24/05/2023
Inconvenient Truths About Saddle Fitting
The following statements are strictly In My Opinion following 30 years of experience. Things I wish someone had said to me that I’m feeling confident enough to share with you!
* If you cannot afford quality properly fitting tack, you cannot afford to have a horse. Period. Especially for first time owners, tack should be included in the purchase budget.
* The saddle must fit both horse AND rider otherwise, irreparable damage can be done to either or both.
* Many saddle brands are marketed as “custom” and very, very few actually are. IMO “custom” means that the tree itself was designed and built to your horse’s back. Most “custom” saddles are built off of less than a handful of generic trees with multiple flap options for the rider. This is bespoke, not custom.
* Many saddles are marketed as “fully adjustable” and very few actually are. IMO, “Fully Adjustable” means that the saddle tree can be adjusted in width AND angle and panels can be adjusted in length, profile and flocking.
* All saddle brand reps are highly educated and trained in selling saddles (and up-selling saddle accessories), not all reps are highly educated and trained in actually fitting saddles. I LOVE my brand reps but still recommend having a truly independent fitter as part of the horse’s healthcare team.
* IF you have a large budget (4k+), an average shaped horse who is conformationally suited to your size and you’re able/willing to work with a rep/dealer, your saddle purchasing experience is likely to be very expedient.
* If you have an average budget (2k-4k) and an average shaped horse who is suited to your size, you can expect that your saddle purchasing experience will require some patience and leg work.
* If you have a low budget (less than 2k), regardless of other factors, your saddle shopping experience is likely to take several weeks (f not months), LOTS of legwork- trials, shipping and running around and some patience and frustration. Found a great deal on eBay? Cool, it probably has a broken tree. If you aren’t willing to save up the money or spend the time, you don’t get to complain about how uncomfortable or unfashionable your $800 synthetic saddle is.
* If you do not have an appropriately fitting saddle, DO NOT RIDE YOUR HORSE! Your horse does not “need” you to ride them. There are hundreds of conditioning + relationship building activities we can do with our horses on the ground. Hop on ba****ck once a week and work on your seat.
* If your horse is young and still growing, expect that you will go through several saddles as they develop and mature.
* If your horse is an unconventional or difficult fit, you will probably need a custom saddle.
* If your horse has suffered an illness or injury or otherwise has had a significant amount of time off, guaranteed your current saddle doesn’t fit them any more.
* If your horse is rapidly changing, particularly if they’re coming out of a previously poor fit, you are likely to go through several saddles as they change.
* If you have a wool flocked saddle, expect to have the flocking inspected and adjusted every 6-12 months.
* If you have a foam flocked saddle, expect to purchase new panels at least every 2 years.
* Truly custom saddles take time to build. If you’re ordering custom, expect at least 12 weeks. Sometimes 6 months. Exceptional makers often have waitlists that are years long.
* In general, western saddles are easier/more forgiving to fit than English saddles. This does not mean that every western saddle fits every horse.
* Rarely can you use the same saddle on every horse in your barn. Multiple horses usually require multiple saddles.
* While shimming and/or flocking can provide solutions for mild fit issues, no amount of shimming or flocking can make a saddle that truly doesn’t fit, fit.
* Girthing and billeting are just as important as the fit of the saddle itself.
* Anatomical/Skeletal fit to rider is a real thing, not a marketing gimmick. Just ask the swath of skeletally female riders who suffer from chronic back pain and UTI’s.
Some words of advice from my industry peers and mentors-
“Take all that money you’re spending on bodywork and buy yourself a decent saddle. Your horse won’t need so much bodywork”.
“Saddle Fitters can only fit the horse that is in front of them today”.
“Saddle Fitters are not fortune tellers”. Your SF’er cannot and should not tell you that this is the last saddle you’ll ever need, nor can or should they give you exact time periods for use.
“When your fitter says “No”, they’re not out to get you, they’re giving you an honest and compassionate opinion. Ignore it at your own (and your horse’s) risk”.
“Saddle Fit is a large but not singular contributor to equine health and wellness. Address the entire circle of influence”.
Speaking from experience, I know how daunting and frustrating finding the right saddle can be. Like, I REALLY know. But the effort and money is worth it- there’s simply no substitute for properly fitted tack and a happy comfortable horse AND rider.
