Abby Duncan SMS saddle fitter

24/08/2023

Flex on flash sale!

2 pairs of black composite flex ons in stock and ready for collection or can post.

RRP £185.95
Sale price £145.85

24/08/2023

Back home now. Desperately trying to catch up on 5 days of messages, emails, organising diary and report writing etc so please bear with me 🙏

21/08/2023

First day of the Qualifed Bridle Fitting course done ✅ There is so much more to bridles and bits then first meets the eye.

15/08/2023

Would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone I had booked in today that I had to cancel due to illness. As you all know it’s very rarely I have a sick day but it happens.

After a tough week last week I was left feeling a bit deflated to say the least and then sickness today I was feeling rather sorry for myself.
However todays lovely clients made me remember that I am very lucky to some really wonderful clients, thank you 🥰

01/08/2023

Today has been a super long but great day!

First thing fitting for the lovely sponsored rider with her talented dressage horse Ollie in Dorset and some of her liveries.

Followed by a couple more appointments through Dorset and The New Forest.

Experienced all seasons in one day weather wise 🤦‍♀️ but the scenery was beautiful!

29/07/2023

We now have new stock of these beautiful Fairfax bridles currently.

A reminder that Abby is off at the end of the month to complete her final course in bridle and bitting.

Exciting things in the pipeline!

What a stunning photo of Imhotep in his Fairfax Performance Bridle



Posted • This week’s Horse & Hound, on sale from 27 July, includes a feature where we put the spotlight on top ride and potential Europeans contender Imhotep. In the H&H interview, read about working hunter breakthrough star Ellie Hirst. We take a trip down memory lane to Horse & Hound in 1909, plus you can read an extract from renowned eventing trainer Caroline Moore’s new book. In this week’s Vet Clinic pages, we investigate windgalls and what you need to know about these soft swellings around the horse’s fetlock. We have exclusive columns from Piggy March and Graham Fletcher, for eventing and showjumping aficionados, while this week’s reports pages cover eventing, dressage, showjumping and showing from across the UK for sport fans to enjoy. Plus, for hunting fans, we bring you the full report from the Festival of Hunting.
The cover star is Imhotep 📸
For full details of what you can enjoy in this week’s magazine, visit https://trib.al/JZacWCm and to view our latest subscription offers check out the link in our bio.

06/07/2023

A great post by Poppy Webber - Qualified Saddle Fitter, thank you for taking the time to write it. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

What you should expect from your Saddle Fitter.

I go to soooo many different people, who have all have such different experiences with saddle fitters.

We are all humans and therefore all do things a little differently, we may even fit saddles a little differently… but we should ALL do the following (and if your saddle fitter doesn’t do the following, it’s time to question them!).

- take your details in advance, including whether you’re a refit, or wanting to try new saddles. Including your budget. This is super important cos there’s no point in bringing £4000 saddles if your budget is £1000.

- be professional, approachable, reliable and relatively punctual (we can’t always be totally punctual as sometimes things happen- horses can be unpredictable, as can traffic). Your saddle fitter should be happy to answer ANY questions you have. In fact, they should LOVE answering your questions because ultimately both fitter and owner have the same goal. A happy and comfortable horse (and rider!).

- Assess your horse statically (eg without rider) and naked. The horse naked that is, not your saddle fitter. That’s a whole different career choice. This should include ‘palpation’ of the back, noting any asymmetry and/or atrophy etc. During this time they’ll also make note of things like size of wither, length of ribs etc.

- take records - this would usually include at least three templates of the horse’s back (the three main ones being at T8, T10 and T18). Some manufacturers require more templates. But all fitters should take templates, and keep records. I always share these with the client so they can keep copies too.

- adjust your current saddle on site. The vast majority of adjustments can take place on site nowadays. For example adding flocking. It is so much better to do this on site; because otherwise how is it possible to see the effect of the adjustment between each adjustment? I’ll often add some flocking, pop the saddle on, tweak the flocking again, pop it on… tweak it some more… see them ride… tweak it again. If I wasn’t able to do this on site it would require five visits 🤣. Not all saddles are adjustable on site - but personally, I think if your saddle has to go away for minor adjustments, in this day and age, perhaps it’s time to consider a different saddle (ooh controversial, I know!).

- if buying a new saddle, having the option of a few to try. This is a balancing act, one which you have to rely on your fitter to balance well. Too many saddles and the horse gets frustrated by the stop/start. Too few and you don’t get enough choice. Sometimes, horses are super tricky shapes, or owner’s budgets are really tight which can limit the choice significantly. For this reason, it really helps if your saddle fitter has stock or several different brands. And not all brands have a tree/saddle that fit every horse. Not criticising the ‘saddle reps’ that sell only one brand, but in my experience, it just doesn’t always work. And in that situation, they need to be honest and say ‘our brand won’t work for you, try a fitter with lots of brands’ kinda thing.

- SEE THE SADDLE RIDDEN IN - I left this one til last and put it in capitals cos I have lost count of the amount of fittings I go to and people are there in their crocs (no judgement, not all of us have style… 🤣) and shorts; not expecting to ride because they never have done for a fitting.
This.
Is.
Not.
Right.
I don’t care how many saddle fittings you’ve had, where you haven’t had to ride… it is ridiculously important. The saddle sits completely differently with a rider on. And the horse’s back is a completely different shape in movement and with a rider on. In some very rare cases, we don’t see the saddle ridden in: eg unbacked horse or horses coming back from injury (where we will insist on seeing it ridden in as soon as the horse is under saddle) or very occasionally I don’t insist on seeing it ridden in, if I know the horse/saddle/rider well and there is a VERY good reason that they’re unable to ride that day (rider injured, very heavy rain etc).
Also… if we don’t see the saddle ridden in, how do we know if it fits the rider? If the rider is effective in it? Or if the horse even LIKES it. Sometimes a saddle can ‘fit’ and the horse says ‘NO’. Or the saddle can fit the horse but the rider swallows the entire saddle up with their bottom and puts pressure in all the wrong places.
So. Yep. RIDE IN THE SADDLE PEEPS.

Photo by Sam Pawley Photography. Taken at a recent saddle fitting clinic. Where, shock, the riders had to ride in their saddles. Cos that’s the LAW*

*Not officially the law but it should be.

02/07/2023

Fab day at Fawley Farm Feeds Horse & Dog Show great show, well organised and so friendly.

Bluebell had her showing premiere and was a total angel and Ethan strutted his stuff in the veteran class - even at 29 he enjoys an outing.
Both got placed in at a respectable 5th in fairly large classes - very proud.

Grace was super excited to take home her rosette. Well done to all my lovely clients who were also competing at Fawley today - you all looked great!

01/07/2023

Having cuddles with baby Prince made my day 🥰🥰 he’s just too cute!!

20/06/2023

Very proud of my client - young rider Daisy Mansfield with a win in the PSG! Daisy and Fee make a fantastic team, well done guys!

16/06/2023

Katie and Paint look fantastic winning the novice last week in their one of a kind Black Country saddle I proudly designed. Katie loved the eloquence and her horse Paint went well in it but she felt she needed an external knee block for a little more support so I took her feedback and went up to the factory and worked with to design her dream saddle 🥰 I love the saddle so much I ordered it in demo too so now it’s available for trials at saddle fittings too!

04/06/2023

Lovely write up from one of my wonder sponsored riders Jasmin Collins

27/05/2023

So excited about the release of these saddles! PM me for further info!

23/05/2023

Excited to see this new Prestige saddle!
Did you know that we at AD Equestrian stock and fit Prestige saddles?!? Now you do!

If you would like to trial ride a new prestige or have your second hand one checked/adjusted get in touch to book an appointment.

18/05/2023

A few months ago Abby and a some fellow saddle fitters went to a secret launch event where they met Isabell Werth and Rob Bates. It was a fantastic day and we are pleased to say the new Isabell Werth Icon saddle has been launched and we have our very own demos in stock for you to try 🤩🤩 PM for a test ride. https://batessaddles.com/blogs/promotions/bates-isabell-icon

15/05/2023

I am now officially back from holiday. Thank you all for being so patient for me to reply whilst I’ve been away. I am working hard to respond to everyone and get people booked in.
Was a really special holiday with my husband and the girls but I am refreshed and excited to see you all in the coming weeks! 🤩

29/04/2023

We love the fairfax range here at AD Equestrian 😍😍😍 remember we stock and fit both the fairfax saddle and bridles.

27/04/2023

When buying second hand it’s good to have a list of things to check and be aware of.

https://www.mastersaddlers.co.uk/tack-affordability/?fbclid=IwAR0noV03rVtehiNyBNj125O6gE9uSPaa_3IVOBevPd5vzGLQkBtInQz0E18

Buying second-hand can get you a great bargain and a well-cared for, used saddle or bridle can often be a very good buy when you’re…

26/04/2023

Spaces still available this Sunday for saddle fitting clinic at Denmead, Hampshire.
If you would like a your horse/pony seen quickly this is the perfect opportunity as my normal wait list is now end of May if you need me to come to you.

24/04/2023

Billy is the top student of the day taking a keen interest in his template taking to ensure his Erreplus dressage saddle fits perfectly 🤩

24/04/2023

Billy is the top student of the day taking a keen interest in his template taking to ensure his dressage saddle fits perfectly 🤩

16/04/2023

I will be running a saddle fitting clinic on Sunday 30th April at Crabbick farm in Denmead.

If you would like a space please let me know.

Costs as follows:
£60 for consultation
£10 contribution for arena hire
Adjustments are additional depending what you need doing such as flocking, bars etc.

Good parking and access for trailers and lorries. Lovely big indoor arena.

PM me or text 07894940409

14/04/2023

Our talented sponsored rider Lily Beveridge Equestrian has been completing in Wales and has qualified for the final Sunday!! Go Lily and Viva 🤩🤩🤩

14/04/2023

Did you know that at AD Equestrian we fit and supply Fairfax saddles?!? Now you do!

Here is the new Fairfax Petrus 😍😍

Designed to give a greater connection with the horse, the forward seat precisely aligns the rider more in and over the horse's centre of balance.Features the...

06/04/2023

** THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays research meme relates to saddle fit, and specifically saddle width. Sometimes it is suggested that a saddle should be fitted wider than industry guidelines and corrected with shims to allow greater ROM.

Whilst this approach may be useful in certain situations (providing there is a regular review process), it should be considered that in general, riding in a wide saddle even when using shims to correct saddle width, areas of high pressures are found in the front-mid region of the saddle which can then affect gait and epaxial muscle dimensions. Saddle fit is complex and reinforces the need to work closely with your saddle fitter, and the need for regular and correct saddle fit. 🤓

For more information www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

28/03/2023

Our very talented sponsored rider Anna Jesty Dressage giving her 5 top tips to improve your flat work training 🤩

If you're a rider looking to improve your Dressage skills and training, helping take you to the next level in any discipline, then you'll want to hear from Anna Jesty. As an up-and-coming rider and list 5 judge, Anna has represented Great Britain at the under 21 level and has trained with some of th...

28/02/2023

Today was very exiting if unexpected. Out fitting the lovely Lauren and Spirit their new Fairfax jump saddle when all of a sudden we were alerted to a mare foaling down out in the field! Long story short - foal was few weeks early and we needed to get mare and foal inside the stable asap out of the cold! 10 mins later cute pictures of mare and foal all cozy in their stable in time for arrival of owner and vet. I forgot how amazing it is to be involved in a foaling - took me back to when I worked on a stud at Uni placement. Mare and foal healthy and Spirit was very happy in his new Fairfax saddle! 🤩🥰🤗.

20/02/2023

Boring bit of house keeping this evening BUT please read my terms and conditions when I send you the link to complete my booking form. I appreciate its boring to read but please click on it. With particular regard to cancellations - if you cancel with less than 24 hours notice you will be invoiced for £25 cancellation fee. This is because at that late notice I can’t refill the appointment and therefore lose income. Thank you for your understanding.