Finding a Saddle
Provide us with (by email or bring in with you) a conformation/side view photograph (like example below). Please share as much information as possible on:
- The Horse: Age, breed, discipline, brands and type of saddles that did, and did not work well for the horse
- The Rider : Saddle seat size(s), brands and type that did and did not work for the rider, length of the femur
- Recommendations from Saddle Fitter, Trainer, etc
With this information we are able to narrow down the search of what may be suitable for you and your horse very quickly. We highly recommend taking saddle(s) on our 7 Day Trial to determine suitability for the horse and rider. Saddle(s) can be ridden in but we have a very detailed Saddle Trial Agreement that must be completed before they leave the shop.
Measuring Saddle Widths:
We like to joke that determining saddle widths is like buying jeans at Costco; how saddles are stamped, even within the same brand (& pretty much all horsey items), and how they fit are very different! As adjustments and customization’s may have been made to the tree and flocking (and regular flocking compression from consistent use) since the original manufacture and the original stamp (if there is one) and as there is also no measurement continuity between manufacturers we have instituted a measuring system to try to provide a consistent reference point using inches that each saddle is measured with when consigned.
Saddle Widths: we measure saddles 2″ down from the top of the panel and 1″ in from the front (not including the thickness) of the panel and then across to the same spot on the other side. This spot is generally where a saddle finds it’s first point of contact on a horse’s back. We do not use the dot-to-dot measurement as we have found the “dot” placements to be very inconsistent (and not all saddles have them either) and are most often very high on the panel, in different spots from saddle to saddle and sunk into the panel (sometimes as much as a 1/2″ for each screw), making it measure wider than it really is.
Seat Size: Diagonally from the middle of the ‘button’ on the side of the pommel to the middle of the cantle
Saddle Flaps: From the Top of the stirrup bar to the bottom of the flap.
Measuring a Rider’s Femur measurement: From Hip joint (outside) to top of Knee joint (outside)
**The measurement information is provided as general information and is not a guarantee of size or fit. How they measure and how they fit can still be very different and there are so many variables (length of tree points, flocking, channel widths, panels, etc) that we highly encourage using our 7 Day Trial to determine that the fit is appropriate for both the horse and yourself.
Trailer Parking If you are stopping by with your horse trailer, please park in our back parking lot against the fence – Easy access to loop to/from 48th Street or 50th Street
**NO Horses out of trailers on Site** Our location is not set up to have horses brought to our shop to try on saddles. To do so is entirely at your own risk and liability as we are located in a busy, unfenced industrial area surrounded by major highways and horses are always unpredictable. If distance and time are an issue in your saddle search we recommend making arrangements at one of the many nearby stables to try on and test-ride saddle(s) (that we can quickly help narrow down the search for) in a safe, horse-friendly environment. Please let us know if you would like suggestions 
7 Day Trial
We recommend using our 7 Day Trial, available at the time of the transaction only, with a pre-authorized Visa, MasterCard, Amex or Cash (not Debit) for the full amount of the item(s) on trial. Trial payments by Paypal, etransfers or in shop Payment by Debit – Maximum $500, 10% fee applies/returned item(s).
Saddles can be ridden in lightly during the trial; a detailed Saddle Trial Agreement must be completed before saddle(s) leave the shop which explains the terms and care (basically: bring back when due, take care of it, do not remove the tags or use extensively/in a clinic/show, there is a surcharge based on damage sustained during the trial period) of the saddle during the Trial period.
7 Day Trial only available in Canada. Outside Canada; Final Sale only.
Final Sale
Saddles not taken out on Trial or not returned at the agreed upon due date are a final sale and are sold As-Is with no warranty on behalf of our Consignors. We do our very best to thoroughly detail all information, conditions and verify sizing but do not guarantee or warranty that information, conditions or sizing.
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Key features when assessing the saddle fit to the horse’s back:
The Pommel of the saddle should have adequate clearance over the withers, and not be tight laterally which will pinch the withers. As a rough guide, with a seated rider there should be at least 2 fingers’ width vertical clearance between the horse’s wither and the underside of the pommel.
There should be no restriction of the horse’s shoulder blade when in movement. The points of the saddle should sit an inch or two behind the shoulder blade to allow for its rotation.
The gullet (channel) must maintain sufficient clearance above the horse’s spine, both vertically & horizontally, to ensure no contact with the vertebrae.
The panels must have even contact along the horses back; there should not be any areas with either no contact (bridging) or tightness. The saddle should also not sit past the last rib as the weight of the saddle and rider cannot be supported beyond this point and can cause discomfort.
Need extra assistance? We sell a handy and useful saddle fitting “how to” kit here.