As owners of horses with a generally wide variety of conformation, but not so many "withered" horses (many on the side of mutton-withered), we need to be especially aware of saddle fit issues.

Oddly, icelandic saddles are made on the narrow side. The technology hasn't been there for actually making a saddle that fits the horse.

In fitting saddles, including treeless saddles, it helps to know if the saddle, and your horse, are more suited to "arch" or "apex".

Arch refers to a shape that is more similar to an upside-down "U" (mutton-withered).

Apex refers to a shape that is more similar to an upside-down "V" (higher-withered).

Here are some great links for learning about saddle fit:

• http://www.pelham-saddlery.com/fitting.html
• Saddle Fitting Video, Dave Genadek: http://aboutthehorse.com
• Video: http://www.saddlefitting.ca/
• http://www.countysaddlery.com/html/fittingguide/fittinguide.html
• http://www.saddlefitting.net/
• http://www.mastersaddlers.co.uk/
• http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0297basic.shtml
• http://www.mastersaddlers.com/points.htm
• http://www.mastersaddlers.com/tracings.htm
• http://www.saddlery-british.com/saddle_fitting.htm#fitting
• The Horse's Pain-free Back And Saddle-fit Book Author: Joyce Harmanhttp://tinyurl.com/bn4q9
• http://www.advancedsaddlefit.com/saddle-fitting.html
• http://www.saddlefit.us/ (Ten Points)
• http://www.balanceinternational.com/saddles.html
• http://www.arabiansaddle.com/guide.htm
• Book http://lorienstable.com/book/
• http://lorienstable.com/articles/z-fitting/
• Seven Points http://www.completerider.com/dressagesaddlefit.htm
• Superior Saddle-Fitting, Jessica Jahiel Book hhttp://tinyurl.com/8pg8g
• http://equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/tack_apparel/english/dressagesaddlefit_081105/
• http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/horse-saddles.shtml
• http://www.aussiesaddle.com/saddlefit.htm
• http://petcaretips.net/saddle_fitting.html
• http://www.ramsaybooks.com/link/tack/saddlefit/
• http://www.harmanyequine.com/saddlefit.stm
• http://www.turnersaddlery.com/saddlefitting.php
• http://www.edp24.co.uk/Content/Sport/Equestrian/2005/asp/Saddle.asp
• http://www.reactorpanel.com/html/saddlefit.html
• http://home.earthlink.net/~elainel/perf/saddlefit.html
• http://www.bchmt.org/SADDLE%20FITTING.pdf
• http://www.equimeasure.com/html/kit.html
• http://www.westernsaddle.com/saddlefitting.html
• http://www.raspberryridge.com/saddle_fitting.htm
• http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/horsehelp/saddle-fitting.shtml
• Saddle Construction http://www.bettersaddles.co.uk/saddle_construction_1.html
• http://www.horseyhabit.com/saddlefitguide.htm
• Weight Distribution http://lorienstable.com/articles/z-fitting/weight/
• Calculate Pressure http://lorienstable.com/articles/z-fitting/weight/calculate.php
• http://www.kineticequineanalysis.com/view_category.asp?category_ID=51