Lena on harness and tack for the Fjord horse

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Tip: The Club's DVD on tack fitting shows how to fit English and western saddles, saddle pads, cinch/girths, bits, halters, bridles, and sport and shipping boots. Purchase the Tack Fitting DVD here...

What size of saddle will fit a Fjord?

Dear Lena -- Do you have any recommendations for saddle fit (western) for the Fjord? Type of bar and width that sort of thing? Thanks, Coral

Hi, Coral! It is tough to say what saddle will fit a particular Fjord without seeing the horse in person, but I do have some recommendations.

First, I would suggest purchasing the MWFHC Tack Fitting DVD. It can be purchased online at http://mwfhc.org/Shop.html. The DVD will help you figure out the tree size that will fit your Fjord. You need to know this in order to know what size saddle your horse will need. Once you know what size your horse needs, you can look at different styles, look at different tack shops, compare prices, and find the right saddle for your needs.

Michelle Endries at Horsey Habit, 920-686-3890, would be more than happy to help you find the right saddle. She is the owner of Horsey Habit in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and is the lady/speaker in our DVD. She is very knowledgeable on saddles and very thorough in making sure it fits your horse and yourself!

Once you get that saddle and you and your horse feel great, you will be glad you took the time to make sure the fit was right! HAPPY TRAILS! --Lena

Where to find Fjord-sized tack and harness in the upper Midwest?

Dear Lena -- Where would you recommend getting team harness and other tack for Fjords? I live in Northern MN -- prefer someplace as close as possible to home. Thank you! --Jenny

Hello, Jenny! There is a harness maker in MN that some Fjord folks have used. I believe he does more of a draft-style harness, but am not positive on that. You'll have to ask him. His name is Bernie Samson; he is in Gilbert MN, http://www.samsonharness.com/ or 218-865-4602.

Another person I would suggest would be Sandee McKee from Iowa Valley Carriage Company. She has many Fjord clients. She too knows her harnesses!! Sandee is in Toledo IA, 641-484-4784. She also has a website http://www.iowavalleycarriage.com/

As far as "other" tack for Fjords. MANY Fjords fit in regular horse size tack. You can find that at any tack shop.

Our MWFHC will soon to release a "Fitting Tack for the Fjord Horse" DVD that explains how saddles and tack "should" fit. You might be interested in that when it is released. Michelle Endries was our tack specialist for the DVD. She not only talked on saddles, she talked on bridles, halters, bits, girths, saddle pads and splint boots.

Michelle is the owner of Horsey Habit in Manitowoc WI, and has sold thousands of saddles, many for Fjords. She would be more than happy to help you with any of your needs as well. Contact her at http://www.horseyhabit.com or horseyhabit@yahoo.com  Tell her Lena from the MWFHC sent you, and you might just get a nice discount!

I hope this helps you to get started. You might soon be like the rest of us, with more than one of everything for our Fjord. ENJOY!!! --Lena

What size and type of turnout blanket will fit a Fjord?

Hi, Lena -- What size turnout blanket is best for my 14.2 performance (not drafty) style fjord?  He is going to be blanket clipped this winter and needs something to replace that nice thick fur! Thanks! --Tish

Hi Tish -- Bet your Fjord is gonna look ADORABLE in that clip! Clipping does need to be done at times, depending on where you live and ride. So, thanks for watching over your horse and taking care of your guy.

For the best estimation of what blanket you will need, you should measure your horse. Measure from the middle of the chest to the middle of the buttock. I'm gonna guess around 74-78 inches, but all horses measure differently.

Some styles of blankets lay better on Fjords as they typically have big shoulders, a larger and shorter neck, less withers and shorter legs then most other breeds. So you might want to shop around.

I'd look for one with gullets to allow for shoulder movement, or you'll get shoulder rubs. And remember if your Fjord is going to go outside with a blanket on, make sure the blanket is water proof, not just water resistant!

I hate to mention brands, as some of that is just personal preference and I have not tried all brands on the Fjords. I do know some brands fit Fjords better than others. Of the ones I have tried, I especially like the Rambo and Rhino blankets. In the less expensive brands, the Weatherbeta and McAlister blankets are good choices. --Lena

More info on blankets from Lena's editor:

• General comment -- "...If you are going to blanket, make sure you get [blankets] with at least 1000 or even higher denier shells and good hardware which are usually more expensive...."
• Weatherbeeta --Buy: http://www.doversaddlery.com/ http://horse.com/ and others
• Rambo -- The "XL" model has more room through the chest for the stocky full-chested horse. Buy: http://www.doversaddlery.com/ and others
• McAlister -- Buy: http://horseloverz.com/ http://www.equine.com/ and others
• Rhino -- Buy: http://www.myhorseblanket.com/ and others
• Hug -- Wrap-around front with room for shoulders without getting rub marks. Elastic straps do not restrict the neck. Buy: http://www.doversaddlery.com/ http://www.smithbrothers.com/ http://www.blanketnet.com/ and others
• Schneider’s -- Adjusta-Fit blankets with V-Free Fit have Velcro adjustment on the neck. Buy: http://www.sstack.com/

Why are stirrup hobbles important?

Dear Lena -- Why are stirrup hobbles important? My western saddle doesn't have them, and I have never had any problems.

Friend DeeAnna replies -- Stirrup hobbles are small buckled straps that fasten around the stirrup leathers on a western saddle, just above the stirrups. English stirrup leathers are "hobbled" too, in that the stirrup leather feeds through a small opening or loop at the top of the stirrup frame.

Stirrup hobbles have two main purposes. First, they keep the stirrup leathers flat and tidy. This reduces the chance of something slipping into the loop formed by the leathers. A fence post, tree branch, or rider's foot can get stuck in the loose loop formed by an un-hobbled stirrup leather, possibly trapping or injuring the horse and rider.

Second, stirrup hobbles also keep the stirrups in their proper orientation -- tread side down -- regardless of what's going on. Without hobbles, the stirrups can rotate around the stirrup strap if the rider loses his stirrup during a rough bit of riding. If the stirrup does rotate, it will be hard to get the foot back into the stirrup, or the rider's boot can easily get trapped in the rotated stirrup.

Stirrup hobbles are such a small thing, but so very important! If your saddle does not have "official" stirrup hobbles, substitute a pair of dog collars about 13"-15" long and 1/2"-3/4" wide, strong bootlaces, or lengths of hay twine. --DeeAnna

See also: http://tinyurl.com/2em77nd and http://tinyurl.com/2bey9kv and http://www.kbrhorse.net/qt/hobble.html

Dear Lena -- Do I need to use a flank cinch on my western saddle?

Friend DeeAnna replies -- If you are a trail or pleasure rider in most parts of the Midwest, you probably do not need to use a flank cinch, but it won’t hurt to use one. If you rope, barrel race, or ride a lot of steep trails, you probably should use a flank cinch.

A flank cinch is a wide, smooth leather strap that buckles onto billets that are fastened to the rear dees on most western saddles. This extra cinch keeps the rear of the saddle from tipping up off the horse’s back. A flank cinch should be at least 2 inches wide for typical pleasure or trail riding – 3 or more inches is even better, especially for heavy work.

When saddling your horse, ALWAYS fasten your FRONT GIRTH FIRST so your saddle is firmly and safely in place. Then fasten the flank cinch and breast collar, if you are using either.

Although the flank cinch should not be fastened as tight as the front cinch, many riders ride with the flank cinch far too loose – sometimes with 4 to 6 inches of daylight showing between horse and cinch. Perhaps these riders think this "looks cool", or perhaps they just don’t know better.

A properly tightened flank cinch should have no more than 2 inches of daylight between the cinch and the belly of your horse. If the cinch is fastened looser than that, it cannot function properly to stabilize the saddle. Also the horse might catch a hoof in the cinch if it kicks at flies on its belly, and a branch or fence post can slide into the gap, trapping the horse and causing a serious accident.

If your horse has never worn a flank cinch before, introduce it safely. Even a normally mellow Fjord can be surprised by the unexpected feel of a flank cinch, so give your horse a chance to get used to it before you go on that trail ride. Fasten the flank cinch loosely and ask your horse to work with no rider at all gaits in a round pen or on a longe line. Gradually snug up the flank cinch to its normal tightness as the horse becomes comfortable and accepts this new piece of gear. --DeeAnna

Dear Lena -- What does a cinch connector strap do?

Friend DeeAnna replies -- A cinch connector strap (also called a cinch hobble) is a narrow strap that fastens the front and flank cinches together along the midline of the horse's belly. Its purpose is to keep the flank cinch from slipping back off the belly and into the horse's tender flank area.

If you use a flank cinch, you should always have it hobbled. If the connector strap is missing or breaks or is not correctly adjusted, the flank cinch can slip back, and the discomfort can cause even a mellow, well trained horse to be unhappy and fidgety and even buck.

Like stirrup hobbles, the cinch connector strap is one of those small safety items on a western saddle that is often damaged, lost, or overlooked. If your cinch hobble (or a stirrup hobble) is missing or breaks, a bootlace, baling twine, or a saddle string can be substituted.

Adjust the length of the cinch connector so the flank cinch hangs straight down or angles slightly toward the front girth.

The flank cinch should not angle back toward the horse's flank. If that is the only way the cinch will fit your horse, it is too short.

See also:
Flank Cinch How To, various authors, http://tinyurl.com/25bmy5s
Saddling Up with Western Gear, Tim Manson, http://tinyurl.com/2bjrd55