Blog

Mounting Do’s and Don’ts

28th June 2023

Watch the clip (courtesy of Centaur Biomechanics) of what happens when you mount from the ground. However agile you are you will inevitably pull the saddle to the left (if you are getting on from the near side), causing huge pressure peaks around the withers, and also pulling the horse off balance towards you. This can damage the horse’s back,…

Saddle Check – How Often?

22nd June 2023

If you have just purchased a brand-new saddle, I recommend you have it checked after the first couple of months of use, particularly if the saddle has flocked, rather than foam, panels. Your saddle fitter may well need to top up the flocking to rebalance the saddle. This is because saddles are flocked with sheep wool, which starts off nice…

Amerigo Saddles

14th June 2023

Last year, I attended the Amerigo Seminar, held at the enviable yard of Amerigo sponsored dressage riders Maria and Michael Eilberg, and their father, elite trainer Ferdi Eilberg. I have long been a saddle fitter for Amerigo, and I love the ethos behind the design of these beautiful, prestigious saddles – I actually used to ride my event horses in…

What To Expect at A Saddle Fitting Appointment

7th June 2023

Firstly, if you have an instructor, it can be helpful if they are present at the fitting! They can help you choose what sort of saddle you need, and will give you confidence if you are inexperienced. A third pair of hands is also helpful if the horse is fractious, although don’t be worried, I am very hands on!  …

Visit to Albion Saddlemakers Co. Ltd

31st May 2023

What an amazing visit I had last week to Albion Saddlemakers Co. Ltd Albion, originally formed in the 1980’s, is a very well known and prestigious brand of British made saddles. They have recently launched some new models and updated some existing ones in order consolidate their place at the forefront of the industry. I was lucky enough to be…

Weight Gain

24th May 2023

Now is the time of year when we tend to see lots of overweight horses and ponies. Too much summer grass is normally the culprit! It can be a real challenge to fit saddles onto barrel shaped horses carrying excess fat, particularly if this fat is carried over the shoulders as in these pictures taken today. Saddles tend to perch,…