Remote Fitting Advice

Regardless of what type of saddle you use, horses change shape and it is important to monitor the fit of your saddle and adjust it accordingly. Whilst many saddles may not be able to be adjusted, one of the primary benefits of the unique SMART saddle design is that by changing the shims, you change the shape that the saddle flexes around and thereby adjust the fit for the horse and the balance for the rider. As the saddle is fully flexible, it is able to accommodate this change in pads without creating damaging peak pressure points.

So, if you start to feel like something isn’t quite right with how your SMART saddle is fitting or feeling, or that something has changed, don’t start to panic or think that you’re back to square one and will need a new saddle. This is not the case! Simply get in touch with your local SMART Advisor or SMART Saddles HQ and we will be more than happy to help.

Although a home consultation visit from a SMART Advisor is the preferred method for checking saddle fit and balance  as they will quickly be able to see and feel where even a slight adjustment can be made to optimise saddle fit, where this is not possible, SMART Saddles are happy to offer remote fitting advice by phone or email or video call to help you get the best from your SMART saddle. When contacting the office or your SMART™ Advisor, please be ready to provide the following details to enable us to give you as accurate fitting advice as possible.

• What is the change that you’re experiencing?
  1. For the horse?
  2. For the rider?

• How much clearance do you have under the pommel when you are on board and your horse is walking forwards?

1. List the Saddle model and accessories used to fit your SMART™ saddle:

• Saddle model, size and serial number
• Saddle cloth style and any lining and brand
• Girth type and size
• Any additional balance pads or supplementary pads
• Other accessories used

2. Give details of the horse(s)

• Height
• Breed/type
• Age
• Current and future work and condition
• Any performance or saddle issues either current or historical

3. Give detail of the rider(s)

• Height
• Weight
• Any issues or changes of rider that should be considered

If you have had a fitting previously, please let us know the name of your Advisor or order reference so we can check any notes. It is useful if you can provide photographs or video to show the conformation, fitting and ridden pictures taken in one session for continuity.

• Conformation of the horse, from either side and looking down the back.
• The saddle fitted before exercise
• The saddle with the rider mounted and ridden (video)
  • include trot and canter to show rider balance
  • from behind to show how the saddle is being carried by your horse
• The saddle following exercise
• Follow up video of the saddle fitted following advice given

Conformation/Back Shape

Highlight any specific ‘problem areas’ with regards to saddle fitting. High wither, flat wither or previous injury sites.

Saddle fitted

Show the rider size and ‘normal’ riding style/stirrup length etc.

Have someone hold the horse to keep the head and neck straight while you take the photo if possible.

Stand the horse up squarely for the photos of the near side, off side and back.

To take the photo looking straight down the horses back stand on steps or a mounting block placed directly behind the horse.