What Happens at a saddle fit assessment?

To start I'll introduce myself to your horse and make them feel comfortable.  I'll look and feel over your horse and make some notes regarding the back, shoulder, withers, heel height.  I'll then give a condition score and use a weigh tape to record the weight.

I will then move on to a back assessment, I'll palpate the back, behind the scapula and girth area.  Any pain responses will be relayed to you.  Next I'll chalk up the back so we can see what space your horse has to support a saddle.  I'll then take some templates.

I'll get you to walk and trot up your horse so I can make notes of any irregularities, the way the horse moves can have an effect on the way the saddle fits.  I will then do a safety check on your saddle, I will check the tree is not broken, stirrup bars and girth straps are secure.  I'll also check the flocking in the panels for any lumps or hollows.  It is recommended that panels are fully reflocked every 2 years.  I will then move on to the static fit of your saddle, I'll check the width of the tree head, contact of the panels, clearance at the top and sides of the withers and the spine, length and balance.

Be prepared to ride after the static fit, I'll ask you to tack up as you usually would.  Once on board I'll check clearance again, and then I'll watch you walk, trot and canter and maybe pop a jump, if it's a jump saddle I'm assessing.  It's not a test, I'm not there to critique your riding.  I'm watching how the saddle behaves when in motion.

Once the ridden assessment has finished, we'll have a chat about what the saddle is doing and what improvements we can make.  If adjustments can be made in situ, then I will repeat the static fit and ridden assessment again.