What to expect from your saddle fitting appointment

The saddle fitting visit typically takes around 1½ to 2 hours. If you're having a follow-up appointment or a check and/or adjustment of your current saddle, the visit may be shorter.

Your horse should be clean, dry, and wearing a bridle throughout the fitting process. Riders should be dressed in suitable riding attire and safety equipment.

Upon arrival, we’ll introduce ourselves to you and your horse, and ask about any known vices, health issues, or injuries. We’ll begin by examining your horse’s back for any lumps, bumps, or signs of pain or discomfort.

If everything looks good, we’ll move on to templating, watching your horse walk and trot, trying on saddles, and selecting a few for you to ride in. You can read more about each of these steps below.

The saddle fitting process

  • Templating

    During your saddle fitting appointment, your horse’s back will be carefully assessed. With your horse standing square, templates will be taken to document their current shape and condition. These templates also help determine whether any changes have occurred since the previous visit (if applicable).

  • Walk and trot in hand

    You will be required to walk and trot your horse in-hand, both toward and away from me on a flat, even surface. This allows me to observe your horse’s natural movement without rider influence, assess straightness, and identify any irregularities or relevant issues that could impact saddle fit.

  • Static fit

    If you just need your current saddle checking, it will be placed on your horse’s back and evaluated for any areas of pressure, overall balance and stability, appropriate length and width, as well as several other key factors.

    If you're looking for a new saddle, a selection will be brought based on the details you provided when booking—such as your horse’s size, breed, and discipline, along with your own height, build, and personal preferences. Each potential saddle will then be tried on your horse in turn and assessed using the same criteria.

  • Ridden Assessment

    Saddles considered suitable will then be assessed with the rider onboard, usually in walk, trot, and canter. It's important to observe how the saddle behaves under load, ensuring it remains balanced while accounting for the rider’s weight and the horse’s movement.

    At this stage, we also assess the rider’s comfort and stability, as the saddle must be a good fit for both horse and rider.

  • Follow up visit

    Upon purchasing a saddle from us, we recommend a follow-up visit after approximately 20 hours of use. This allows us to make any necessary adjustments to the flocking or to the width of a changeable tree if needed.

    This aftercare is an important part of the process, as the flocking in a new saddle can settle quickly and horses often change shape with the seasons.

  • A Guide to Costs/Feees

    My fee for a saddle fitting visit is £60 plus VAT, with mileage charge on top at 60pence per mile (return trip.

    I aim to keep our pricing as clear and transparent as possible, and we're always happy to discuss costs with you ahead of your appointment.

    A detailed price list can be found on our Services & Pricing page