Choosing a saddle is an important decision, and every horse and rider combination is different. Below are some of the questions we are most often asked about SMART Saddles, how they work, how they are fitted, and what support is available before and after purchase.
Quick Answers
✔ Suitable for changing back shapes? → Yes
✔ Fit to multiple horses? → Yes
✔ Trial available? → Yes
✔ Adjustable fit? → Yes
✔ Do you need a SMART Advisor to fit? → Recommended
Buying a new saddle is a big decision, and many clients come to us after trying several saddles for the same horse without finding a long-term solution. That is why we offer a comprehensive pre-purchase trial service, giving you time to feel the difference for yourself and make an informed decision. We always recommend taking advantage of a Test Ride where possible so that both horse and rider can be assessed together.
SMART Saddles have no rigid parts and are fully flexible, so they work with the horse’s back very differently from a traditional treed saddle. They are made from carefully selected layers of high-density felts and foams, designed to give both horse and rider support while retaining the flexibility that allows freedom of movement and close synchrony between horse, saddle and rider.
This construction also makes SMART Saddles highly adjustable and lighter than many saddles on the market. Unlike a saddle built around a fixed tree shape, a SMART Saddle is designed to flex with the horse with fit and balance adjusted using pads where required.
Yes. One of the key benefits of the SMART Saddle system is that it can accommodate horses as they develop, gain muscle, lose weight, return to work, or change with the seasons. Once selected, the same saddle can usually be rebalanced using the appropriate pads and shims rather than needing to replace the saddle and start again.
In many cases, yes. One of the benefits of the SMART Saddle system is that the fit and balance can be adjusted using different SMART Balance Pads and shims, which means the same saddle can often be used on more than one horse.
This will depend on how similar the horses are in type, shape and way of going. Where there are major differences in build, a different saddle may be needed.
SMART Saddles are initially sized for the rider then fitted and balanced to the horse, this means you can buy the saddle model for yourself and fit it to almost any horse that you ride.
Saddle size is determined according to rider height and weight, and rider preference and the saddle style required. It is important to ensure you are riding in the correct size of saddle otherwise you could be riding out of balance, feel uncomfortable or unable to be effective in your riding. For example, a saddle that is fitted to the horse and set up for your friend, is not automatically the correct size or correctly balanced for you & your horse without adjustment.
SMART Saddles can be easily customised for individual riders with our range of balance pads, knee blocks and thigh blocks according to personal preference.
SMART Saddles are initially sized for the rider, then fitted and balanced to the horse using pads and shims where needed. The aim is to achieve the right support and balance for both horse and rider.
Because SMART Saddles are flexible, the fitting process is different from that of a traditional treed saddle. Rather than relying on a fixed tree shape, the fit can be refined by adjusting the layers underneath the saddle so that it works in harmony with your horse’s individual shape and movement.
We always recommend a fitting with a trained and approved SMART Advisor wherever possible. Your SMART Advisor can explain the concept of the SMART Saddle, advise on the best model, and help you choose the right accessories to achieve the best comfort and balance for both horse and rider.
However, SMART Saddles can also be fitted remotely, as no specialist equipment is needed to adjust the saddle itself. Using photos, videos and rider feedback, we can work methodically to help fit and balance the saddle wherever you are.
Yes - this is one of the key benefits of a SMART Saddle. Because the saddle is fully flexible, it can adapt to the horse’s shape, while the fit and balance are adjusted by using different pads and shims where needed.
Once you have the right size and style of saddle for you and your horse, it can usually be refitted as your horse changes shape over time. In many cases, the same saddle can also be fitted to another horse in the future.
We encourage SMART Saddle users to check the fit regularly, ideally every ride. A quick check of the clearance as your horse walks away can help show whether the saddle is sitting too high or too low. You may also notice changes in your own balance or position in the saddle, or that your horse feels different underneath you.
If something no longer feels quite right, it does not necessarily mean you need a new saddle. More often than not, the fit and balance simply need to be adjusted with the correct pad set-up.
This depends on your horse’s shape and whether pads or shims are needed to achieve the best fit and balance. SMART Saddles are designed to be used with SMART Balance Pads where the horse’s back shape or conformation requires them, and where shims are needed, we recommend tried and tested SMART Saddle Cloths and SMART Balance Pads for best results.
We recommend avoiding bulky cloths, slippery synthetic materials and rolled edges. In most cases, a simple cotton high-wither cut saddle cloth is an ideal choice. Your SMART Advisor can guide you on the most suitable set-up for your horse.
Not always. Some well-muscled horses or horses with round backs may not require balancers, while others with a prominent wither, muscle wastage or particular conformation may need additional support. SMART Balance Pads are an integral part of the SMART Saddle system where required, helping to fit the saddle to the horse and adjust rider balance.
Yes. As with any saddle, regular fit checks are important, especially if your horse is young, changing shape, coming back into work, increasing muscle, losing weight, changing rider, or changing workload. Small adjustments made at the right time can make a big difference to comfort and performance.
The SMART™ Saddle does not set out to provide even distribution of weight but to protect the horses back from pressure and trauma by using a unique patented flexible, shock absorbing system.
Our saddles have been tested throughout development using Tekscan pressure mapping technology and biomechanical analysis. Tekscan software produces scientific data that enables a comprehensive and highly accurate view of the symmetry of the dynamic forces exerted on the horses' back. SMART™ Saddles have proven to be more dynamically stable and symmetric when compared to a wide range of conventional saddles.
Yes - a horse’s comfort is often reflected in its behaviour, both during tacking up and when ridden. If your horse is reluctant to be tacked up, bites or swishes the tail when being girthed, will not stand at the mounting block, or feels resistant under saddle, these can all be signs that something is wrong.
Not all behaviour issues are saddle-related, but saddle fit should always be checked as part of the process of elimination. Many owners notice a positive change in comfort and way of going when their horse is ridden in a well-fitted SMART Saddle.
Signs of saddle discomfort can vary from horse to horse, but common indicators include reluctance to be tacked up, tail swishing, ears back, girthiness, difficulty standing still for mounting, resistance when ridden, hollowing, short or uneven strides, reluctance to move forward, or changes in behaviour and performance.
- These signs do not always mean the saddle is the cause, but saddle fit should always be considered as part of the wider picture. If you are concerned, we recommend arranging a saddle fit assessment.
Not necessarily. Horses can change shape surprisingly quickly due to work level, muscle development, weight change, age, time off, rehabilitation or seasonal changes. If your horse feels different, the saddle feels different, or your own balance has changed, the fit should be checked.
One of the benefits of the SMART Saddle system is that adjustments can often be made quickly and easily using the correct pads and shims.
Yes. If a saddle is unstable, unbalanced or uncomfortable, it can affect the way a horse moves, carries itself and performs. Horses may feel restricted, less willing to move forward, uneven through the body, resistant in transitions, or generally less comfortable in their work. A correctly fitted SMART Saddle is designed to move with the horse and can be rebalanced as needed to support comfort and freedom of movement.
This varies from one horse and rider to another. In most cases, you should feel comfortable and supported in a SMART Saddle by the end of your Test Ride.
You may notice that your horse moves more freely or uses its body differently, so it is sensible to build work up gradually at first. Some horses also change shape quite quickly after a saddle change, as posture and movement can improve rapidly. One of the benefits of a SMART Saddle is that the fit and balance can then be adjusted easily if needed.
The use of impression pads to check saddle fit is not advised – they are simply too crude to be a useful indicator of peak pressure or force. They are usually too thick and will therefore change the saddle interface and in the case of flexible saddles, the results will show where there is greater flexion, not pressure.
Yes. We recommend taking advantage of our try-before-you-buy options wherever possible. For UK customers, SMART Saddles offers a Test Ride service and rental trial option so that you can assess the saddle before making a final decision. Overseas options may differ, so please contact us for current details.
During a Test Ride, the saddle is assessed for both horse and rider, and the fit and balance are adjusted as needed using the appropriate pad set-up. Your SMART Advisor can explain how the saddle works, help you understand what to look for, and guide you on the best model and accessory combination for your needs.
Your local SMART Advisor or SMART Saddles HQ will be available for ongoing support after purchase. As with any saddle, the fit and feel may change over time as your horse changes shape or your needs evolve.
We recommend regular refits and are always happy to advise if you feel something has changed. In most cases, only a simple, onsite adjustment is needed to the fit of balance of the saddle, rather than a replacement saddle.
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