VIRTUAL SADDLE FITTING CONSULTATIONS
Remote Saddle Fitting Process
First: Contact me for your Google Form and a free initial consultation to answer any questions, address any concerns and get you off to a great start.
Step 1: Understanding the process
Before I can offer any analysis or suggestions, please ensure you have submitted all necessary photos, tracings, and answers to the form questions. These items are essential for a thorough evaluation. Additionally, your time and commitment, an internet connection and video share capabilities are required. Below is how the process typically flows, but it very adaptable to your needs. Some consultations can be just a "plan" for a horse that is young or requires some rehabilitation. In some cases, you may not be able to ride and we can review videos and work around this. I am very flexible, and every fitting is unique.
Step 2: Consultation Form Completion
This questionnaire form will guide the process and help collect critical details. Once you have booked your Virtual Saddle Fitting, this will be shared as a Google Form for ease of use. You can fill it out on any device, including your phone.
Step 3: Materials Needed
Gather the following materials to ensure accurate measurements and assessments:
Step 4: Photos and Videos
Provide the following:
Pictures needed if reviewing a current saddle:
Step 5: Back Tracings
A separate instruction will be sent and support provided as needed, including a personal YouTube video to guide you if needed. If you have a current set of tracings, you may attach them in the Remote Assessment Google Form.
Important:
Step 6: Teams or Zoom Meeting Consultation
Once all materials are submitted, and your analysis is completed, together we will discuss the results and you will learn what the findings mean and how to use the information moving forward. It is my goal to empower you with what is needed, however there are many ways I can continue with you on your journey!
We will schedule a Teams Meeting (or Zoom possibly). Here’s why Teams is a great option:
*Because this entire process typically can take many different paths, Step 6 (typically you do not have or have not found a suitable saddle yet, so we need to discuss what you should look for) and 7 (typically you have a saddle that is basically a good fit, but you need professional guidance to make things better and suggestions to change or enhance; or we will analyze a saddle you have on trial.) These steps may be interchanged, and one is included in the first stage remote fitting.
Step 7: Ridden Analysis
Schedule a time for a Ridden Analysis via Teams. This will include:
Step 8: Saddle Recommendations, Search support or Customization /Alterations
Based on the findings, there are several ways to move forward:
The Saddle Search and Analysis Process
Photo Sharing Guidelines:
Remote Saddle Fitting Consultation & Services Pricing Structure
• Full Saddle Fit Analysis: $150
o Comprehensive evaluation of your horse’s saddle needs.
o Includes specific recommendations tailored to your horse’s shape, movement, and your riding needs. Using your supplied photos, I will do markups and add notes so you can better understand the features and your horse's attributes that are identified as key factors.
o Evaluations typically take a few days, once all the needed information is gathered. You will be sent forms that help me collect useful information to guide the process.
• Saddle Searching or Analysis/Review: $30/hour
o Assistance in finding suitable saddles based on identified criteria.
o Review of saddles you find independently, ensuring they meet the requirements for your horse and your preferences. Either way, you will be provided with guidance with examples of features that are advantageous for you and your horse and try to check off as many boxes as we can!
Before I can offer any analysis or suggestions, please ensure you have submitted all necessary photos, tracings, and answers to the form questions. These items are essential for a thorough evaluation. Additionally, your time and commitment, an internet connection and video share capabilities are required. Below is how the process typically flows, but it very adaptable to your needs. Some consultations can be just a "plan" for a horse that is young or requires some rehabilitation. In some cases, you may not be able to ride and we can review videos and work around this. I am very flexible, and every fitting is unique.
Step 2: Consultation Form Completion
This questionnaire form will guide the process and help collect critical details. Once you have booked your Virtual Saddle Fitting, this will be shared as a Google Form for ease of use. You can fill it out on any device, including your phone.
Step 3: Materials Needed
Gather the following materials to ensure accurate measurements and assessments:
- Flexible Curve
- Pen or Sharpie
- Large Paper or File Folder
- Chalk or Thin Tape Strips (for marking your measuring points)
- Camera / video capabilities used during tracing process to ensure we have what we need.
Step 4: Photos and Videos
Provide the following:
- Conformation Photos of your horse (specific angles needed are attached in the Remote Assessment Google Form.
- Video of your horse under saddle, if possible.
- A picture of you seated on your horse.
Pictures needed if reviewing a current saddle:
- Take the specific photos outlined in the Remote Assessment Google Form instructions (e.g., side views, top-down views). These photos are essential for assessing the saddle's fit.
Step 5: Back Tracings
A separate instruction will be sent and support provided as needed, including a personal YouTube video to guide you if needed. If you have a current set of tracings, you may attach them in the Remote Assessment Google Form.
Important:
- Mark the areas where the tracings were taken.
- Take a photo of the markings.
- Include a photo taken after performing a "belly lift" and "pelvic tuck" to evaluate your horse's back flexibility.
Step 6: Teams or Zoom Meeting Consultation
Once all materials are submitted, and your analysis is completed, together we will discuss the results and you will learn what the findings mean and how to use the information moving forward. It is my goal to empower you with what is needed, however there are many ways I can continue with you on your journey!
We will schedule a Teams Meeting (or Zoom possibly). Here’s why Teams is a great option:
- Screen Sharing: I can share my screen to explain concepts and visually demonstrate important points.
- Document Sharing: Relevant documents can be shared directly in the meeting chat.
- Visit Microsoft Teams and sign up for a free account.
- The free version allows for meetings up to 30 minutes, which is sufficient for our session.
- Once set up, I will send you a meeting link at your scheduled time.
*Because this entire process typically can take many different paths, Step 6 (typically you do not have or have not found a suitable saddle yet, so we need to discuss what you should look for) and 7 (typically you have a saddle that is basically a good fit, but you need professional guidance to make things better and suggestions to change or enhance; or we will analyze a saddle you have on trial.) These steps may be interchanged, and one is included in the first stage remote fitting.
Step 7: Ridden Analysis
Schedule a time for a Ridden Analysis via Teams. This will include:
- Observing the saddle on the horse before and after riding.
- Evaluating available girths and pads.
- Analyzing how the saddle impacts the horse during movement.
- Reviewing post-ride observations (e.g., saddle movement).
Step 8: Saddle Recommendations, Search support or Customization /Alterations
Based on the findings, there are several ways to move forward:
- Adjustments may be made to the saddle’s tree or flocking.
- Customization: I can move or replace billets, some flaps can be moved, knee blocks changed out, quilting darts for (large shoulder for instance) and other options can be discussed.
- Saddles can be shipped or dropped off at Sport Horse Therapeutic Services for modifications if required.
- SHTS can assist with Saddle Searching or Suitability Reviews
- $30/hour
- Assistance in finding suitable saddles based on identified criteria.
- Review of saddles you find independently, ensuring they meet the requirements for your horse and your needs and preferences.
- Either way, you will be provided with guidance in the form of visual examples and explanations of the features that are advantageous for you and your horse to try to check off as many boxes as we can!
- After doing your initial analysis, I will do a cursory search for saddles that I may have in my database or find with a short search and we may turn up something right away!
The Saddle Search and Analysis Process
Photo Sharing Guidelines:
- A Google Folder we will have started for your assessment can be used for sharing potential saddle options. I will mark up candidates for discussion.
- Photos should include specific angles and views, which we will discuss during the final consultation.
- Trials can be critical for identifying features that suit your horse’s unique requirements. Inform me if you have a saddle on trial and the time frame in advance so I can be available to see it on your horse when you are at the barn. Even if it’s not a keeper, we can gather valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t for your horse.
- SHTS collaborates with dozens of world-wide tack shops, other fitters, and saddle makers to find the best options for you.
- Searching involves reviewing photos and descriptions for potential matches. This typically requires asking the owner questions and requesting additional pictures. Please understand that the process often involves sellers with little knowledge of what they have or how to take measurements. I can streamline this process greatly having done it hundreds of times, but if you are helping with the search as well, be warned that some sellers may have little desire to take the appropriate pictures and give details. Ads often are missing vital information. It takes time...
- Recommendations are based on your horse’s conformation, saddle features and requirements, your needs and your budget.
- If we are dealing with a complicated conformation, I may recommend alterations and will advise what I can do to improve the fit and keep it budget friendly. So again, do not discard a trial saddle too soon!
- Search Duration: The complexity of your horse’s needs, your budget, inventory and your willingness to potentially explore more than one trial can impact the search time.
- Self-Guided Searches: If you prefer to search independently, I can review your finds as long as they meet the discussed criteria and you understand that I often cannot give a quick thumbs up if I don’t have enough information.
Remote Saddle Fitting Consultation & Services Pricing Structure
• Full Saddle Fit Analysis: $150
o Comprehensive evaluation of your horse’s saddle needs.
o Includes specific recommendations tailored to your horse’s shape, movement, and your riding needs. Using your supplied photos, I will do markups and add notes so you can better understand the features and your horse's attributes that are identified as key factors.
o Evaluations typically take a few days, once all the needed information is gathered. You will be sent forms that help me collect useful information to guide the process.
• Saddle Searching or Analysis/Review: $30/hour
o Assistance in finding suitable saddles based on identified criteria.
o Review of saddles you find independently, ensuring they meet the requirements for your horse and your preferences. Either way, you will be provided with guidance with examples of features that are advantageous for you and your horse and try to check off as many boxes as we can!
IN THE FOLLOWING SECTION, I SHARE SOME MARKUPS.
These are typical ways I can show you what I mean as we discuss your analysis. Using pictures of YOUR horse so you have a clear understanding of conformation challenges or saddle features that need to be considered.
These are typical ways I can show you what I mean as we discuss your analysis. Using pictures of YOUR horse so you have a clear understanding of conformation challenges or saddle features that need to be considered.
This down-hill shape needed a tree with rails that will expand outward enough to sit on this horses musculature over his well sprung rib cage. Add supportive panels in just the right place, NOT full panels down the flap.. but a "1/2 panel", "K panel" or "Drop panel" as they are often called.
