TCS User Guide
The information on this page, especially the information relating to placement and padding of the TCS, is based on horses who have healthy and well-muscled backs. If you have any worries regarding your horse's back muscles, please consult a professional before attempting to pad your horse yourself. Saoirse Equine at https://www.facebook.com/saoirsesaddlefitting offers this service via Zoom and covers worldwide.
The TCS has been designed to fit any horse of any shape, size and weight without the need for a saddle fitter. However, appropriate padding for your horse's current condition, shape and muscle density can require additional help to ensure you get the most from your saddle, whilst keeping your horse comfortable. This is paramount to maintain the saddle’s proper function and use.
Placement and Padding Guide
Why it works
The TCS’s unique construction works without applying direct pressure to the horse’s spine by creating a bridge when weight is applied in the stirrups, hugging the horse's lumbar (back muscle) in the process. The saddle has undergone much controversy and testing and has to date shown equally distributed impressions from the rider and the bridging effect both via digital pressure testing done by WOW Saddles and independent PLP Pressure testing done by various body workers, bloggers and of course Saoirse Equine, our Padding Specialist.
We also pay close attention to what our clients are saying. The TCS has now been around for over 15 plus years (as at 2025) and the feedback we get is that it helps horses and riders where other saddles can’t. We have reports from body workers & back practitioners including osteopaths, equine physios, McTImoney practitioners, Bowen and others.
Placement of the TCS
The TCS, as the saddle is affectionately named by our ever growing and already extensive community, has a large area on the underside specifically padded to help disperse pressure. The stirrup bars are set much lower on the TCS, and are attached to a wide plastic reinforcement plate within this set padding helping to create a bridge. The saddle itself sits above the horse’s centre of gravity to maintain balance for both horse and rider.
A horse's withers are unable to support weight, hence why traditional tree'd saddles, along with various treeless brands, have the apex for wither clearance. The TCS is highly different to a traditional saddle and requires specific placement on the horse's back to maximise comfort and maintain contact with your horse.
The TCS should sit further back than a traditional saddle to allow the wither to remain weight-free. It goes on top of your padding, with the front edge of the saddle behind the wither. It will sit further back than a traditional saddle. When your saddle is in the right place, the billets of your saddle will be at a direct 90-degree angle with the ground.
Please see example below of correct (left) and incorrect (right) TCS placement
Padding
There are various breeds of horses which means no two horses' backs are the same. This also means that no two horses' padding will be the same. Some cobs, for example, will have the TCS sitting directly behind with their normally very low withers. At the extreme other end of the scale, the Thoroughbreds, have high and sometimes long withers, not unlike the Irish draught types, and this would require shimming at the base of the wither to enable the saddle to continue bridging over the area reflecting the horses centre of gravity.
Remember to also be mindful of your own physiology when thinking about padding; if you have a slight build, your horse may feel your seat bones as your ride, so take this into account when choosing your padding.
Please see example below of high/long wither requiring shimming around wither
Please see below an example of low/short withers
Girthing & Aiding Placement
An easy way to ensure your TCS is in the correct position is to check what kind of girth your horse requires:
- Straight
- V-shape for deep girth groove
- Crescent
Because the TCS sits further back than a traditional saddle, most horses require a V-shaped or crescent shaped girth. Your girth should sit ✋🏻 1 hand behind your horse's elbow and no more than 2 ✋🏻 hands behind the elbow (anatomical girths for forward girth grooves do sit a little further back than a straight girth). Pop your saddle on and ensure your billets, hanging straight down, match up with where the girth should sit. We always recommend a leather girth.
Once you have found the type of girth that suits your horse’s anatomy, it is purely your preference if you order a short girth strap or a long girth strap saddle. The shorter billet saddle is intended for those that wish to use a longer /
standard length girth and the longer billet for those who wish to use a short / dressage girth. As the rider, if you feel you don’t have the flexibility to bend down and adjust a short under girth, you may be better suited to a short billet saddle - or if you want to use the TCS on a Shetland pony then the long billet may be too long and swamp him.
Diclaimer: This guide was written with the sole intention of aiding our customers with placement and a basic understanding of how the saddle works, how to ensure you get the most from your saddle and of course that yourself and your horse are comfortable. The entire guide is based on the assumption that our customers' horses’ backs are healthy. We implore our customers to regularly check their horse's back for any back related issues which may affect the saddle placement or padding structure including Atrophied Muscles, Kissing Spine, Lordosis and many more.
Please see below image of an unhealthy back with atrophy and kissing spine.
If you feel you have concerns regarding placement or padding on your horse, please feel free to send us a direct email to melanie@total-contact.co.uk and we will help point you either in the correct direction, or towards our recommended Padding Specialist, Saoirse Equine at https://www.facebook.com/saoirsesaddlefitting.
Pads and products that are not sold by us or one of our retailers but marketed as a TCS product are not endorsed by Total Contact Saddles and we are not responsible for their use.
This guide was co-written by Total Contact Saddles and Saoirse Equine.
Stirrup Leathers
The stirrup bars are set much lower on the TCS than a regular tree'd saddle or saddle pads with stirrup attachments. You will find that your regular length of stirrup is likely to be 4-5 holes too low because of this. You can use regular leathers with buckles that you might have already but many TCS owners find dressage leathers or T bars / Webbers work well with the TCS. They are flatter and therefore less bulk under the thigh.
We find riders 5ft to 5ft6 in height generally find the 22"-24" leathers are the best length for them (but this does depend on your inside leg) and how long you ride. The 24" leathers will give a drop of between 15" to 20". For example, the 24" leathers would be perfect for an inside leg of 77cm / 30.5 inches
Functional length range
20" drop 13" to 17"
22" drop 14" to 18"
24" drop 15" to 20"
26" drop 17" to 23"
28" drop 19" to 25"
How to ride in a TCS
You can mount from the ground (although for the sake of your horses’ back, we would not recommend this whatever saddle you use). It will be a bit harder to mount using a TCS from the ground as it doesn't have a pommel or cantle to hold onto, so you’ll need to be quite nimble!
Once you are on board, you will easily find your natural position. If you have placed the saddle in the right place, you should be sitting directly above your saddle. Let your legs drape down the girth line to find your balance. This may feel odd at first if you have been used to a saddle and knee rolls, but you will soon get used to this feeling and will enjoy the freedom to move.
There are a few things you can try as you get used to your saddle. Try standing in your stirrups at a halt and find your balance, and if your horse is sensible enough do the same in walk and maybe even trot; this will help you find your balance and natural seat. Another great exercise is to ride with no stirrups at a walk and really move your hips along with your horse's movement.
You will “feel” your horse so he may feel more spooky but that is because you can now feel his muscles respond more quickly than in a traditional saddle. It might feel like you are riding a new horse for a few rides, so take your time to get used to the feeling and find your balance.
Saddle Care
Your saddle will come to you already oiled; the Premium saddles are heavily oiled. Your saddle can be cleaned using a range of proprietary leather cleaning products like cream
cleaners, leather balm or similar and normally a quick wipe over is enough to keep it looking good. However, should your saddle get more than light dirt on it please don't use hot water or soapy water on it as this may affect the leather.
Ensure that your saddle is stored in a damp-free place and not put away in anything other than a dry condition.
