The expertise of an SMS qualified saddle fitter is there to guide you through the saddle fitting process so that you and your horse achieve the best outcome and performance.
When it comes to purchasing a new saddle for you and your horse, you may well be confused by the plethora of saddle fitters out there β particularly in this part of the country! Most people are aware of the excellent Society of Master Saddlers (SMS), but you may not be aware of why itβs so important.
As the worldβs most influential professional body connected with saddlery, the Society has put enormous effort into improving saddle fitting standards including instituting the highly respected, non-commercially linked, saddle fitting qualification. This City & Guilds qualification is recognised by equine vets, physiotherapists and other professionals working in the equestrian industry.
In order to become a Qualified Saddle Fitter, candidates must have had at least three yearsβ saddle fitting experience and training, and have an in depth knowledge of equine biomechanics and physiology. In fact the best saddle fitters say you never stop learning and that is one of the things we love about our work. SMS fitters must attend a refresher course every two years, during which the latest research is presented, and they must also complete a set level of continued professional development. The society adapts its training content and methodology so that it is always current and correct, developing standardised systems or checklists so no essential part of the fitting process is missed.
Record keeping, including taking back templates, is an integral part of saddle fitting, but above all is the ability to select and fit saddles for horses with widely varying conformation and purposes and, importantly, riders of all shapes and sizes, abilities and budgets. It goes without saying that qualified fitters must carry a reasonable stock of many different brands of saddles for all disciplines.
As the worldβs most influential professional body connected with saddlery, the Society has put enormous effort into improving saddle fitting standards including instituting the highly respected, non-commercially linked, saddle fitting qualification. This City & Guilds qualification is recognised by equine vets, physiotherapists and other professionals working in the equestrian industry.
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