EASY-CHANGE® Fit Solution
Adapting to Your Horse’s Changing Needs
The Dilemma:
Horses, much like humans, regularly undergo changes in their physique due to factors like fitness, diet, and maturity. In line with these transformations, their saddle should also adapt to cater to their evolving requirements. Riders often encounter the frustration of a saddle that no longer fits, leading to uncomfortable rides for both horse and rider. Some resort to using pads under the saddle to compensate, while others may find themselves having to invest in a new saddle, only to face the same issue a few months down the line.
The Answer:
The EASY-CHANGE® Fit Solution is the ultimate solution to this common challenge. It’s not just a saddle fitting system; it’s a revolutionary concept that allows riders to make comprehensive adjustments to their saddle, all within a matter of minutes. This innovative solution is available exclusively in our classically crafted Arena Saddles, high-performance Bates leather saddles, and the easy-care Wintec Saddles. With the EASY-CHANGE® Fit Solution, you have the power to customize your saddle to perfectly match your horse’s ever-changing needs, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit every time you ride.
EASY-CHANGE® Gullet System
Customising Saddle Width for Your Horse
The EASY-CHANGE® Gullet System offers an innovative way to adjust the width of the Elastiflex™ tree. This tree is meticulously designed to maintain rigidity along the length of the saddle while possessing authentic lateral flexion, perfectly accommodating your horse’s muscles. The width of the tree is determined by the gullet plate’s size, which is fitted between the tree points and governs the width from the waist to the tree points.
Genuine EASY-CHANGE® Gullet Plates are engineered to be entirely rigid, ensuring they remain unaltered and do not change shape during regular usage. To facilitate easy identification, gullet plates are colour-coded by size, and they maintain their true dimensions throughout their lifespan.
Please note that only authentic EASY-CHANGE® Gullet Plates are accredited for use in saddles featuring the EASY-CHANGE® Gullet System. The use of non-genuine component parts will void any manufacturer warranty. Trust in the genuine EASY-CHANGE® Gullet System to ensure the perfect fit for your saddle and your horse.
EASY-CHANGE® Riser System
Optimal saddle fit
After your initial saddle fit, we recommend that you have the fit of your saddle checked within the first three months, as it will settle in the head during the initial riding period, as is standard with all new saddles. Following this initial settling in period, your saddle fit should then be assessed every six months throughout your saddle’s life to ensure the saddle continues to fit correctly, as your horse changes shape according to its age, level of fitness and work program.
It is always recommended that you seek ongoing professional advice on your horse’s saddle fit, where possible. However the following information can assist you in not only assessing your horse’s saddle fit, but understanding when simple adjustments should be made.
Fitting your saddle featuring the EASY-CHANGE® Fit Solution
It’s always recommended that you seek professional advice on your horse’s saddle fit, where possible. However, the following information can assist you in not only assessing your saddle fit, but understanding when simple adjustments should be made. In order to check the clearance, bearing and balance of a saddle it is important that the saddle is initially positioned correctly.
Ensure your horse is standing square and is on level ground. In order to check the clearance, bearing and balance of the saddle, it’s important the saddle is initially positioned correctly. Locate your horse’s shoulder and check to see that the nail of the saddle is approximately three fingers distance from the edge of your horse’s shoulder.
Checking for sufficient clearance
Sufficient clearance of your horse’s wither across the width and length of the spine should be maintained at all times. Check to see that the channel of the saddle is clear of your horse’s wither and spine through the length of the saddle.
Checking for even bearing
Your saddle should bear evenly on your horse’s back, providing a close fit. Run your hand between the horse and the panel of the saddle to check for even bearing.
Checking for balanced seat
Check that the deepest part of the saddle is central and level to ensure perfect saddle balance.
Should your saddle require further adjustments to your saddle, select the optimal combination of EASY-CHANGE® Risers to achieve sufficient clearance, even bearing and perfect balance.
It is important that you conduct a final check of sufficient clearance, even bearing and optimal balance with the rider in the saddle. Assessing the balance and fit of your saddle is made easier without a saddlecloth, however this may not always be possible. Caution must always be taken to ensure that your horse is comfortable and at ease with being ridden without a saddlecloth before the rider mounts. Then observe horse and rider in light work to ensure both are relaxed, comfortable and moving freely.
If your saddle features the CAIR® Cushion System it’s important that a rider sits in the saddle to check the bearing, as the air panels become dynamic under the riders weight.
Should your saddle require further adjustments to your saddle, select the optimal combination of EASY-CHANGE® Risers to achieve sufficient clearance, even bearing and perfect balance.
It is important to note that when adding risers within a flocked saddle panel you are effectively altering the shape of the tree above the panel to mirror your horse’s back conformation.
Saddles with the CAIR® Cushion System are different, you can be confident that the dynamic nature of air provides even contact with your horse’s confirmation at all times. Adding risers in a saddle with the CAIR® Cushion System simply increases the overall depth where required in the front or rear for clearance or balance.
Centre risers are only recommended in instances of a sway back when fitting saddles with the CAIR® Cushion System.
