Saddle Fitting Service
Professional Saddle Fitting
A correctly fitted saddle is essential for your horse's comfort, freedom of movement and performance, as well as the comfort and position of the rider. At Saddlemasters, our professional saddle fitting service provides a thorough assessment of the horse, saddle and rider to help establish whether a saddle is suitable and appropriately fitted.
Our qualified saddle fitter takes a systematic approach to horse saddle fitting, considering your horse's conformation, movement, current workload, the rider's requirements and the intended discipline.
The aim is to provide informed, independent advice based on the individual horse and rider.
Looking to book a saddle fitting?
BOOK OUR PROFESSIONAL SADDLE FITTING SERVICE
Why Is Saddle Fitting Important?
A saddle needs to accommodate the individual shape and movement of the horse while also providing the rider with a balanced and effective position.
Horses can change shape throughout their lives due to age, fitness, muscle development, workload and other factors. As a result, a saddle that was previously suitable may need to be reassessed.
A professional saddle fitting assessment can help identify factors including saddle balance, stability, panel contact, clearance and overall suitability for the horse and rider.
Many of the saddle brands stocked by Saddlemasters require professional fitting as a condition of purchase. For other brands, we strongly recommend professional fitting as best practice.
What Does a Saddle Fitter Assess?
A comprehensive horse saddle fitting assessment considers both horse and rider. Depending on the individual appointment, this can include:
- Horse conformation and topline
- Muscle symmetry and development
- Wither profile and spinal alignment
- Shoulder freedom
- Rib cage shape and bearing surface
- Movement and gait
- Saddle tree width and angle
- Panel contact and pressure distribution
- Wither and spinal clearance
- Saddle balance and stability
- Saddle length and gullet width
- Panel symmetry
- Rider position
- Suitability for the intended discipline
The saddle can be considered both statically and dynamically, allowing the fitter to assess how it performs when the horse is moving and, where appropriate, when ridden.
The Saddle Fitting Process
Initial Consultation
The appointment begins with a discussion about your horse, including its history, workload, previous saddle fitting concerns and any particular requirements you or your horse may have.
The rider's requirements and intended discipline are also considered when assessing saddle suitability.
Conformation Assessment
Your horse's conformation is assessed to understand the shape of the back and identify features that may influence saddle fit. This can include consideration of the topline, muscle symmetry, withers, shoulder area, spinal alignment and rib cage.
Gait Assessment
Where appropriate, the horse is observed moving in hand at walk and trot on a firm, level surface. This allows movement, straightness, symmetry and stride patterns to be considered as part of the overall assessment.
Back Templates & Measurements
Templates and measurements may be taken to record the shape and dimensions of the horse's back. These can assist when assessing saddle tree shape, panel configuration, bearing surface and overall saddle suitability.
Static Saddle Assessment
The saddle is assessed while the horse is standing, considering factors including:
- Tree width and angle
- Panel contact
- Wither and spinal clearance
- Saddle balance
- Saddle length
- Gullet width
- Panel symmetry
- Overall suitability for the horse's back
Girthed & Ridden Assessment
Where appropriate, the saddle is assessed once correctly girthed and then evaluated while the horse is ridden in the rider's usual discipline.
This allows saddle stability, balance, clearance, rider position and the interaction between horse, saddle and rider to be considered dynamically.
What Happens After a Saddle Fitting?
Following the assessment, clear recommendations are provided based on the findings.
Depending on the individual horse and saddle, recommendations may include:
- Adjustments to the existing saddle
- Wool flocking adjustments
- Full or partial re-flocking
- Saddle balance adjustments
- Gullet adjustments
- Replacement gullet plates where appropriate
- Girth strap replacement
- Minor saddle repairs or maintenance
- Consideration of alternative saddle models
Any recommended work will be explained before it is undertaken.
Saddle Fitting for New & Existing Saddles
Professional saddle fitting is particularly important when purchasing a new saddle. It can help establish whether a particular saddle is suitable for the horse and whether its design, tree, panels and dimensions are appropriate.
Existing saddles can also require reassessment as a horse's shape and condition change.
Changes in fitness, muscle development, workload and age can all affect how a saddle fits. Regular saddle checks can therefore form an important part of ongoing horse care.
Saddle Brands & Saddle Fitting
Saddlemasters stocks a wide range of leading saddle brands, including Albion, Amerigo, Equipe, Fairfax, Pessoa, GFS, Thorowgood, Kent and Masters, PDS Saddles, The Saddle Company, Premier Equine, John Whitaker and Pennwood.
We are also approved to maintain and adjust Bates Saddles.
Some manufacturers require professional fitting as part of their purchase requirements, while professional fitting is strongly recommended for all saddles to help ensure appropriate fit.
Our Saddle Fitting Service
Saddlemasters provides professional saddle fitting with the welfare and comfort of the horse and rider at the centre of the assessment.
Our saddle fitter, Ian Taft, is a Society of Master Saddlers-registered, qualified and fully insured saddle fitter. He is independently verified by the Equine Fitters Council and listed in the Equine Fitters Directory.
Every recommendation is based on the findings of the individual assessment, with additional work advised only where it is considered appropriate.
Ready to Book a Saddle Fitting?
Saddlemasters provides professional saddle fitting across selected areas, with travel supplements varying according to the location of your stable.
For current saddle fitting areas, travel charges, appointment prices and booking information, visit our Professional Saddle Fitting Service page.