Posted: 3rd December 2020 | Back to news feed
When WOW introduced their unique saddle gauge to the market in 2018, little did they know just how helpful a tool it would become two years later. Designed to support both professional WOW Saddle fitters, and those riders around the world who live beyond reach of the fitter network, it is also invaluable as a quick and easy way to monitor accurately any change in a horse’s shape which would necessitate an adjustment to the saddle fit.
In these unprecedented times, many equine professionals are unable to visit their clients as freely as usual, and many riders are repeatedly having to alter their horses’ work regimes as circumstances change, meaning their horses can be changing shape more than usual. The result is that there is a demand for saddle checks which fitters in some areas are prevented from meeting.
The WOW saddle gauge has been the solution for many riders. They can use it to identify the correct specification for a new saddle, or check that their current saddle is still set up correctly for their horse. If the gauge shows the horse has changed shape, the advantage of a Flair™ air-flocked WOW is that the adjustments can readily be made by the owner.
In this video, David Kempsell, MD of WOW Saddles, describes the way the saddle gauge replicates the many options for the tree, headplate and panels of a WOW saddle.
It’s easy to see when they are correct for your horse: the points of contact at the front, middle and back will be good, and the pendulum hanging vertically. Then you can just read off the tree shape and length, headplate profile and angle, and panel height at the front and back to give a full specification.
For an existing saddle, checking the fit is still correct takes seconds. Leave the gauge assembled to replicate your saddle’s construction, and pop it on your horse’s back from time to time. If the pendulum is still vertical with the points of contact all being firm, then there is no need to change anything. If the pendulum is off, the most likely solution is a headplate change, so try altering the headplate angle or profile on the gauge by one stop. Bringing the pendulum back to a central position tells you have selected the correct headplate size to get your saddle fitting perfectly once more.
Using the saddle gauge means horses do not have to show soreness or a deterioration in their way of going before saddle fit is corrected – meaning horse and rider can continue to perform to their full potential.
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