Saddles
Which Saddle Pad Is Best? (Is There a Right Answer?)
Gel pad, foam, or saddle blanket? After years of fitting saddles — and happily taking a hammer to the hand at horse fairs to prove a point — I've decided the real question isn't cushioning. It's friction. Here's why, and the pad I keep coming back to.
Tree Width and the Gullet Channel – Is Wider Always Better?
My horse needs a wide tree" is the most common misconception I meet in my fitting practice — and acting on it makes many horses less comfortable, not more. Chapter 3 unpacks what tree width actually means, how the gullet plate and gullet channel each affect fit, and two simple checks you can do yourself to see whether yours match your horse's back.
5 Key Parameters of Saddle Fit – A Practical Checklist
You don't need special equipment to catch a saddle that doesn't fit — just five checks you can do yourself in a barn aisle in under fifteen minutes. This chapter walks through spine and wither clearance, balance, panel contact, length, and stability: what each one means, why it matters to your horse, and exactly how to test it. These five won't replace a skilled fitter, but they'll tell you when something is wrong — and when it's worth calling one in.
The Anatomy of Saddle Fit: What the Horse’s Back Tells You
No two horses carry the same back — and the back you fit today isn't the one you'll fit in six months. Before you can judge whether a saddle fits, you have to read the landscape beneath it. This chapter breaks down the five parameters that define your horse's topline — withers, back shape, length, croup height, and girth groove — and closes with a 20-minute hands-on exercise to assess your own horse.
How to Evaluate Saddle Fit
Saddle fit knowledge belongs to every horse owner — not to replace your fitter, but to help you see what you're looking at and ask better questions. This is the home of our free Saddle Fitting Guide: a plain-language series that takes you from reading your horse's back to evaluating any saddle on any horse. Start here, then work through the chapters at your own pace.
Saddle Fit 101: A Balanced Saddle
Why a Balanced Saddle Matters From an old German book on riding. Balance as a basic concept of saddle fit. The correct balance is on the top. "Love this saddle,...
Saddle Fit 101: Are Adjustable Saddles Good?
Is there really a good option for an adjustable saddle? Read 5 Reasons Why You Should Not Buy An Adjustable Saddle and One Reason Why You Should. There are many aspects to saddle fit. Learn why adjustable saddles may not be all the rage.