HORSE-SADDLE-RIDER

Feel in need of a slightly different approach to saddle fit for you and your horse?

  • Your saddle ticks the boxes for your horse but you’re struggling with aiding, or even just sitting, and perhaps even experiencing pain in the saddle or after riding
  • Your horse is super wide and your saddle is slipping, or you’re struggling with the width of the saddle!
  • You’d just like to see some alternative options whether it’s for traditional equestrian pastimes or for endurance, working equitation and the other areas of the sport that are growing
  • You feel your horse just isn’t thriving with a traditional saddle fit approach
  • You’d like to try the best of treeless saddles working with an experienced fitter of both treed and treeless
  • You want to work on your horse’s posture and movement patterns, on your own equitation and are always on a journey of self-improvement
Saddle fitting has been slowly moving in a more holistic direction but for me it’s at the core of everything and has to be, to solve these problems without significant compromise. Horses aren’t well designed to be ridden, and we’re not really well designed for riding, so we can’t avoid compromise altogether, but we CAN keep horse and rider more functional and “sound” long term if we get it right, and keep getting it right.

You’ll find information on this site about the huge importance of approaching saddle fitting from the point of view of the triplicate horse-saddle-rider equation. After all, it’s so often impossible to isolate one from another, as demonstrated by recent biomechanical research, and ensuring all three are considered means we don’t miss underlying problems with horse or rider, always seeking the best all-round care for both human and equine.

I carefully select brands that enable me to work this way so you won’t see what you’ll see in your local tack shop, both saddles and accessories. Saddle making is a really traditional trade; it’s a trade that IS changing, and new brands and ideas come along all the time but, how many are still contributing to the long term soundness issues we see at endemic levels?

In our work together we would ensure that nothing is missed, that appropriate professionals are referred to and that we make sure, a bit like the Sky racing team, that we chip away at everything that could help you and your horse and make sure you’re performing at your absolute best. This is not just regular saddle fitting.

If you want to take this step up and have a beautiful saddle that truly helps with healthy balance and movement for both of you then get in touch, I’d love to work with you.

TESTIMONIALS

  • …Steph has a wealth of knowledge and experience, not only about saddles and fitting them (as you’d expect) but of the anatomy and biomechanics of the horse and rider. This sets her apart from other fitters, as her approach is entirely holistic and not merely focused on the saddle itself. When Steph comes to fit or check your saddle, she considers all aspects of the horse’s body and confirmation, and the rider’s shape and build. She also has a particular interest in correctly supporting and aligning the pelvis of the rider, something which seems to be overlooked more generally. It’s this additional attention to detail that sets her apart from other saddle fitters….
  • Stephanie has completely transformed my riding and my horse’s way of going. She found a saddle that fits my pelvic shape perfectly, improving my position and comfort, and my horse’s frame and paces have never been better. She’s now been helping me with another horse I have on loan to rehab from kissing spine, and her expertise, care, and dedication are making a huge difference with every ride. I’m so grateful for her commitment to the comfort and health of both horse and rider.
  • First proper hack out in new saddle and pad. Loved it!! Noggie was walking out sooo nicely. Felt so much freer through his shoulder. My ass also approved of it tremendously
  • I knew my short backed speedy Connemara was going to be tricky to get a correct fitting saddle for but after 2 'made to measure saddles' in a year with my pony becoming increasingly uncomfortable especially when jumping, I went to AH saddles. Steph came out and suggested the sport tree WH type. She spent time fitting and watching how the saddle performed when ridden. I've had no saddle issues since then and each saddle check Steph has taken the time to make sure the saddle is still performing for my pony and me. The saddle performs in not only the show ring but endurance riding, jumping competitions and hunting.
  • "Steph has managed to work out why, despite being told I have a lovely position in the saddle I was still sustaining injury [from the saddle] and felt I was not effective…taking saddle fit for the rider as seriously as the horse benefits everyone. Thanks for getting to the bottom of my issues Steph. Look forward to a successful, more comfortable future."
  • "I had a wonderful experience with Steph. My pony is not an easy girl to fit, with a very short saddle platform and various issues meaning she fits the “remedial” bill. She has been in a treeless saddles for years because I couldn’t get a tree to fit her. Steph spent 2 hours with us in the cold, with several saddles that we tried to ensure the right fit for us both. We ended up with an AH Supercob GP and it fits like a glove. We both love it, and I’m so grateful to Steph for her expert advice and time."
  • "My old boy isn’t easy to fit as he has a sway back (he has been swayed back most of his life) and is croup high with a very small footprint to fit too. I had the amazing Steph to come and see what she could do as vets, chiro etc were saying perhaps time to retire him. I knew in my heart he wasn’t ready to retire…at the first saddle check she was so pleased to see that he had built muscle back up..she had to widen the tree. We can’t thank Steph enough for helping keep this much loved old boy in work which makes me smile every day and feel lucky to still be riding him at 27."
  • "I just wanted to send you a quick note to say how pleased I am with my new saddle and Inca seems to love it too! I find it incredibly comfortable and it allows me to sit in a very balanced and aligned position. Inca moves very freely in it and I love that I can feel her back moving and swinging so well. We're doing lots of hacking at the moment and I'm looking forward to building up the length of the rides as she gets fitter and stronger."
  • "My young sport cob….is 16.2hh but short backed and with a history of saddles slipping or just not fitting. He became “cold backed” and sore. Steph is very professional and knowledgeable – her experience with difficult to fit horses has been an important part of his management and we have gone from strength to strength since she has been visiting us. Highly recommend."
  • "Very pleased with our new AH saddle. This is Bob training this morning. He’s already starting to lift his back and engage his hind legs better. He’s very happy in his work and swinging along nicely. It feels so good when he lets go and I can close my lower leg gently around him and adopt a better hand position. The saddle is staying in the centre so allowing me to work the canter. Very excited about the progress we have already made and looking forward to a winter of productive sessions."
  • "Steph has been fitting 4 of my horses (of varying shapes and sizes!) for many years now. All of them are 'remedial' in their fit in some way. Steph's ability to listen to the issues I have and problem solve until we find the solution is second to none. Steph also supports me in providing a holistic approach to the care of my horses. I train with Becky Chapman at Ashen Equestrian Centre on the Suffolk/Essex border where we train from a biomechanical perspective with emphasis on long term soundness of my horses by correct posture and movement (horse and rider). This is very much in keeping with Steph's ethos of saddle fitting and the two complement each other well. Steph has a vast knowledge in how saddle fit influences the horse’s movement and how movement affects saddle fit. She is regularly needed to make vital adjustments as the horses training progresses. Team work really does make the dream work!!"

BRANDS

I only work with brands I truly love. Every brand I choose to work with I believe are exceptional in their field, offering manufacturing quality as well as performing well above any others that I’ve come across over the years. They’re not generally “tack shop brands”, but are the best of the best for my discerning customers who seek out the best solutions for the challenges they face for them and their horses.

Occasionally I will stop offering a brand and am continually developing my understanding of horse-saddle-rider which means that a brand may no longer fit with my current approach and understanding.

Changing one’s perspective is to be expected in such a complex area where we should always be learning more!

Waldhausen

A large German company who offer all sorts of girths and stirrups, I carry some demos, sometimes have stock, but can order anything (they have a vast catalogue and website) needed for a saddle fitting. Competitive prices, mostly budget and mid priced options.

Previous brands

I can offer advice on purchasing second hand, and can check and adjust, AH saddles and ErgoX2 of Sweden. I no longer stock either brand or offer new fittings.

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