Bonnie Kiefer
bonnievkiefer@gmail.com call/text: (561) 938-4685
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Could my Saddle . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could the Bit . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could something about the Bridle . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could something about the Halter or other Equipment . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could the current condition of my horse's Teeth. . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could something in my horse's Feed . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could the condition of my horse's Hooves (shoes or barefoot) . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could the Environment my horse is currently in . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could not having my horse massaged . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could not having my horse receive Chiropractic or Veterinary care . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could not doing any warm-up stretching prior to exercise/riding . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could not Understanding my horse . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could the way my horse is (or isn't) being handled . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Could other contributing factors (not mentioned here) . . . be causing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors in my horse?
My Answer: YES!
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Q: Bonnie . . . What massage method do you use on horses?
A:
My personal choice and method of equine massage is a foundational hands-on method that I have been practicing, testing and tracking over time case-by-case. Other modalities such as PEMF are wonderful therapies but I feel that hands-on massage allows me to physically feel and assess the health and pliability of the muscles and determine the horse's current range of motion. This makes it possible for me to track the response of the horse's body as a whole. Riders can make sense of what they are feeling under saddle and I am able to share with them what the expectations would be for their ride after my massage, which is very insightful and useful to them. Sources of stiffness, discomfort and pain are unveiled so that the horse can be further treated, if needed. I also find that the hands-on method offers results in a much more efficient time than it takes using other techniques (for example, ones that focus solely on the central nervous system and not the muscles themselves). Hands-on massage offers the best of both worlds in one step by tapping into the central nervous system while helping the muscles relax and become pliable yet remain strong and supportive to the body.
Q: What is your "Magic Muzzle Method" that you developed to use on horses that stops their nipping and biting?
A:
This technique is something that I discovered on my own while working on so many cases of aggressive biting horses. I could tell that they could not see past whatever it was that was bothering them so much. They were completely unfocused. Instinctively, I just started placing my hand on the muzzle, gently stretching the upper lip, working under the chin, using playtime type of techniques along with jaw and tongue loosening exercises that collectively made them seem to let out a huge sigh of relief, as if a portal had opened up and let all of the issues exit their body. It made me realize that what's going on the horse's body tends to all get trapped in the mouth and muzzle like a closed portal door, and when it is tapped into and opened up, the horse gets an incredible amount of instant relief, it is so amazing! I continued to test this theory out and continued to associate the nipping and biting behavior with things such as pent up energy, lack of social time, frustration, boredom, pain or discomfort and often a combination. I also figured out that with many horses, no matter how many other horse buddies they have, still might not be getting enough social time, and tend to accumulate the lack of social time in their mouths, which then results in them seeking attention from humans in the form of nipping and biting. The horse can "recharge" this nipping/biting behavior in a matter of minutes, and this is because there is a lot left to be released. Once they have released whatever was pent up inside, they will drop their heads, let out a deep breath, relax and seem to be in a much more peaceful state of mind. If any time I start working with a horse and they are already nipping/biting, this is the very first thing that I will work on, or else what is the sense of having the horse continually nip/bite during the massage? This method also helps with head shy horses, horses that are bored or alone most of the time, for horses that have gone through abuse or neglect, horses that are flinchy when putting a halter or bridle on, for horses that have anxiety, and in many other situations. However, for best results and to completely stop nipping/biting for good, the underlying source of why the horse is nipping/biting needs to be resolved. I incorporate my "Magic Muzzle Method" into every single massage that I do as part of my session, even if the horse does not nip or bite at all. This is partly because some horses are "stoic" and don't express their feelings through behaviors such as nipping/biting. It's actually quite amazing that while I am working with the muzzle, I can feel where the tension is in the horse's body and can work on those areas intermittently. Once the horse has calmed the nipping and biting behavior is when they are so much easier to handle. When this method is used on a daily basis, the horse is amazingly calm and able to "deal with" and rationalize a better response to situations than if they do not receive this muzzle exercise. It might only take a few seconds or a few minutes each day, but I find that when it is practiced consistently every day, the horse doesn't even need this done anymore, or will only need it done once in a while and will show this by having zero interest or need to nip/bite at all, which is the goal.
Q: Bonnie . . . Does your Massage & Behavioral Therapy really work?
A:
Absolutely, and it's why I continue this path of helping horses, because of the incredible results. Especially for my most difficult cases, it's been a lifesaver for the horses. No matter what is going on with the horse, the initial session alone as well as future sessions helps the horse get its life back on the right track.​ What is hard to believe for many people, is that often mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors could be coming from one simple thing that is easily fixable, resulting in the horse completely stopping such behavior. For many horses, especially ones that are performing, riding and are in training typically have a few things going on at one time.  It is truly amazing what tightness/tension, pain, discomfort, frustration or anxiety in a horse's body can make them express. Many horses simply shut down or seem numb. Regardless, every horse has their own level of "toleration". More often than not, some horses are simply "misunderstood". I can help figure out what the underlying reasons are for what is going on in serious cases that other equine professionals may not have been able to come to a conclusion about or pinpoint. Many times, I am able to confirm and back up the conclusion that other equine professionals have come to. In certain situations, I might be firm on my own conclusion vs the conclusions of others. It could be something very simple/minor in my opinion. It could be several contributing factors. It could be a more complex situation.
Q: How do I prepare my horse for your massage?
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A:
Please have your horse brought inside, cooled down, brushed off/groomed and fly sprayed upon my arrival. The coolest and quietest area of the barn is preferred either in or near a larger area where your horse can move around during the massage, however, if a larger space is not available, I will do the massage in the horse's stall, and in some cases, I actually need the stall for certain techniques within that space. Please let me know if your horse has any allergies. I can either use your fly spray and treats, or mine. I keep both a natural fly spray and Pyranha with me, as well as fresh carrots and MannaPro nuggets.
Q: Will my horse need a Chiropractor after your session?
A:
I will have gained an idea by the end of my session with your horse if chiropractic help is needed, but will be able to confirm this more when the follow up massage is performed or in the most difficult cases I will only know after a series of massages have been performed to loosen the horse enough to know that the tension in the muscles is no longer a contributing factor. 95% or more of the time, I am able to help the horse to where the horse will not need chiropractic, however, if I do recommend it, please take this as a serious recommendation and make the appointment with your preferred Equine Chiropractor as soon as possible. Keep in mind that it is ideal to have the horse well prepared with massage therapy prior to chiropractic for best results by helping the horse to relax and loosen up. Scheduling a chiropractic session a couple days after a massage session is ideal, followed up with a massage session within a week after chiro to help the muscles retain good muscle memory.
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Q: Will you need to see my horse move before you start the massage?
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Q: What is your gauge during assessment?
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A:
I will definitely need to observe the horse move for all cases of mysterious lameness, poor performance and behavioral issues, or if a current client's horse comes up with a new issue in which I will need to assess. In those cases, I will observe the horse moving either in-hand on a lunge line with only a simple halter and no tack at first, or in a round pen or small paddock. If the tack assessment clears with no issues, then I might ask to see the horse being ridden depending on the situation. The fit of the tack while being ridden can be seen as a contributing factor to pain or discomfort when witnessing before and after the lunge or ride in most cases for tracking purposes.
My ultimate gauge for assessment is based on a thorough comparison of a horse in ideal overall health, based on equine science and research as well as applied experience and acquired knowledge in the field and tracking my cases over time. This includes studying horse behaviors since a youth and believing that I understand the language of the horse. A horse in ideal health retains a good overall body score, displays mental and physical calmness with good focus and manageability. The body will feel healthy, easily pliable and have a good range of motion throughout the body and in all 4 limbs. The horse will have no apparent discomfort or pain. The horse will not show any level of lameness, has no opposition or discrepancies in their movement based on their natural conformation. The horse will ride and can perform all maneuvers well at their current training level. The horse will not have vices or behavioral issues. The horse does not show any apparent level of stress or anxiety. If you wonder...Is this truly possible or even Realistic? Of course it is. In most cases however, there is also the term "within normal range" which is the most typical. There is a lot to factor in and is all taken into account. If you saw the word "calmness", you might be thinking that not all horses are "calm". To elaborate, horses that naturally have high levels of energy can and should still be mentally and physically calm per-say, as-in the horse has more of a "focus" with energy, regardless of the energy they require to perform their job. This is different from the horse with a lot of energy exhibiting signs of being spooky, unfocused, stressed, nervous or shows fear, panic, discomfort, pain, frustration or confusion, irritability, anxiety, etc. There is a huge difference between the two scenarios, and the horse that is able to handle situations better is the horse I find that feels better in general. Comparison is also used as a gauge per case. For example, my follow up session is expected to show improvement, which is based on the comparison to the initial session. With the help of each client working with the guidance I provide; the original issues are often resolved by the follow up session. If I find or believe there are more serious thing going on, I have a process of elimination I follow so that tracking down the source(s) can be easily followed.
Q: Can my horse eat during your massage session?
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A:
During my massage session, I would prefer the horse not eat hay or grain so that they can focus on the relief going on in their body. Ideally, the horse would eat before I show up and then after I leave. However, since I get many cases of extreme behaviors, I might ask for the horse to be given some hay as a distraction while I work on a certain part of their body, but I will have them stop eating the hay as soon as the horse relaxes. There are many barns that stick to a feeding schedule and if they have to feed grain at the same time I am there, I will gladly wait or step aside to start the massage until after the horse has eaten its meal.
Q: Do you prefer the owner (or someone) is present while you work on the horse?
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A:
For the first/initial session, yes, I do prefer the horse owner is present at least when beginning and at the end of the session. This allows the owner to become familiar with me and see the interaction I have with their horse. New clients will be able to ask questions and witness the positive changes in their horse right before their eyes. I am able to show areas of concern to the owner, if any, and shares helpful techniques through demonstration. Clients are welcome to take a break in the middle when I am doing to more boring and lengthy of the massage. For future sessions, my clients trust me with their horses if they are unable to attend.  If you cannot be present during the session, I will take care of your horse myself from start to finish including checking their water source before I leave, etc. If you would like to stay for the whole session, it might get boring at times but there might be times when I could use you to hold your horse to assist me while I am performing a technique, and there might be times I kindly ask for you to give me a little space, it just depends.
Q: You incorporate "behavioral techniques" into your massage sessions, but I don't think my horse has any bad behaviors. What do you mean by that?
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A:
The word "behaviors" is not necessarily regarding "bad" behaviors. Behaviors has to do with the way a horse reacts to something. Of course, there are many horses that are already well settled and may not necessarily need any extra time spent on that.  Some horses have no reactions or even desirable reactions to things, but some have very sensitive or undesirable reactions to things. It is the horses with "undesirable" behaviors that becomes a concern to me. I like to ensure that each horse is calm, confident and trusting. As one primary example, it is very useful to have the horse's muzzle desensitized. This is one of the most common areas in need of help when I am working with new horses during my initial session. Domesticated horses, especially when they spend a great deal of time alone, store up their "social time" on a daily basis, which can result in behaviors such as nippiness, biting or various other types of aggressions. Incorporating muzzle desensitizing helps the horses relieve a lot of their "pent-up social time", resulting in a much more manageable horse that copes with daily life and situations much better that might have bothered them before the session. Even if your horse is turned out with other horses does not mean that they are getting enough social time through nuzzling, grooming other horses, playing, etc. Some horses might stay to themselves, even when they are turned out with other horses. Muzzle desensitizing is also a great way to bond with the horse and gain immediate respect. A well desensitized muzzle greatly helps me when doing gentle upper lip stretches to help stretch and relieve the muscles in the horse's head and help the horse to relax. This offers a huge relief to the horse in so many ways. In general, it helps the horse to be easier to approach, handle, halter and bridle easier, and helps calm the horse so that you have a much better ride on a more sensible horse.  Other behaviors I might work with depending on the horse are approaching techniques, helping the ears to be handled easier, maybe the horse does not pick up its hooves easily or needs help respecting personal space, among other things. It might be scared of the lunge whip or crop or not let any wash its face. Everything I might work on during my massage session is designed to help your horse relax, be more comfortable and be easier to handle for everyone. There are many times when horses are having issues that require a specific training technique which I am very happy to offer while I am there or scheduled for another time. ADDED: Debunking the term "Desensitizing".... I recently added this since I came across a lady commenting on someone's Facebook post. Her opinion was that this was wrong terminology , as she felt that it meant the horse would no longer have any feeling in that area or any feeling at all. She went on to mention that lots of people "Desensitize" horses through drugs and some inhumane practices. This made me ask her what other word would be acceptable to use in her opinion of which she could not offer an alternative. To clarify, when I help "Desensitize" a horse, it means that I am helping the horse to calm the horse, release tension and pent-up energy and to help the horse "cope much better with..." the reaction or feeling it may have to something us Humans are doing or working on during the time with the horse. My #1 "Desensitizing" method I use, described earlier, is working gently with the horse's muzzle, which helps not only to relieve daily pent-up social time but also helps the horse remain calm and manageable during things like tacking up, putting the halter on/off, being approached, etc. No drugs or tools or harsh methods are ever used! The horse still remains 100% capable of feeling. It does NOT take away their natural instincts or their ability to protect themselves! In fact, it helps them focus and stay level headed. I not only do not use drugs, I help horses that have been drugged in order to work with them learn to cope with their fears without being drugged. In fact, the horses that are NOT receiving certain Desensitizing methods applied, have more anxieties, nervousness and several other undesirable behaviors. I absolutely love to help horses like this and show clients how they can use these techniques on their horses every day, it only takes a couple of minutes but makes a world of difference to the horse.
Q: What should I do with my horse after your massage?
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Ideally the horse should have immediate access to turnout and given the day off to feel the improvements in their body and get acclimated. If turnout is not possible, hand walking only for about 10 minutes or more on a very loose lead line is best.
Q: Can I ride my horse after your massage?
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A:
Ideally, it's best to wait a day until you ride, especially for cases of mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors. The horse will need time to get acclimated to the newly relaxed muscles and general feel of their bodies. Many horses will want to rest or lay down and not be ridden. If you must ride, please allow 4 hours Minimum recovery time after my massage before you exercise or ride the horse (unless your horse is clearly in pain, discomfort or needs time off or Veterinary or Chiropractic help right away and the horse should not be ridden at all). Otherwise, I would recommend to schedule your ride the opposite time of the day. For example, a morning massage and an afternoon/evening ride, or vice versa. This is because lymphatic and circulatory systems are stimulated, release of endorphins, increased synovial fluid, and muscles that were gently stretched and need a bit of recovery time first, etc. A very light, easy ride will be best. **Note that the horse may seem to feel weak or too loose or not put together well if you ride too soon after the massage, so if you must ride the same day, make sure to have zero expectations from the horse.
Q: How and when would I receive the results?
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For Whole Horse Assessment reports, it will be emailed to you within a few days. I send out reports based on level of case severity first, not the actual appointment order. I will keep you informed of the status of your report and let you know when it has been completed and emailed. For follow ups and maintenance, I text my notes the same day.
Q: Why does my horse need a follow up appointment in 1 week after the initial massage session?
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The follow up session is very important to evaluate how much progress your horse has made since the initial session for tracking purposes. It allows me to get further into the deeper muscle layers of the horse's body and offer more advanced massage techniques and suppling exercises that your horse might not have been ready for during the initial visit. It helps train the horse's muscle memory to remain relaxed and pliable. It allows me to get to know the horse further so that I can continue improving the horse and offer continued guidance. A follow up session is helpful for determining which tests, diagnostics, treatments and other options to look into (if necessary), based on the difference between the initial massage session and the follow up. I might have new/additional recommendations based on the results from the follow up. NOTE > > > Please understand that if you choose to NOT have a follow up for your horse within the recommend window after their initial massage session, I will not be able to fully assess or pinpoint the source(s) of what might be going on with the horse.
Q: How often should I have my horse massaged?
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A:
Consider massage therapy an essential part of your horse's monthly care routine. Your horse will greatly benefit from frequent massage therapy, helps prevent injury and save hundreds/thousands of vet bill and chiropractic bills. All first-time horses and especially serious cases should receive a follow-up massage within 1 week after their initial massage. In some cases, I will recommend a series of massages right away, for example 1 massage session each consecutive week for 4 weeks straight before moving to maintenance status. When it comes to budgeting, I recommend a massage once a month for horses who respond very well with their body work, and twice a month for horses that are in heavy riding training and showing and horse that perform better with more frequent body work. Or else on an as-needed basis. If you think of massage therapy in a long-term sense, you are saving money by preventing various potential injury, you are saving more money on vet bills, diagnostic tests and pharmaceuticals, you are spending less money on quick treatments for sore muscles or lameness issues, you are spending less time in the saddle being frustrated with your horse or spending half of your ride time trying to "work out the kinks", you are spending less money trying to find things that work better like buying more bits or more saddles, you are spending less money on gastric support and other things. By offering your horse more frequent massage, you help your horse feel better and stay more comfortable and you help extend the life and performance of your horse which saves money in the long run in a general sense. If you're interested, I would be happy to share with you daily massage techniques that you can practice on your own horse which not only helps your horse but helps me when I return to massage your horse. Your horse's body will be more readily available for me to do a deeper massage and use more advanced techniques & exercises and also get a much better range of motion out of them.
Q: How many horses can you take in 1 day?
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A:
For horses that are doing well with their body work, I can take up to 2-3 or more horses in a day, with consideration to travel time between barn locations. For new/first time cases, I might take up to 2 per day, with consideration to travel time between barn locations. For clients receiving a Full Assessment, I take only one for the day since it is a minimum of 3 hours or more, some take 1/2 a day to fully assess and I start working on the full report that day as well.
Q: Are there horses you aren't able to work on?
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I do not work on pregnant mares, mares that have severe hormonal issues or horses with certain medical conditions in which massage therapy would not be advised, after colic or an illness, or in other situations that may arise.
Q: I see you offer tack assessments. What exactly does that mean and what knowledge do you have?
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A:
Since over 95% of ridden horses in my cases have been observed to need an adjustment to the horse's tack whether it is the saddle, bit, bridle, halter, etc to help resolve an issue, a tack assessment is crucial to helping me understand and help figure out what could be going on with the horse in general. This service is HIGHLY recommended. The #1 source of pain and discomfort I find in riding horses is coming from saddle fit, very often from the bit, occasionally the fit of the bridle, and on rare occasions even the halter or other tack and equipment. This process helps the horse as well as the client as we both share the awareness of checking for good fitting tack and comfort for the horse. A Level 1 static assessment checks the horse's tack on the ground while observing the horse's behavior. If the tack assessment clears with no issues, the next level is to observe the horse moving on the ground with the tack on, as often the fit of the tack can clearly be seen as a contributing factor and quite often the main issue if the horse shows any undesirable behavior or difference in moving when the tack was off. If the horse does not show any signs of issue on the ground with or without tack, then I will continue with a Level 3 observation of the horse being ridden. This process helps me narrow down at what point the horse starts showing signs of lameness, poor performance and any behavioral issues. My knowledge is and always will be based on an ongoing process of learning and experience, based on the combination of intense research and study and the science of saddle fit and the effects it has on the ridden horse as well as biomechanics since 2014 when I started my journey as an Equine Massage Therapist. Additionally, working closely with professional saddle fitters and saddle makers in many different cases, picking their brains, asking a million questions and watching the before/after sessions as well as their inside scoop on saddle fitting and saddle making. I pursue certifications and advanced training as often as possible. I am a firm believer in the methods, philosophies, studies, applied knowledge and skills of renowned Master Saddle Fitter and Saddle Maker Jochen Schleese, Hall of Fame Veterinarian and Lameness Expert Dr. Sue Dyson and UK based Veterinary Physiotherapist, graduate Sports Therapist and MSFC saddle fitter Dr. Caroline Lindsay, Dr. Hilary Clayton and many others, while further educating myself with current industry standard documentation, video courses and a range of other resources providing valuable education of saddle fit. It's also been eye opening and extremely helpful having had fittings on horses that I have personally owned and have ridden over the years to understand the perspective from both the horse and rider point of views. Additionally, riding many different disciplines over the years offers value and understanding of different saddles, their function and their fit for different breeds.
Q: Bonnie . . . there are times you feel the current saddle does not fit well and might be contributing to an issue you have discovered. . . OMG! Now I'm scared to find out what you'll say about my saddle!
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A:
I completely understand. The good news is that saddle fit science awareness spreads, I am seeing less ill fitting saddles these days. Many saddles do fit a client's horse very well. In those cases, it is a huge relief to find that fit of the current saddle is not a part of the issue the horse is experiencing and can be ruled out. Then there are saddles that are not a good fit. In many I have found saddle to be completely opposing to the horse and are the source of pain. I discuss with you what might be able to be adjusted by a saddle fitter, and what might not be. We witness this together and discuss options, and if in fact I firmly believe the saddle or tack item is causing a serious issue, I will advise and guide you. In cases where the saddle is clearly contributing to ill fit, pain or discomfort in the horse, it is my responsibility to point out the areas of concern and offer solutions.  I feel that if we are both on the same page to help bring comfort to the horse, this process will be seen as a great benefit to both horse and rider. This is an essential step to helping discover and resolve a lot that might be going on with your horse. No rider wants to hear that the saddle they spent a ton of money on doesn't fit their horse, or is causing sensitivity, soreness, or pain. I assure you; I understand. Over the years, I have personally gone through saddle adjustments to offer the horses I ride a better fit and on occasion having to pay for saddle adjustments or buy a new saddle out of my own pocket, just for that particular horse. If the current saddle of a horse I am riding does not fit well or is causing issues or if one of my own saddles doesn't fit the horse, I decline riding that particular horse. What purpose would that serve? What would be the point to make a horse uncomfortable or create an issue due to a saddle that does not fit well? Isn't the point to offer the horse comfort and have freedom to perform well as we use them to ride for our enjoyment? I am happy to work with your preferred Saddle Fitter and/or saddle maker to help take the "guess work" out and make a well calculated process as to what would work for your horse. It's best to have essential measurements and an understanding of how your horse is built and how it moves to help determine the best saddle brand that accommodates your horse, rather than trying on an endless number of saddles on your horse blindly and wasting precious time. Of course there will always be a balance at the end between the horse's comfort and the fit of the saddle, how the horse feels and performs in the saddle and how comfortable the rider collectively feels. Saddle fitters and saddle makers stay consistently busy with clients working on their saddles to help their horse feel more comfortable. This process can take a lot of time and continued trial and error, so why not try to assure the saddle fits from day 1? Having to adjust or find a saddle is an absolute hassle! Trust me, I know, I go through this myself. I understand the sacrifice when it means not being able to ride the horse until the saddle fits properly, possibly not going to scheduled horse shows for a while, temporarily not working with a Trainer to save money, holding off on getting lessons, maybe holding off on making large purchases on the home front and on horse showing until the saddle situation gets resolved. But then it goes by in the blink of an eye and you are back on your horse again with a well fitting saddle and can progress with your horse better than ever before. Now with that being said, let's take ourselves as Humans OUT of the equation and look at it from the perspective of the HORSE. Really think about that for a minute. Realize that the fit of any saddle used on them 100% MATTERS to them! In fact, proper saddle fit means EVERYTHING to them. Never underestimate that. Your horse will feel so good, perform so much better, be less stressed and have a better attitude. Isn't that worth it all? And I bet you will feel great pride that you went through all of that to help your horse feel more comfortable in the right saddle. You will be happy to share the awareness with other riders and horse owners. Even on the tightest of budgets, there are ways you can have a new saddle for your horse, and I have lots of suggestions for you to help you make it possible if it comes down to budget. But know that it takes setting the priority of putting your horse first when it comes to a good fitting saddle, and then you will find the many ways to make it happen. Keep in mind, even if you currently have a good fitting saddle, the horse's body changes from year to year, season to season, as you ride more or less the horse will gain or lose some muscle tone and body fat, as the horse ages and changes shape, the saddle starts to break in, etc. Saddle trees can become too flexible and even fracture or completely break over the years. The horse's diet can change over time, and it creates a whole new body shape. Saddles need to be maintained with their fitting and upgraded over time, determined by the usage of each saddle, with considering an upgrade and purchase averaging every 5-10 years. Also, saddle technology has vastly improved from saddles made 20+ years ago. It's best to keep up with new technologies and the best saddle companies who strive for custom saddle fit for each individual horse. ​Whether you've had a renowned award-winning hose trainer or saddle fitter or even a well respected chiropractor who's told you that your saddle is "absolutely fine" or states that the saddle is "not causing any issues", I respectfully prefer to make that assessment myself as it is part of my responsibility to rule out any potential source of discomfort or pain your horse may be experiencing from its tack. I am very happy to work with your professional saddle fitter so that the horse's comfort and saddle fit are coordinated. I encourage clients to never give up working to achieve their horse's best comfort level.
