Just booked your saddle fitting?! Yay!! We can't wait to meet you!
Let's walk through the process so you know what to expect during your appointment!
Fitting Timeline
Depending on what you're shopping for, the length of your fitting may vary!
- For used saddles, appointments generally take between 1 to 1.5 hours.
- For custom fittings, appointments generally take between 2 to 2.5 hours.
Note: If you are a competitive rider and use a coach, it is always helpful to have them available for the second half of your appointment.
Getting Ready
In preparation for your appointment, your horse should be brushed and ready to tack up when the time comes.
Before we start trying saddles, we will spend some time getting to know you and your horse.
If your horse is nervous, fearful, sensitive, or has any prior injuries, please don't hesitate to notify your fitter; this helps us to ensure a safe and comfortable appointment for everyone!
Riders, please remember to wear unadorned breeches to your appointment; buttons, bling, and jeans can scratch the saddle!
Tracings
If your appointment is for a new saddle, your fitter will begin by doing a tracing of your horse. Tracings help us to determine which shape of saddle tree best suits your horse's anatomy, and also allow us to predict and track any changes in your horse's shape over time.
Static Fit
A static (or 'standing') fit helps us to narrow down which saddles we think are the best options for you and your horse to ride in. After assessing your horse's shape, your fitter will pull suitable saddles from our demos and inventory and try them on your horses back to assess the fit from the ground.
Curious about what we look for in our static fit? Check out our Simple Saddle Check!
Dynamic Fit
Once we have narrowed down the saddles in the static fit, it's time to get riding! Our dynamic (or 'motion') fit allows you to feel how your horse moves in the saddle; while our fitters are experts on fit, you are the expert on your horse! During the dynamic fit, your fitter will ask lots of questions about how you and your horse feel in the saddle; we want to hear all of your thoughts, comments, and opinions during your ride!! If there are multiple candidates, you may be changing your saddle a number of times!
Note: we advise all riders to wear helmets while mounted!
Post-Appointment
In the days following your appointment, your fitter will send you all of the notes taken during your fitting, along with a quote/invoice if applicable. If you have any questions after your appointment, don't hesitate to reach out to us-we are always here to help!