 It no good just supplying a
saddle, you have to make sure it's perfect for both horse and rider. The
only true way to make sure of this is to employ the services of a fully
qualified saddle fitter.
Tonia Linden, our Master Saddler, is also a
Qualified Saddle Fitter. Spending most of her week driving around livery
yards across Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, she always has a varied
selection of both new and secondhand saddles whenever she is saddle
fitting. With the emphasis on selecting the right saddle for both horse
and rider, she takes a number of measurements from back to front and from
side to side. In addition, she will also take into account how much work
the horse does so that she can allow for any change in shape that might
occur in the future.
When she is satisfied that the saddle fits
and is comfortable for the horse, she will normally take the saddle back
to the workshop for any minor adjustments. Once adjusted the saddle is
then supplied to the new owner along with instructions on how to look
after it and when the next 'saddle check' is due (normally between 6-12
months after the initial fitting). It is of course important, that if your
horse shows any signs of being upset with a new saddle, that you contact
the saddle fitter immediately.
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