03/07/2026
Shimming for the Dynamic Fit
For too long, saddle fitting has been centred on a single moment in time: the horse standing still.
But horses don't move standing still!
Every stride changes the shape of the back. As the horse engages, the thoracic sling lifts, the ribcage expands, the spine stabilises, and the muscles contract and release in a continuous cycle of movement. A saddle fitted only to the horse's static posture cannot fully accommodate these dynamic changes.
This is where shimming becomes an essential part of a holistic saddle fitting system.
We don't see shims as a way to disguise poor saddle fit. We see them as a way to refine it.
A correctly selected pad provides the foundation, while strategically placed shims create a dynamic interface between the saddle and the horse. They allow subtle adjustments to balance, support changing musculature, and help distribute pressure more evenly as the horse moves. Rather than forcing the horse to adapt to the saddle in motion, shimming allows balance to be created.
This is particularly important for horses that are developing healthy backs, returning from injury, changes with training or posture or presenting with natural asymmetries. Their shape is not fixed, so why should their saddle fit be?
Science continues to demonstrate that movement, muscle development, and pressure distribution are interconnected. A horse that can lift through the back and move without restriction is better able to recruit the correct muscles, develop strength, and perform comfortably. Dynamic saddle fitting supports this process rather than limiting it.
Shimming is not about adding more padding.
It is about recognising that horses are living, changing athletes whose bodies evolve with every ride, every season, and every stage of training.
A truly holistic saddle fit isn't achieved once and forgotten.
It is continually refined.
Because the best saddle fit isn't the one that fits the horse standing still.
It's the one that supports the horse in motion
For any saddle fit enquiries contact Victoria 07912914970
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