Selecting A New Saddle

Cordia Pearson

Society of Master Saddlers Qualified Saddle Fitter

Selecting a New Saddle

There are as many permutations of saddle design and construction as there are breeds of horses and body builds of riders. The saddle your mentor/teacher/role model rides in is not a sure thing for you and your horse. The needs of a Professional are not the needs of a student. Nor will emulating someone else make you ride like them. With these facts in mind, it really makes you wonder why so many saddle companies go to such lengths to gain the endorsement of star riders.

Ask: Who am I as a rider? What are my strengths? Where do I need help? Then ask: What are the needs of my horse? What strengths? What issues? Beyond the simple answers of seat or flap length and tree width, the more crucial elements involve tree design, rail angle, degree of flap forwardness, and shape and construction of the panels. In these areas, you need to get your answers from knowledgeable sources. For this reason, I have constructed tables of comparison or include extensive notes on each saddle I represent.

A saddle maker needs to be a rider or seek out many riders' counsel. Some of the worst ideas on the market today are corporate "brain" children, Frankenstein designs constructed of such "body parts" such as bottom line mentality &factory construction. Equally unsavory are the offerings which are so complicated that they truly should be sold with a resident saddle fitter.

The saddle makers I work with have the following elements in common. One, they are in this business to help the horse and the rider. Two, they know cutting corners is not the way to help the horse and rider. Three, they use quality leathers, trees and flocking. Four, they stand behind their work. And perhaps most important of all, they truly listen and respond to the needs of both horse and rider.