Rod Nikkel Saddle Trees :: Search Results

The lumbar and sacral vertebrae

Here's the scoop on the bones under the loin and the croup of a horse.
Subscribe to RSS Feed We are no longer building saddle trees, but we have two videos about how Western saddles fit horses available on our westernsaddlefit.com website.… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/the-lumbar-and-sacral-vertebrae/

Thoracic spine anatomy, movement and saddle fit

Thoracic spinal anatomy is the basis for spinal movement, which is a huge factor in saddle fit. Here's some of how it works.
Subscribe to RSS Feed We ended the last post with the idea that the shape of the vertebrae is important in the movement of the thoracic spine and therefore the thoracic… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/thoracic-spine-anatomy-movement-and-saddle-fit/

The thoracic vertebrae

How these vertebrae are shaped and function are vital to understanding the shape and movement of a lot of the surface we are trying to fit with our trees.
Subscribe to RSS Feed Moving down the back from the cervical vertebrae, the next section is the thoracic vertebrae, called that because they are directly above the… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/the-thoracic-vertebrae/

The cervical (neck) vertebrae and how they move

While we don't ride the neck, its movement has a lot of effect on the shape of the back, especially during movement. Besides, its anatomy is fascinating!
Subscribe to RSS Feed We are no longer building saddle trees, but we have two videos about how Western saddles fit horses available on our westernsaddlefit.com website.… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/the-cervical-neck-vertebrae-and-how-they-move/

And the vertebra is connected to the...

Here is the unique way the spinal column is connected together, and how it is designed to be strong and yet flexible.
Subscribe to RSS Feed next vertebra. And the next vertebra is connected to the… next vertebra. (Sing it with me!!) Actually they are connected to all of the other… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/and-the-vertebra-is-connected-to-the/

The basic design of the vertebrae

To understand how the spine goes together and therefore how it is able to move, it is good to have an understanding of the basic design of the vertebrae that make up the equine spine. Although there are lots of variations as you go from head to tail, the…
Subscribe to RSS Feed Although the vertebrae of the different sections of the spine may look a lot different, they all have the same basic design. There is the body. … https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/the-basic-design-of-the-vertebrae/

Taking the shoulder to hip measurement

This measurement helps figure out maximum bar length for short backed horses. Here's how we do it.
Subscribe to RSS Feed If people are concerned about bar length, one of the things we often ask for is the shoulder to hip measurement on their horse(s). It can be… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/taking-the-shoulder-to-hip-measurement/

The major segments of the equine spine

Starting on the explanation of the anatomy of the eqine spine, looking at what the major sections are and how they relate to each other.
Subscribe to RSS Feed As most people know, the spine is made up of a string of bones called vertebrae. Just for the record, the singular is vertebra. The plural can… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/the-major-segments-of-the-equine-spine/

Putting the spine together

Here's how we went about reconstructing Arnie's spine.
Subscribe to RSS Feed Once we were finished putting together the front leg and the hind leg, we set them aside and it was on to the spine. We set up all the vertebrae in… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/putting-the-spine-together/

Bones of the hind leg - part two

Moving down the hind leg, horses have some neat anatomy that lets them rest and even sleep standing up. Here's a bit about how it works.
Subscribe to RSS Feed We are no longer building saddle trees, but we have two videos about how Western saddles fit horses available on our westernsaddlefit.com website.… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/bones-of-the-hind-leg-part-two/

Bones of the hind leg - part one

How a horse moves is determined by how the muscles and bones work together. The power in a horse comes from the hind end. The bones are the solid foundation of that powerhouse.
We put Arnie’s hind leg together using the same methods as we did his front leg. The bones below the hocks are very similar (but not identical) to the bones below the knees… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/bones-of-the-hind-leg-part-one/

How does the horse's shoulder blade move?

One of the big questions that tree and saddle makers have to deal with is how to fit the saddle behind the shoulder blade (NOT on top!!) and yet allow for its movement. Knowing how the scapula moves is foundational to answering that question.
Subscribe to RSS Feed One of the big questions that tree and saddle makers have to deal with is how to fit the saddle behind the shoulder blade (NOT on top!!) and yet allow… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/how-does-the-horse-s-shoulder-blade-move/

An interesting link on equine anatomy

Here is a link looking at the special anatomical factors that allow horses to run as fast as they do.
Here is a link to an interesting TV show, Inside Nature's Giants, looking specifically at the special things about horse anatomy that enables them to run as fast and as far as… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/an-interesting-link-on-equine-anatomy/

Foreleg of the horse - bones and attachment

Where a western saddle should be positioned is determined by the shoulder blade. Where the shoulder blade sits relative to the horse and how it moves is determined by the way the foreleg is attached to the rest of the body. And that is by muscles attach…
Subscribe to RSS Feed When it comes to saddle fit and the forelegs, there are a lot of questions still to answer, and there are a lot of “answers” presented as fact that… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/foreleg-of-the-horse-bones-and-attachment/

Where do you start with a table full of bones?

With the front legs, of course! We needed to decide exactly how we were going to put everything back together so it would stand as a full skeleton. So with wire, hot glue, lots of measuring and patience, we figured out how to put the front leg back toge…
Subscribe to RSS Feed With the front legs, of course!! Well, at least that is what we did. Before boiling out Arnie's bones, I had put all the small bones from each leg… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/where-do-you-start-with-a-table-full-of-bones/

Meet Arnie

Yes, we do have a skeleton in our basement! Arnie was an elderly minature horse whose skeleton we put back together with the help of our neice in the summer of 2010. He is very handy in helping me see what is going on inside the horse.
Subscribe to RSS Feed Yes, we really do have a skeleton in our basement! Arnie belonged to a neighbour of ours. He was a minature horse who was getting on in years… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/meet-arnie/

Saddle Trees - from Shop and Desk

Welcome to our blog! We will be sharing with you what we have learned, both in the shop and from our research and reading.
We are no longer building saddle trees, but we have two videos about how Western saddles fit horses available on our westernsaddlefit.com website. We always like to share… https://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/saddle-trees-from-shop-and-desk/

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