03/05/2026
This post 🙏 I’m a true believer and brand ambassador for LM Saddles Ltd Horse-friendly Saddles, Holistic & Remedial Saddle-fitting . Posture is absolutely essential. A healthy back that can lift with a beautifully balanced saddle 🙏 . A healthy back says so much about the saddle your horse wears.
Rethinking Saddle Fit: Why Shimming Is Essential for the Modern Horse
For many years, the equestrian industry has treated saddle pads and shims as an admission of failure.
The narrative was simple:
A well-fitting saddle should not need them.
But this assumption was built on a misunderstanding of equine biomechanics.
Horses are dynamic athletes, not static structures.
When a horse engages correctly through the thoracic sling and lifts the back, the shape of the ribcage and topline changes significantly. The back widens, elevates and lengthens through movement.
Yet traditional saddle fitting typically measures the horse standing still.
This is where the philosophy behind LM Saddles challenges conventional thinking.
Rather than fitting saddles purely to the static horse, the LM system considers the posture of the horse in correct work.
To support this dynamic interaction, carefully designed shim pads are incorporated as part of the saddle fitting system.
This creates an adaptable interface between the horse and the saddle that serves several biomechanical purposes:
1. Allowing the back to expand
When the horse lifts the back in movement, compressible shims accommodate this change rather than restricting it.
2. Stabilising saddle balance
Movement creates constant changes in pressure distribution. Strategic shimming helps maintain equilibrium across the saddle panels.
3. Supporting muscular development
Many horses present with asymmetry or muscle atrophy from previous saddle issues or training patterns. Adjustable shims provide temporary support while the horse rebuilds correct musculature.
In essence, shims function as a dynamic adjustment system.
They allow saddle fit to evolve with the horse rather than forcing the horse to adapt to the saddle.
This perspective reframes shimming entirely.
It is not a shortcut or a compensation for poor fit.
Instead, it represents a scientifically informed approach to managing the complex interaction between horse, saddle and rider.
As our understanding of equine biomechanics continues to improve, saddle fitting must move beyond rigid, static solutions.
The future lies in systems that allow precision, adaptability and continuous refinement.
Because the best saddle fit is not one that remains unchanged.
It is one that changes with the horse.
🌐 lmsaddles.com
