EQ700SA Principles of Saddle Fitting and Shoeing Dynamics

Course Instructor
Dr. Kerry Ridgway, DVM.

This course is a must if you plan to be serious about your work. You can't separate saddle fit from your sessions when evaluating the ridden horse. If you are an owner, it's time you learned exactly how a saddle should fit instead of listening to marketing gimmicks and misinformation.

Our instructor for this course, Dr. Kerry Ridgway, DVM, a household name worldwide, is also certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. He presents this 4 day clinic with slides, examples of trees, pads, saddles, shoes, wedges, measuring devices, templates, demonstrations, and a variety of horses with saddle fitting and shoeing issues. Saddle fit topics and practicals encompass 85% of the course. The remainder of the course addresses farrier issues. This includes issues we should look for in the foot and how it can also affect saddle fit.

Because most of us cannot run out and buy a new saddle if it no longer fits, Dr. Ridgway addresses this common problem by offering ideal, existing, and temporary solutions.

Course Outline (2 Parts):
Part 1, Saddle Fitting:

• Indirect problems caused by poor saddle fit (behavioral, performance, and referred pathology issues)
• Direct problems caused by poor saddle fit (trauma to muscles and skin)
• Anatomical and physiologic signs of poor saddle fit
• Proper placement of saddles
• Saddle fit pertaining to the static posture (standing still)
• Saddle fit pertaining to the dynamic posture (movement)
• Correlation between the static and dynamic fit
• Existing and ideal solutions for saddle fit
• Actual science of saddle pressure and fit
• Evaluating the horse’s back
• Proper palpation of the back
• Proper reflex tests
• Evaluating the saddle off the back then the correlation of it on the back
• Evaluating the saddle with the rider up
• Fitting and measuring the saddle using the current various methods
• Pros and cons of various measuring devices
• Instruction on making templates you can use
• Saddle pad materials and functions

Part 2, Farrier Issues:

• Anatomy and care of the feet
• Normal functions of the foot
• Pastern/hoof axis
• Balanced shoeing and trimming
• Location and causes of lameness
• Reading the break over
• How shoeing/trimming affects the horses’ performance
• The balanced hoof

In the farrier portion of the course, Dr. Ridgway relates the lower leg conformation and shoeing techniques to how this will affect the work of the equine care provider, equine massage therapist, chiropractor and acupressure/acupuncture therapist as well as the effects on the horse's Myofascial system.

Prerequisite:
Horse handling skills and a thorough understanding of equine safety a must! Knowledge of veterinary vocabulary and anatomy strongly suggested or completion of EQ100, 101, 102 or comparable program.

Required Reading:
None