Amanda Anderson

Here is the list of books I mentioned in the @centreline.collective training that I recommend (and teach from). Animal Management 1933 is available for free download on archives.org! Now if we could get Henry Cavill to read them for us… #saddlefitting

Tacking up should be BORING. Every day, I go into barns and watch riders tack their horses up; it’s part of the evaluation process because it gives me important clues about how the horse feels about their tack and work. A horse can/does enjoy work when they are comfortable, treated fairly, and their voice is heard. Horses actually have good work ethics, and will happily do the job they are asked to do, if they are suited to it. Horses who are uncomfortable with their tack show obvious signs of displeasure/agitation: swishing tail, pinned ears, “mare face” (including scrunched nostrils or angry eyes), biting the crossties, moving forward/backward/sideways when the saddle is lifted onto their back, biting their chest, the hind leg “sweep”, etc. When a horse is comfortable, nothing happens. Like the horse in the video, they are alert, but quiet. They have a peaceful, unconcerned expression. Their tail is quiet. They stand relatively still. Their ears are forward or relaxed. Their head placement is neutral. They don’t balk walking to the mounting block. 🚨It is important to note that the horse should remain ALERT when being saddled. Horses should not fall “asleep” during the tacking up process! Athletes of any species do not fall asleep while dressing for a sport. The body should be preparing itself for exercise; it is uncomfortable for any body to go directly from sleep/immobility to exertion. It is a 🚩 when a horse allows the crossties to support the full weight of their head and neck, collapses when the girth is tightened, or has zero expression/dead eyes, and the saddle should be checked immediately. Thanks to @lcpietersen for sharing this awesome video!

It’s #witherclearancewednesday ❤️ Due to the scapula’s muscular attachments, #shoulderfreedom and wither clearance go hand in hand. The Thoracic Trapezius and Thoracic Rhomboids are located under the pommel, both originating on the supraspinous ligament and attaching to the scapula/scapular cartilage. The Thoracic Trapezius moves the dorsal aspect of the scapula upwards, backwards, and medially (under the pommel). The Trapezius’ function of moving the scapula medially into the body is necessary for the horse to activate its thoracic sling to engage its back and breathe deeply. The Thoracic Rhomboids attach to the costal surface of the scapular cartilage, and help move the scapula upwards and forward. Thus, the pommel’s entire purpose is to give the muscles that move the scapula plenty of space to do their job, as well as protecting the spinous processes, supraspinous ligament, dorsal scapular cartilage, and Spinalis from weight. #anatomyandphysiology #logic101

Amazing Day 2 🐴🧠 @ International biomechanics symposium hosted by @centreline.collective We had lessons with the lovely @aleparellipro learning to make brain body connections to assist with loosening tightness through the hips, and thus seat, allowing our horses to move more freely when we are freed up! The results were incredible!! 💃🏼 We also had a lesson with @akasha_college_anne learning how Anne integrates learning theory into her ridden and biomechanics training which was fabulous! ✨ Our lesson with @core.conditioning.for.horses will get its own reel 😉 keep your eyes 👀 peeled! Inbetween the practical lessons we are learning from the wealth of knowledge and experience stored up in @saddlefitting.us in Amanda’s lectures on equine Anatomy, saddle fit, and SO MUCH MORE! This woman is incredible and I can say an honest advocate for the horses welfare! 🎉🎉🎉💪🏻♥️ #horsetraining #horsemanship #equestrian #dressage #showjumping

@equine_lingo 1st Lesson for the week with @akasha_college_anne Anne Muller 😁 Tango demonstrated how scratches can be used at rewards for the Pony Camp Kids 🥰 We are at the International Biomechanics Symposium, a first of its kind event in SA @kpckep organised by @centreline.collective 👏 and sponsored by @hq_magazine Thank you Anne for your insight and @centreline.collective for organising 🐴🧠✨ Looking forward to learning from @saddlefitting.us @aleparellipro @core.conditioning.for.horses next! #horsetraining #horsemanship #learningtheory #positivereinforcementtraining

@equine_lingo is excited to meet and learn from @saddlefitting.us Amanda Anderson at the International Biomechanics Symposium 2026 ☀️ 🐴 Tango is part of the Demo at 10:30 - Lippizaner Hall. Demo Day is tomorrow, starting at 8am @kpckep Thank you @centreline.collective for organising this opportunity! Let’s learn together 😁 see you there! #saddlefitter #horsetraining #equestriancoach #horsemanship #dressage

The first step to a successful saddle fitting experience is a horse with a well muscled back — because the saddle is a symmetric object designed to sit on healthy topline muscle. There is no getting around this. WE ONLY FIT HEALTHY BACKS. #saddlefitting #healthybacksonly #theanatomyofsaddlefit

The Princess loves the beach 👙⛱️☀️ #seahorse @_meredith_tew_ @20somethingnomad

WHAT IS THAT CIRCLE? Using anatomy and critical thinking to disprove marketing BS. #saddlefitting #theanatomyofsaddlefit #horsewelfareinsport #itssciencebitches

The Anatomy of Saddle Fit course curriculum at the International Biomechanics Symposium in South Africa, sponsored by @centreline.collective — a 5 day course. Day 1: Live horse demonstration with anatomy overview Days 2-5: Classroom in AM, with individual/small group practice sessions in afternoon. Come join us for a week of learning and fun in the heart of South Africa 🇿🇦 #internationalbiomechanicssymposium #theanatomyofsaddlefit #saddlefitting #southafricanequestrianfederation #saddlefittersofinstagram

The Husband just told me that we will be in #australia to visit family end of 2026! Australia mates — Would love to see you. We will be based in Ocean Grove, but I can travel anywhere in the continent. If anyone can get me a tour of #peterhorobinsaddlery in Western AU that would be much appreciated! @peter_horobin_saddlery @empowertransformations #oceangrovevictoria

Excerpt from @davidgenadek About the Horse course ‘Saddle Fitting History and Concepts’: “We will never get any intelligible research on saddle fit until we know what is normal and what is abnormal. If we don’t know what pathological is, we have no way to know whether what we are doing is correct.” IF WE DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS RIGHT, HOW WILL WE KNOW WHAT IS WRONG? The saddle industry, whether intentionally or not, spends a lot of time “muddying the water to make it appear deep.” Confusion feeds the machine, and keeps riders buying tack and gadgets they don’t need in order to solve problems they don’t understand. THE ONLY WAY OUT is a good understanding of basic anatomy, biomechanics, and the history of riding. Along with Dave’s courses (you can find links on his FB page About the Horse), Dr Ivana Ruddock’s book The Atlas of the Equine Musculoskeltal System, Animal Management 1933, and anything by E. Hartley Edwards are excellent resources for all horse people. I recommend beginning with the ‘Saddles and Sore Backs’ chapter of Animal Management 1933 (free download on archive.org), then moving to the others. Want to hear more? We will be discussing in depth how we should be designing saddles based on the horse and rider’s anatomy and biomechanics in the upcoming International Biomechanics Symposium in Johannesburg 9-13 May, sponsored by @centreline.collective and in all our “The Anatomy of Saddle Fit” courses here in the US. Understanding what is normal and healthy is the first step to creating a horse that is hard to injure, fast to heal, and mentally prepared for their job. #saddlefitting #aboutthehorseinc #healthybacksonly #internationalbiomechanicssymposium #theanatomyofsaddlefit