About The Western Saddle Fitters Course

• Introduction and course overview. What you will learn. How you will be assessed.

• English and Western Saddles.

• Western saddles: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

• Western Saddles: Structure, function and care.

• Western saddles: style and makes.

• Western saddles: tree types, angles, measurements and hands-on assessment.

• Saddle pads: purpose, development, types, styles and fitting.

• Cinches/girths: design, materials and fitting accessories.

• Discussion. 

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• How understanding the true nature of the horse allows you to make rational judgements on their character.

• How the process of domestication allows you to stay safe and understand the behaviour you’re seeing.

• Spotting the early signs of fear and anxiety in order to stay safe and be an ethical saddle fitter.

• Understanding how equines learn in order to effectively introduce new tack and equipment.

• Understanding different training techniques so that you can predict the equines behaviour.

• Donkeys, mules and horses and their differences.

• Discussion.

• The skeletal system: anatomy, maturation. Range of motion of the axial skeleton.

• The appendicular skeleton and gait analysis.

• The muscular system: understanding the horse’s back.

• Principles of backing, training and physical fittening in relation to saddle fitting.

• Observation, palpation and taking a case history.

• Implications for the saddle fitter.

• Demonstration of a full evaluation of the equine.

• Hands on practice.

• Discussion.

• Working safely with horses

• Rider size, measurement, issues, skill, weight.

• Assessing existing tack, type of work and training programme.

• Evaluating saddle fit without the rider.

• Evaluating saddle fit with the rider

• Demonstration and practice: Taking a template and measuring for saddle fit, padding, shimming and girthing.

• Pre-consultation information gathering.

• The first visit information gathering.

• Accounts and record keeping.

• Revision and review.

• Discussion. 

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Maria will observe you conducting a complete saddle fitting service to three case studies of your choice, at agreed location(s). You will be assessed on your knowledge, skills and abilities in the following areas...

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Part 1:

• Information gathering

• Safeguarding the environment; ensuring personal, handler and horse safety and comfort.

• ​​Establishing a professional, friendly and appropriate relationship with the client.

• Offering client clear, concise and relevant advice, strictly within your professional boundary as a qualified saddle fitter and knowing when to refer on to other agencies.

• Correct measuring for saddle fit.

Part 2:

• Ensuring correct saddle fit without the rider.

• Ensuring correct saddle fit with the rider.

• Record keeping.

• Client feedback and satisfaction survey.

• Course feedback.