Equestrian Supplies

Get the full support of one of the UK's leading saddle fitters

If you need help choosing the right saddle send us the following information. In order to avoid delay we suggest you order the saddle of your choice from our web site before completing the following steps.

Make your choice of seat size, tree width etc. based on your own judgement, if these need to be adjusted we will make these decisions in consultation with you after receiving your information.

Provide three pictures like the samples below

In order to assess your horse we would ask you to provide us with three pictures as shown below.

Feel free to send as many photographs as you wish. A full length picture of the rider will help us, although this is not essential.

You can send the information and pictures by e-mail to tom@tds-saddlers.com or by post, to our address as shown on our contact page, or use the form provided below to send your details.

Make sure your horse is standing on level ground:

FIRST PICTURE - Taken from the rear nearside showing the shoulders and withers.
SECOND PICTURE - Taken from the front nearside showing the shoulder.
THIRD PICTURE - Taken from the nearside with the horse standing square, head up and looking forward, showing the top line.

Send us your information

Please use a digital camera and save in GIF or JPEG format (this will make smaller files for e-mail).

OR use a normal camera and, once you have had the pictures developed, scan and attach to your e-mail.

OR post the information to us using normal photographs.

OR use the form below to send your information to us

Please provide the following contact information:

Provide a wither pattern as described below

To make sure we provide you with the correct width of saddle we need a template of the horse's wither, the following pictures will show you the correct way to take this template. Once you have a wither pattern please send to us by Fax (01420 563981 from UK or 0044 1420 563981 overseas) or by post. Alternatively scan and e-mail the completed form to tom@tds-saddlers.com

Make sure your horse is standing square with head up and looking forward. From the near side feel for the top edge of the shoulder blade (Scapula). Lifting the nearside foreleg will help you find the Scapula. When you have located the highest point of the Scapula use a piece of chalk to mark a point three fingers BEHIND it (towards the tail).

Taking this mark as your starting point mould a flexicurve (or piece of stiff wire) up and over the wither. Aim to reach 7-8" down each side.

Squeeze and shape the flexicurve so that it hugs the contours of the horse's sides. Lift the flexicurve gently and put it down again in exactly the same place-it should settle snugly if it has moulded correctly. Lift it again and, carefully so as not to alter the shape, lay it onto a piece of paper and draw along the inside. Mark the nearside of the pattern on the paper and send to us.

A guide to seat size

To find the seat size of a saddle, measure from the saddle nail (either side of the pommel, at the front of the skirt) to the middle of the cantle

The seat size is measured in a straight line from the saddle nail at the head to the cantle's mid-point. Measure an existing saddle of a known size as a guide. In general Seat sizes are: 15" child, 16 to 16 1/2" child to small adult, 17 to 17 1/2" regular or larger adult, 18 to 19" large adult As a guide to the rider's correct seat size, you ideally should be able to place 3 to 4 fingers width between yourself and the cantle of the saddle. The saddle will be most comfortable, if it is purchased large enough for the rider to be able to stay away from the rise up to the pommel.

Trying the saddle

To fully assess the fit and comfort of any saddle it must be ridden on the horse. Make sure you follow any detailed advice provided by TDS for the fit of your saddle. When putting a saddle with a flocked panel onto a horse for the first time it may looked a little raised, but this should not be excessive. It should, with the horse stood square on level ground and be girthed up, looked balanced (see pictures on left). When you receive the saddle from TDS please use a basic thin numnah to keep the saddle clean, unless we have specifically advised otherwise. When mounted keep the horse in walk for 4-5 minutes to allow the saddle to settle. Check the girth tension as the saddle settles down. Ideally the horse should be worked in trot and canter, and over jumps if required. Some small movement may occur as the saddle settles to the horse. Work the horse on both reins and make sure you feel comfortable and in balance. Check that your horse moves freely under the saddle and that you have at least two fingers clearance over the wither.