter and BHS Accredited Professional Coach – to dive deep into what really makes a saddle “fit” for both horse and rider. From classical weight aids and rider balance to tree design, reflocking and why “one saddle fits all” is usually a terrible idea, this conversation is packed with practical, horse-first advice.Claire explains how her classical dressage background and training with Sylvia Loch shaped her philosophy: rider position, balance and subtle weight aids aren’t “nice extras” – they’re the foundation for harmony and soundness. We talk about why thicker saddle pads don’t fix poor saddle fit, how to spot red-flag behaviours (like “naughtiness” that’s really pain), when to reflock, why six-monthly saddle checks matter, and how rider height, weight and anatomy all influence what a “correct” saddle looks like in the real world.We also cover common myths (custom = always better, or that expensive = good fit), how often horses really change shape, what to do if you’ve bought the wrong horse/saddle combination, and why storage, age and damage (broken trees, lumpy flocking, dodgy racks) can quietly ruin even the best saddle. If you’ve ever wondered “Is my saddle hurting my horse?” or “Can I safely use one saddle on multiple horses?”, this episode is for you.🎧 Listen, follow & connect with Just Horse Riders: Website – https://www.justhorseriders.co.uk/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/justhorseriders Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/justhorseriders TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@justhorseridersofficial YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@JustHorseRidersOffical Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/7sUBwfQNIG40hRgs8hXbKi Saddles Direct – https://saddlesdirect.co.uk#justhorseriders #equestrianpodcast #justhorseriderspodcast #saddlefitting #saddlefit #classicaldressage #riderbiomechanics #horsewelfare #horsepodcast #equestrian