The Western Saddler Ltd.

03/09/2026

🐴Saddle Fitting Trip🐴

Here we have the next trip in the early stages of planning. If you would like a visit please do get in touch, we have limited places still available.

Those who have already filled in forms will hear from us in the next few days.

If you have filled in a form but you haven’t hear anything please let us know!

02/09/2026

How would you react if your saddle fitter told you your horse was showing signs of discomfort and shouldn’t be ridden? For us, putting the horse first means being willing to have that difficult conversation.

Maria’s constant drive to learn more has led her to take a particular interest in equine pain based behaviour and the subtle (and not so subtle) ways horses tell us they are uncomfortable. Changes in behaviour, ears back, girthiness, kicking, biting, resistance, or simply not behaving as they normally would in hand. Maria will also carefully observe their response to back palpation, looking for signs such as bracing, pulling away, tension or a clear pain response. All of these observations contribute to one very important question:

Should we fit a saddle to this horse, and should it be ridden?

Because we hold such a strong ethical standpoint, our advice doesn’t always sit well with everyone. We understand that. Not every customer will agree, and there have been times when we have chosen not to sell saddle rather than put a horse into a saddle when we have concerns about their comfort.

Many times, an owner will come back to us after their horse has received a clean bill of health, and we can proceed with ordering a saddle. Other times, they may choose to go elsewhere.

But our favourite outcome is when an owner gets back in touch to tell us that we spotted something early or that has been missed by others, perhaps signs of kissing spines or another underlying issue and that with appropriate veterinary care, physio treatment, and the right exercises, their horse is now comfortable.

For us, that is what putting the horse first really means.

Behaviour is communication.

If you aren’t your horse’s advocate, who is?

It’s shocking how often we show up for a saddle fitting appointment only to meet a horse who is in no condition to be ridden at all. Even scarier is how many riders simply do not realize that their horse currently lacks the foundational strength required to carry weight safely.

To be clear, this is never about pointing fingers or assigning blame. The owners who book these evaluations are doing so out of love and responsibility, eager to do right by their partner and ensure their tack is as comfortable as possible. But having to break the news that riding needs to pause is always a delicate and tough conversation.

More than anything, it highlights a critical gap in our industry, recognizing whether a horse can or cannot be ridden in their current physical state, ought to be a foundational skill within every owner’s toolkit, rather than a surprising revelation delivered by a saddle fitting professional.

We need to recognize that a horse’s back was never naturally “designed” to carry weight and that riding isn’t what builds a horse’s topline.

Asking an unconditioned horse to build postural strength while carrying the weight of a saddle and rider is the human equivalent of getting off the couch after months of inactivity, walking straight into a gym, and attempting heavy barbell squats.

You won't build healthy muscle, you will compensate, strain your body, and inevitably hurt yourself. Expecting a horse to "ride into fitness" creates that exact same cycle of strain and physical breakdown.

You have to build the bridge before you drive over it.

A horse’s inability to carry a rider comfortably is rarely a simple fix, because a weak topline is usually a symptom of a larger, systemic picture:

👉Posture and Pain: If a horse is experiencing underlying discomfort, whether from joint soreness, dental issues, or soft tissue tightness, they will hollow their back and brace to protect themselves, making healthy muscle development impossible without manual bodywork.

👉Hoof Balance: Improper hoof angles disrupt the entire kinetic chain, altering how the horse places their feet, affecting posture and movement.

👉Nutrition and Metabolism: Without the proper balance of amino acids, minerals, and digestible energy, the body physically cannot synthesize muscle tissue, no matter how much work you do.

👉Environment and Movement: Extended stall confinement drastically limits natural movement. Horses need regular turnout and low-impact motion to maintain basic core tone and joint mobility.

Developing a horse that is genuinely fit to carry weight requires time, patience, and structured preparation from the ground. Long-lining, in-hand work, and targeted core exercises teach the horse how to lift their thoracic sling, engage their abdominals, and lift their back before we add extra load.

Even when a horse is fully fit, riding alone is never enough to maintain that strength. Groundwork and cross-training must remain permanent pillars of your weekly routine to protect their long-term soundness.

Ensuring your saddle fits is a vital part of horsemanship, but being a responsible owner also means stepping back, looking honestly at the horse in front of you, and asking the most important question first: Is my horse physically ready to carry me today?

Giving them the time, foundation, and conditioning they need from the ground first, is the greatest investment in their longevity you will ever make.

31/08/2026

✨Saddle Inspo✨

Something a little different for this weeks inspiration, here we have our BD legal, fusion saddle, western tree with an ‘English’ look.
This is also available as an Iberican model and is completely customisable. This one is for a gorgeous mule! See the details below ⬇️ 🐴 Equiflex 88 Hybrid Dressage Saddle
🐴 Custom 451F Tree
🐴 Chocolate Lightweight Leather
🐴 16” Chocolate Leather Seat
🐴 Brass Conchos
🐴 Brass Hardwear
🐴 Gloss Finish
🐴 Equiflex Performer Pad in Southwest

Loving the tonal brown saddle with the brown pad!!

Extra brass rings for trekking, all in that stunning brass.

30/08/2026

We are here at Hartpury for the Great British Festival of Horsemanship so pop down and say hi!

28/08/2026

We’ll be at Hartpury this Sunday, 30th August, for The Great British Festival of Horsemanship! 🤠🐴
If you’re heading along, come and say hi! We’d love to see you.
If there’s anything you’d like us to bring along from The Western Saddler, just drop us a message and let us know — we’ll do our best to bring it with us!
See you there!

24/08/2026

✨ Citrus, Whisky & Charcoal Leather ✨

Now this is a striking colour combo, the warmth of whisky brown paired with bold orange and timeless black. 🧡🖤🤎

This Western Edition palette brings together rich, rugged leather tones with a fiery pop of orange and deep black — earthy, bold and full of character. From hand-tooled leather and worn textures to polished brass details, it’s a combination that feels both classic and confident.

Would you choose this colour combo? 🖤🍊

If you’d like a colour palette created for your horse, send me a picture of them and your favourite colour!

Products from Bad CowGirl Co. 318 Horse Supplies used in the collage

24/08/2026

'I just used an old cheap saddle for backing'

Something I hear quite often whilst out working is, “I just used an old cheap saddle for backing.”

And I completely understand the thinking. A new saddle is a significant investment, especially when there’s a concern that a young horse may change shape, or damage the saddle.

But I think it’s worth looking at the first saddle experience from the horse’s perspective.

Horses are prey animals, and having something strapped around their body and placed across their back is a completely new experience. If the saddle fits well and is comfortable, the horse has the opportunity to gradually learn that this is something they can relax with.

But what happens if that first saddle is too narrow, too long, the wrong shape, or simply uncomfortable?

What does the horse learn from that experience?

Then we introduce a rider. If the saddle fits, the horse can begin to build a positive association with carrying someone. But if the saddle creates discomfort, the horse may respond. Sometimes subtly through tension, bracing or changes in movement, and sometimes more obviously through bucking, rearing or bolting.

Over time, those experiences can influence how the horse feels about being saddled and ridden, and how they organise their body around the experience.

I’m not suggesting that you need to buy an expensive new saddle for a young horse. The price of a saddle doesn’t determine whether it fits correctly.
What I am suggesting is that the fit matters from the very beginning.

Perhaps instead of asking, “What’s the cheapest saddle I can use for backing?” we could ask:
“What experience do I want my horse’s nervous system to have from the very first ride?”

Sometimes, investing in getting the saddle fit correctly may be one of the most valuable things we can do at the start of their ridden journey.

19/08/2026

One of the most dangerous beliefs in the equestrian industry is the idea that performance equals comfort.

Many horses become incredibly successful while carrying saddle-related damage throughout their entire careers.

But discomfort does not always look dramatic, sometimes it looks like a horse winning.

I cannot tell you how many photographs I have seen of horses competing at high levels where the evidence of saddle-related dysfunction is visible immediately, even from a single still image.

Sadly, many of these horses are praised for their “work ethic.”
Because horses adapt.

A horse can learn to tolerate pressure over reflex points, continue to move with restricted shoulder freedom. A horse can develop protective patterns that stabilize the body enough to continue performing the requested tasks, by redistributing load elsewhere in the body.

But performance is not proof of wellness.

In many cases, if an owner has never seen the horse moving freely, they genuinely do not realize there is a problem. The stiffness becomes “just how he goes.” The resistance under saddle becomes “her personality.” The lack of impulsion becomes “he’s lazy.” The inability to truly lift through the back becomes “a training issue.”

The body in front of them becomes their baseline normal and that is a very dangerous thing.

When dysfunction develops gradually, the eye adapts to it.

This is why I believe every single person who rides horses should at least have a foundational understanding of saddle fit, anatomy, and biomechanics.

Not because everyone needs to become a saddle fitter, but because every rider has a responsibility to recognize when the horse’s body is whispering before it starts screaming.

Because the horse’s willingness to continue trying should never be used as evidence that the system is working.

Sometimes the horses who tolerate the most are the ones that have been suffering the longest.

15/08/2026

I am at Oakridge for the WES Nationals this weekend, so come drop by and say hi!

14/08/2026

Does your cinch fit properly?

Cinching and girthing pressure is something that’s often overlooked, but the right cinch can make a huge difference to your horse’s comfort.

An unsuitable cinch can contribute to:

• Rubbing and discomfort
• Compensating movement
• Saddle slipping
• Uneven or excessive pressure

That’s why we include a cinch fitting as part of all our consultations.
Whether you’ve purchased your saddle from us or not, if you’d like advice on which cinch could work best for you and your horse, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

As every horse’s anatomy is different, we particularly love Mattes cinches. They’re available in five different shapes, with a huge range of lengths and colours, and are handmade in Poland using sheepskin — a natural fibre that helps dissipate heat.

They’re one of the most comfortable options we’ve found for horses, although we do recommend other brands too depending on the individual horse and their needs.

And here’s a great example of why getting the right fit matters more than simply choosing the cinch you thought you needed.

This customer placed an order online, but when it became clear the cinch wouldn’t arrive in time, I asked her for some photos and a little more information about her horse.

After looking at everything, she ended up choosing a different brand and size to the one she had originally planned to buy — and she’s absolutely delighted with the result.

👇 Here’s what she had to say…

“Just to let you know we rode with cinch yesterday and Sanu feels so much more free in movement. I didn’t even have to cinch her as tight either, it sat nice and snug and saddle didn’t slip when mounting. I’m really happy with it!”
(Also how amazing does this horse look competing!)

If you’re unsure whether your current cinch is the right shape or size for your horse, send us some photos and a little information and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction. 🐴