Your Bespoke Saddle Fitting

What actually happens when you book a bespoke saddle fitting with PM Equestrian? 

Ensuring the perfect fit is something PM Equestrian prides itself on. Providing a truly personalised approach is always our way, but when it comes to our bespoke fitting services we guarantee you ride away with perfection.

How? With decades of industry experience in his back pocket, and plenty of time spent in the saddle too, our founder Paul knows the value in accessories that have the perfect fit. With our bespoke fitting and measurement service, we ensure the perfect fit for both horse and rider.

So, what’s involved in a custom saddle fitting? Initially, Paul will talk to you about your horse, as well as you as a rider. What is your current riding experience? Your aims and objectives? All of this information will have an impact on his recommendations.

Paul will then assess the horse’s conformation from a saddle-fit point of view and palpate the muscle on the horse's back to assess any tight or sore areas. From this assessment, Paul will be able to select a number of saddles to try on the horse. To establish suitability each saddle is then placed on the horse without a saddle pad to see how it measures up. 

After further narrowing down options that are suitable, it’s over to you to try the different saddles while Paul further assesses the fit in walk, trot and canter. 

“I’ll look at the horse’s movement to make sure the saddle fit isn’t inhibiting the horse,” explained Paul. “I’ll also be taking note of the ride and how the saddle influences them, assessing the rider’s position in the saddle. At this time I will also ask for feedback from the rider on how the horse is moving, as well as the feel that they themselves get and any positive or negative feedback in regard to comfort.”

After trying the saddles Paul hand-selects to suit your requirements, a selection that is narrowed down further by the ridden assessment, Paul will then look to anything that needs to be tweaked to ensure the perfect fit of the saddle; both for the the horse and the rider. 

Then you get to the fun bit - discussing the different types of leather that are available, and the unique trims or stitching that you would like. From there, Paul simply places the order with Antares. Given the highly bespoke nature of custom-fit saddles, the manufacturing process takes approximately 4 months. During this time, Paul will be in touch regularly with updates and to let you know when your saddle is due to arrive at PM Equestrian HQ. He will also organise with you an appointment to personally deliver your new saddle, check its fit and ensure you are totally satisfied.