Wither tracing templates are taken for two key reasons: 1) it verifies the horse's condition at a specific point in time and 2) supplies a visual profile of the horse. Both are important pieces of information to have as a historical point of reference. The following instructions will guide you through taking the necessary wither templates and pictures I will need for assessing the fit of your saddle.
SUPPLIES
You will need the following supplies:
1. a Flexible Curve, at least 18 inches long (available at most office supply stores in the graphic arts section)
2. a marker, pen or pencil
3. weight tape which is usually available at most feed stores
4. 1/2 inch masking tape to mark the template areas you will be tracing
5. a large piece of graph paper marking the LEFT and RIGHT to keep templates accurate. Please also write your name, horse's name and date on the paper.
6. a flat, level, firm area on which to square up your horse
7. a flat, level, hard surface on which to trace your templates
8. a digital camera, if possible. With a digital camera, you can automatically delete bad pictures and then email, print or burn them to CD to send with your saddle.
9. An extra set of hands! Having someone help you makes the whole process easier.
TAKING WITHER TRACING TEMPLATES
You will be taking four templates in total.
1. To begin, stand your horse up square as possible on flat, firm, level ground.
2. Next, use the thin masking tape to mark BOTH SIDES of your horse in the following template areas:
TEMPLATE A: Approximately 2 inches behind the back edge of the shoulder blade
TEMPLATE B: the deepest part of the back
TEMPLATE C: following the line of the last (18th) rib
3. Take the following two pictures: 1) showing the horse's back taken from above and behind. This may require standing on a mounting block or sturdy bucket and 2) side profile view including head and hooves.
4. Mold the Flexible Curve over the areas for TEMPLATE A, B and C keeping the ends you marked as RIGHT and LEFT on the correct sides of the horse. It helps to have someone holding one side of the Flexible Curve while you mold the opposite side.This keeps the Flexible Curve in place and makes for more accurate templates.
5. Carefully lift the Flexible Curve off the horse placing the LEFT on the LEFT of the paper, etc. and trace the inside edge of the profile onto the graph paper. You can trace each template a few times in pencil to confirm its accuracy and then trace it in marker.
6. TEMPLATE D: measures the vertical drop and profile of the horse's back. (It is not necessary to mark this area with the masking tape.) STEP 1: Flatten the Flexible Curve and place one end on the wither marked for TEMPLATE A. Support the other end over the spine at the area marked for TEMPLATE C. Raise or lower this end until it is truly horizontal. Measure the distance from the UNDERSIDE of the Flexible Curve to the horse's back at the point marked for TEMPLATE C. This is your vertical "drop" measurement.
STEP 2: Mold the Flexible Curve following the shape of the horse's back between TEMPLATE A & C. Using one of the horizontal lines on the graph paper, lay the shaped profile UNDERNEATH this line with the UNDERSIDE of the front end of where Flexible Curve was placed at TEMPLATE A touching the line. At the other end of the same horizontal line on the graph paper, measure DOWN the "drop" measurement and bring the UNDERSIDE of other end of the Flexible Curve up to meet the bottom edge of this measurement. Gently keep the Flexible Curve from moving as you trace the underside onto the paper.
PHOTOS
Make sure your horse is standing on flat, firm, level ground and is squared up as much as possible. Please make sure to frame the whole horse in the picture including hooves and head. Please do not take the picture so far away from your horse that he/she is a dot in the middle of the picture. Thanks!
1. showing the horse's back as taken from sligthly above and behind (see first illustration top right)
2. horse's profile from side (see second illustration top right)
3. saddle girthed with no pads
4. pommel view of the saddle with no pads. To take a good pommel shot, stand against the horse's neck as if you were going to give him a hug. Gently frame in the area of the pommel with the camera. Zooming in or standing too close will make the shot out of focus. Please do NOT put your fingers in the pommel area to show the clearance. If you would like to show the vertical finger count, please take one photo with and without your fingers in the pommel.
5. side view of the horse with rider, saddle girthed with pads. Please make sure that the rider keeps their head up and hands slightly out of the way of the pommel. I am looking for the vertical positioning and balance of the rider.
6. the horse and rider taken from slightly above and behind
7. lift the flap of the saddle to show how the saddle is girthed
8. any pictures of lumps, dry spots, rub marks, white hairs in the saddle area
These pictures will help in determining what types of fitting adjustments can be made to your saddle. Please keep in mind that pictures and tracings are not a substitute for hands on fitting. We will do our best to help correct your saddle fitting issues from the information you provide.
