Hollow Backed Horse

What's really going on with a hollow backed horse? We've seen quite a few horses over past years who appear just as any other horse when at liberty or standing but as soon as the rider is mounted and asks the horse to move forward, the head comes up and the middle of the back hollows out thus losing contact ...

Buying a Used Saddle

When thinking about buying a used saddle, the most important consideration is the fit to the horse and the rider. The nicest looking, well built used saddle in the world is worthless if it is causing either the horse or the rider discomfort. For the rider, the most important consideration is if there is enough room between the bottom of ...

One Saddle, Multiple Horses

When talking about the - One Saddle, Multiple Horses - scenario, a little bit of common sense goes a long way. Quite a few people have asked us if they can use their custom-fit saddle on multiple horses. The answer is a definite 'maybe'. Whether your saddle is custom fit to a specific horse or a generic, off the shelf ...

Equine Asymmetry

As a custom saddle maker I see equine asymmetry all the time. I've looked at the backs of and fitted saddles for a lot of horses. Clearly, the majority of these horses showed some kind of asymmetry or side to side imbalance in their backs. (See figure a)  Many riders have said: “My horse is really built up on one side ...

Equine Chiropractic

As equine chiropractic becomes more popular as a way of helping keep horses healthy and happily performing at their best we first we need to ask: "How do I find a competent chiropractor for my horse?" Chiropractors who work on humans are required to take three to four years of pre-med training after which they spend three more years at ...

Winter Saddle Care

In winter, and especially in the northern parts of the country where the temperature changes from the daytime to the nighttime can differ dramatically, we need to think about what we can do to help our saddle and tack stay in good shape and ultimately extend their usable lifetime. The constant freezing and warming that occurs is hard on leather …

Essential Horseback Riding Gear

Before you load up the horse trailer and head for the mountains to go horseback riding, there are a few items that you ought to know about and have with you that we always carry on the trail when we go for longer trail rides. Top Ten Checklist The first must have item is rain gear. If you don't want ...