Unlock the secrets to a more connected ride: understanding correct saddle fit.
What your Horse Thinks
"Your horse does not know that the saddle is supposed to fit." - Galadriel Billington
Each horse has a unique area where a saddle can be placed but that is not all. The first step in achieving a correct saddlefit is to be able to identify what your horse's saddlefit area is.
What the Saddle Is
Just like horses have saddlefit characteristics so do saddles. What are they and how do you determine if a saddle will be suitable or not at all before buying it?
What You as a Rider Needs
A rider's posture plays a large part of achieving a correct saddlefit. Have you considered how your posture out of the saddle can affect your balance in the saddle?
What We Do - Who We Help
My goal is help as many horses and riders as I can to discover their perfect partnership through correct saddlefit.
As a competitor, coach and trainer I struggled to find the answers as to why my horses found some tasks so difficult particularly when they had shown such promise as the start of training. My search for knowledge led me to various different training methods however they could not answer my question of why was it necessary to perform various exercises to overcome stiffness and resistance when the horses were observed in the paddocks doing it all naturally and freely? This led me to study nutrition, healthy biomechanics, hoof balance, soft tissue issues and finally to saddle fit to complete the holistic picture of the happy healthy horse that wanted to work with me. It is my goal to help as many horses and riders as I can to discover the perfect partnership that you can have with your happy and healthy horse. This is why I have created my education series starting with the first step showing you how to correctly identify your horse’s saddlefit area – giving you a way of checking any saddle that you try as a possible or a no way in the world will this work fit.
Why Choose Us
Are you tired of spending too much time and money on saddles that don't fit?
Do you have a tackroom full of saddles that don’t fit? Do you know for certain that the saddle a saddlefitter or saddle supplier is selling you is the correct fit for you and your horse? Do you despair of ever finding a saddle that suits you and you horse?
Tired of costly saddle fitting mistakes? Our course empowers you to make informed decisions, saving you time and money in the long run.
If your answer is Yes and you are ready to learn how to check if any saddle you trial is a match for your unique saddlefit characteristic then click the Enrol Now button below to access my course 'How to Identify Your Horse's Saddlefit Area"
Education
Learn how to tell if any saddle is a possible or a no chance fit before you buy
What if there was a way that you could tell that a saddle may or may not be suitable for your horse? Our course on identifying your horse’s unique saddlefit area will empower you to check any saddle for a suitable match thereby saving you time and money by not buying saddles that will not fit.
How healthy is your saddle?
How do you know what to look for in a healthy saddle? Take our short course which gives you a step by step process and handy checklist to ensure that your saddle is in good health too.
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What Our Clients Say
I engaged Gill Shepherd to help me find a saddle to fit both my 16.2hh TB Buzzy and me. She discovered that he had really wide spinal processes and none of the “off the shelf” saddles were going to offer a wide enough channel to give clearance to these. Gill recommended that I get a custom made saddle. She made a template of Buzzy’s back and assessed my body type and recommended that the tree of the saddle was pared back at the the waist to accommodate my narrow hips. These specifications were sent to Barnsbys Saddlers in the UK. We have been delighted with the result which turned out to be no more expensive than buying a ready made saddle and still fits him today, 12 years on. I would highly recommend Gill and the expertise, knowledge and attention to detail she brings to the complexities of saddle fitting.
Carol Lake, NSW Australia
16 years ago Gill Shepherd was recommended to us by a body worker as our horses backs were sore from ill fitting saddles. Gill came out & helped us find suitable saddles & also helped in re-fitting saddles over the years. With Gill’s knowledge & expertise over the 16 years we have known her our horses have never had soreness caused by ill fitting saddles. We cannot speak more highly or the knowledge & professionalism that Gill displays.
Katrina & Maddy Reisner, NSW Australia
Latest Articles
Signs that your horse needs a Holistic Saddlefit
You've been told that your saddle fits your horse by your team of trainer, equine health professional and/or knowledgeable friends but your horse is telling you something is not right. Read on for the top signs that your horse is telling you that you need a Holistic Saddlefit.
How Healthy is Your Saddle?
You spend a lot of time and money to ensure that your horse is healthy but when was the last time you gave your saddle a checkup?
How to talk to Saddlefitters and/or Suppliers
Do you feel awkward or overwhelmed talking to saddle fitters or suppliers? Here are some top tips on how to talk all things saddles and saddlefitting to prepare you for your next saddlefit or visit to the saddlery.