Saddle Fitting

Click on the links below to move to the relevant section

This section will help you identify a problem before you go to your local saddler or saddle fitter but it is not a do - it - yourself manual for fixing your own saddle.

Selecting the Correct Type of Saddle

Questions you must ask yourself before purchasing a saddle.
What disciplines do I wish to use this saddle for?

General Hacking
Dressage
Show Jumping
Eventing
Working Hunter or Showing
Endurance Riding
Racing

I Would Like to use my Saddle for Several Different Disciplines...
The most popular saddle for use in a wide range of disciplines is the general purpose saddle. There are many saddles available in this category and they vary from maker to maker.

General Purpose Saddles

See our range of General Purpose Saddles

Used for most disciplines this saddle is an excellent choice if you wish to purchase one saddle to do a range of activities.

Pros:
You only need one saddle.
Comfortable to hack and sit in.
Easy to sell second hand.

Cons:
Cannot be perfect for competing in all disciplines.
Generally does not allow the rider to shorten up stirrups sufficiently for Show jumping and eventing.
Can leave a lot of flap in front of the riders knee and over the horse's shoulder when doing flatwork or dressage
It is not as comfortable for dressage and tends to push the riders position forward.

Back to Top

Dressage Saddles

See our range of Dressage Saddles

Used for dressage, flat work, schooling and possibly hacking out.

Pros:
The saddle has a much deeper seat allowing the rider to adopt a better position for dressage and flatwork. Some dressage saddles are fitted with extra long stirrup bars so that the rider can achieve a better ear, hip, and heel position.
The straighter flap allows the horse to move more freely and shows more of the horses shoulder.
The long dressage girth straps found on dressage saddles mean the girth is buckled up below the line of the saddle flap and not underneath the riders leg. This allows the rider to get their legs much closer to the horse.

Cons:
For most people this has to be a second saddle because it is not suitable for any other discipline.

Back to Top

Show Jumping Saddles

See our range of Jumping Saddles

Used for show jumping, eventing, general schooling and flatwork
The show jumping saddle can be divided into two types:-
1/ The forward flap saddle with a round cantle stuffed panels and flatter seat.
2/ The close contact saddle with square cantle. This is the most modern of the two saddles and is generally available with a stuffed panel or foam panel .

Pros:
The forward cut flaps allows the rider to shorten their stirrups and bring their knees higher in the saddle.
Most saddles have higher knee blocks on the front to offer the rider some support. Knee blocks can be divided into two types banana blocks and knee rolls
The flatter seat allows the rider to adopt different seating positions.
The shorter flaps allow the rider to have better contact with the horse.

Cons:
Flat work and riding with longer stirrups in jumping saddles is not as comfortable because you are sitting on the waist (narrow part) of the saddle.
The saddles tend to cover more of the horses shoulder.

Back to Top

Eventing Saddles

See our range of Eventing Saddles

These saddles tend to be very similar to the show jumping saddle. Many manufacturers make one that they recommend for both disciplines. Special Event Saddles tend to be even further forward cut than the jumping saddles flatter seated model and some are slightly shorter in the flap.

Pros:
Extra forward cut saddle flaps allows the rider to ride shorter. This is an excellent feature for cross country because when you ride shorter you are less likely to be trapped underneath a horse if it fell.
By riding shorter you gain more pulling power which is also useful at an event.
The flatter seat allows the rider to lean right back when landing over steep drops.

Cons:
Flatwork and riding with longer stirrups in eventing saddles is not as comfortable.
These saddles tend to cover more of the horses shoulder.

Back to Top

Working Hunter / Show Saddles

See our range of Working Hunter Saddles

This saddle is generally used for working hunter and showing. The flap is straighter cut on the showing version. The flaps are not as long or as straight as the dressage saddle because in Working Hunter classes the rider is required to jump and they usually possess some form of small knee roll.

Pros:
Shows off the horses body and shoulder.

Cons:
Not ideal if you like riding short as the straight flap forces you to rider longer. If the stirrups are shorter the knee will go over the front of the saddle.
Not suitable for all equestrian disciplines.

Back to Top

Endurance Saddles

See our range of Saddles

This type of saddle is almost exclusively used for endurance riding or long distance riding. You have to ride with longer stirrups in an endurance saddle.

Pros:
Very comfortable for the horse and rider during long periods of riding.
They tend to be made with a panel that extends beyond the base of the saddle to spread the weight out on the horses back. The are usually made with a padded seat for the comfort of the rider

Cons:
The saddle is only suitable for endurance and long distance riding because the rider must ride long. Due to the cut of the saddle the rider is unable to shorten their stirrups.

Back to Top

Racing Saddles

See our range of Jockeys Equipment

Racing saddles are divided into two areas, race exercise and race saddles. Both of these saddle types are used exclusively for the purpose they were designed for.

The race exercise saddle is used to exercise racehorses. They are designed so that riders can shorten their stirrups to ride fast work and school. They tend to be larger than race saddles and have larger panels as they are worn for long periods of time by the horse.

Race saddles are only used by jockeys in races. They are available from several grams to 2 stone in weight. They generally do not have stirrup bars fitted and the stirrup leather go through a hole in the saddle tree.

Back to Top