What to Expect at Your First Saddle Fitting Appointment
Booking your first saddle fitting can feel a little intimidating - especially if you're not quite sure what the process involves, how long it takes, or what you're supposed to do to prepare. The good news? There's nothing to stress about. Whether you're based in Illinois, Wisconsin, or anywhere nearby, here's a walk-through of what a typical first appointment looks like, so you can show up feeling confident and ready.
Before I Arrive
A little prep goes a long way. Here's what helps me get the most out of our time together:
Have your horse clean, dry, and groomed. I'll need clear access to their back, withers, and shoulders.
Pull out your current saddle (if you have one), along with your pads, girth, and any other tack you normally ride in.
Think about what's been on your mind. Behavioral changes under saddle, girthiness, unevenness, or a hunch that "something's just not right" - all useful information, even if you're not sure it's saddle-related. (Not sure what counts? Check out my post on [signs of poor saddle fit] for a few common red flags to watch for.)
Wear your normal riding clothes. We'll likely have you get on and ride during the appointment.
You don't need to do anything special beyond that - no need to lunge your horse beforehand or give them a "perfect" day. I want to see your horse as they normally are.
Step 1: A Conversation First
Before I even touch your horse, we'll talk. I'll ask about your horse's history, any past injuries or soundness issues, your riding goals, and what you've noticed (or not noticed) about your current saddle fit. This context shapes everything I look for next, so don't hold back - even small details can matter.
Step 2: Static Evaluation
With your horse standing square on level ground, I'll assess their back visually and with my hands - looking at muscling, symmetry, wither shape, and overall topline. I'll also map your horse using chalk and take tracings of their back, which gives us a visual, hands-on way to talk through their shape together. As we go, I'll walk you through the basics of saddle fitting - asymmetry, topline, muscling, and how each of these affects fit - so you leave with a real understanding of your own horse's back, not just a list of findings. I'll check your current saddle (if you have one) for balance, panel contact, gullet clearance, and how it sits without a rider.
This gives me a baseline. But a saddle that looks fine standing still can tell a very different story once your horse is moving - which is why we don't stop here.
Step 3: Dynamic Evaluation
This is where you come in. I'll ask you to tack up and ride through your normal gaits so I can watch how the saddle behaves in motion - how it shifts, whether your horse moves freely through the back, and whether their way of going changes with the saddle on versus off. Sometimes I'll ask you to ride without a pad, or to switch between saddles, so I can isolate exactly what's happening.
Step 4: My Findings and Recommendations
Once I've gathered everything I need, we'll sit down and talk through what I found. If your saddle needs adjustments, I'll explain what and why. If it needs reflocking, I'll walk you through that. And if it's simply not the right saddle for your horse (or you), I'll tell you that too, honestly, along with what I'd recommend instead.
My goal is always for you to leave understanding why I'm making the recommendations I am - not just what they are.
How Long Does It Take?
Most first appointments run about 90 minutes, depending on your horse's history and how much ground we need to cover. I'd rather take the time to get it right than rush through it.
One Last Thing
There's no such thing as a "silly" observation. If something feels off to you, even if you can't quite explain it, tell me. You know your horse better than anyone, and that insight is often the missing piece that helps me find the real issue.
Ready to book your first fitting? [Get in touch here] and let's get your horse set up for success.