Introduction to saddles and saddle fitting. Written for any horse owner or rider. It is accessible to the amateur, yet a comprehensive and informative reference for the professional.

When your horse suddenly develops a performance problem or a bad attitude and neither seem to be remedied by new training techniques or medical care, you often face months—even years—of frustration and career limitation. Dr. Joyce Harman, veterinarian and respected saddle-fitting expert, states that 75 percent of horses with such issues are simply reacting to pain caused by ill-fitting saddles. And, as she explains in this thorough and highly illustrated book, poor saddle fit can be corrected with patience and know-how.

Why invest in a book on saddles and saddle fit?1) Does your horse move away when you bring the saddle out? 2) Or nip, stomp or swish it's tail when you girth up? 3) Does your horse stumble, buck, or run off? 4) Or maybe your horse has trouble bending in turns or holding his head too high when you are riding?Don't you want to be a detective and discover where these behaviors are coming from? Because they are all signs of body pain and saddle fitting problems. Whether you are in the market to buy a saddle or are evaluating a current saddle, this guidebook offers a simple checklist of items you will want to take into consideration for your horse's health and well-being.Plus, it includes detailed step-by-step instructions with color photographs to help you learn (and practice) three short, simple and effective bodywork routines designed to release tension in your horse's shoulders, back and girth area.The author provides a complimentary copy of Saddle Fit Simplified and personalized training when you purchase a one-hour saddle fitting and education session from www.SaddleFitSimplified.com. But this service is only available to a limited geographic area and that became the impetus of putting this information into print.Some people think a book like this should be an encyclopedia ... but you already own those and they are mostly unread and gathering dust on a shelf somewhere. Consider the price of horse training, equine supplements, or vet lameness bills ... before you judge the size of Saddle Fit Simplified, get out in the barn and use it and you will notice positive change in your horse over time!This book may be small but it is ACTIONABLE! And when you apply the easy-to-understand information within Saddle Fit Simplified, you are not only investing in your horse's health and well-being, you are saving money in the long run by being proactive. But the best part is you reap the rich reward of a happy and satisfying partnership with your horse.

Humans and horses have been joined for thousands of years, and for much of that time, one thing has served as the primary point of physical contact between them: the saddle. However, for many horses and many riders, the saddle has been no less than a refined means of torture. Horses have long suffered from tree points impeding the movement of their shoulder blades; too narrow gullet channels damaging the muscles and nerves along the vertebrae; and too long panels putting harmful pressure on the reflex point in the loin area. Male riders saddle up despite riding-related pain and the potential for serious side effects, such as impotence, while female riders endure backache, slipped discs, and bladder infections, to name just a few common issues. We must ask ourselves: How much better could we ride and how much better could our horses perform if our saddles fit optimally? If they accommodated the horse’s unique conformation and natural asymmetry? If they were built for the differing anatomy of men and women? The answers to all these questions are right here, right now, in this book.

How tack and the way you use it affects your horse's biomechanics and soundness. The thinking rider's tack book -- the international manual with a difference.

Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

Bring Your Vision to Life with Pattern-Drafting Essentials What’s the number one mistake that knitters make? They follow a pattern exactly! In this comprehensive guide to sweater construction, acclaimed knitting instructor Sally Melville reveals the secrets to creating or modifying a pattern so the finished project looks and fits exactly how you want it to. Pattern drafting has never been easier to understand as Sally breaks down each skill, including how to • calculate your personal measurements, ease, and stitch patterns • create a pattern for an existing garment that you love • shape a variety of necklines, shoulders, sides, sleeves, and hemlines • combine garment elements for an endless array of design possibilities • rescue a project when it doesn’t turn out as expected • finish your projects with a professional look • knit 10 original projects that showcase the elements covered in the book With Sally’s knitting expertise at your fingertips, you have all the tools you need to adjust patterns to fit you better than ever and create patterns that finally make your dream designs a reality.