Welcome!
Lori Anderson of Sport Horse Therapeutic Services has been offering saddle fitting and equine bodywork in Wisconsin since 2005. Her passion is to cultivate a back that can easily carry a saddle and will assess your horse and make recommendations. With skills in rehabilitation, core and postural strengthening and releasing tension in horses that are not moving optimally, it is a great pairing with a saddle fitting, ensuring long term comfort for your horse.
As an independent saddle fitter, Lori has fit and worked on literally hundreds of different types of English saddles, taking them apart for repairs or re-flocking and knows what a good saddle tree should look like. Knowing what tree will fit your horse is the first step to selecting the correct new or used saddle.
Trained in rider balance for saddle fitting, Lori can help with ensuring that you are able to find your optimal position and work with pain and stiffness that may be causing your saddle to sit crooked. The rider has a responsibility to be in their best posture too!
Clinics for saddle fit sessions, Introduction to Saddle Fitting, Rider Balance, Posture and Proprioception are just some of the topics available for your barn or riding club to choose from. Please use email or message links to ask any questions.
Farm calls / on-site Saddle Fitting
For distances over 50 miles from 53594 a group of 3 or more is preferred and for longer distances is required. Trip charges in addition to mileage will apply for fewer clients to keep the travel to fitting time balanced. If no group, the minimum initial assessment charge or additional mileage applies. * I make every effort to keep this very reasonable and am generous with my teaching approach and my time!
$150.00 Saddle Fitting assessment: (Rechecks of same horse and saddle within 6 months are $75)
$75.00/ hour Additional services - (assessing additional saddles - analysis of rider in additional saddles, 1st bodywork session or other further evaluation and rehab program discussion). *Body work / sports massage therapy is $60/hour after first session.
Flocking adjustments are dependent on complexity and time involved and range from $30 - $100 in addition to the fitting charge.
What's included in a saddle fitting
Here’s a rundown of what to expect.
Cost for Saddle Fit Evaluation is $150 and additional time is available after (same day on farm or follow up through email) at a rate of $75 per hour
The saddle fitting fee of $150.00 is for a group rate so that I have a balance of fitting time to travel time in order to reach more clients. If you need immediate help, an hourly fee (based on distance) can be added to the mileage charge to offset for clients that are further away!
The following rundown takes about an hour or a bit more, provided you are ready to ride and / or have your horse at the ready! A little extra time within reason is available but since there can be much to cover, there is an extra charge for extended sessions over 1.5 hours.
My approach is, as it always has been, to teach you what you can do to ensure saddle fit for your horse, as since there are so many different body types and fitness levels of horses, it would be impossible to have a saddle for everyone with me. I am an independent saddle fitter, NOT a sales person. I am able to help if you want to order custom saddle for yourself and work with top saddlers in the UK, but I am not a “rep” and I have not been trained by one saddle company on how to fit their saddle only. I would offer to show you saddles that I feel will work for your horse, but it is not a given nor a requirement, it is simply a service. There has been a shortage of good used saddles since Covid and UK shutdowns and I stepped up to learn from and work with theses saddlers, in addition to purchasing trees that can be placed on your horse to do custom fittings. Much time and effort went into this, it is not just a “sale” !!!
You will want to consider all your options and completely fill out the client consult form well in advance, so that in the event your saddle is not a good fit for your horse, you are not wondering what the next steps should be, or needing to start the process again after our session. The form helps to think some of these things through in advance!
Also, if you are looking for a new or used saddle, the tracings I will need to take do vary among saddlers and even tack shops. They all like to see something a bit different, so keep that in mind and feel free to message or email me with questions in advance of your fitting.
SADDLE FITTING IS A PROCESS, NOT A ONE TIME VISIT AND YOU’RE DONE….
If you have been using a saddle fitter and are just in need of a tune-up for your saddle, that is great! But in many situations, this is not the case. Please do not be disappointed with the information if your saddle does not fit, but be ready to learn and be taught how to avoid this in the future!
Please, please, take notes.. I am no longer able to find the time to summarize the entire fitting and evaluation after I leave. Notes, pictures, even videos of the fitting are encouraged as there will be a lot of valuable information given.
I suggest you get ready and start to ride prior to my arrival so that when I arrive, I can see you on the horse. This way the horse is warmed and I can see you ride in current state of saddle fit and note any rider asymmetries or imbalances that will help if we decide to make some adjustments, then we may have you ride again!
Then we will have you get off, but I like to look at the saddle on the horse before you un-girth. Then we untack and start looking at everything from the hoof up! Best if we can be in well-lit and level area, as we will need to have your horse standing square. * If your horse is not able to stand square due to pain or discomfort or just lack of having been asked to do so, it saves a lot of time and makes the tracings and fitting more accurate if you can practice this in advance!
I will do a markup of the landmarks for your horse’s saddle area, palpate for any painful areas and assess for uneven muscle development or high/low syndrome as this affect saddle fit.
I will then get on a stool and view your horse from behind looking at the markings which help define a larger or set forward or back shoulder and scapula. All horses have these asymmetries but when the shoulder it's not only larger but further back it will affect saddle fit notably. The health and size of the longissimus and latissimus muscles along the back will be noted, looking to see if there is any atrophy here, which commonly there is. When I mark up your horses back during a saddle fitting, I use these landmarks for analysis: The caudal edge of the scapula; · The top of the shoulder; · The last rib; · The horses optimal channel width, found by palpating for the supraspinous ligament. I am cognizant of the nerves along the back and the cranial (Accessory Nerve) that runs through the wither area as I mark these on your horse. In effect, I am outlining where the optimal weight bearing area for your saddle should be.
I will take pictures of your horse and do a basic wither tracing after for our records. I will do a full set of pictures and full tracings ($15.00 extra) if you feel you will be needing to look for a new saddle.
I will then measure the distance from around an inch behind the scapula to the last Thoracic vertebral space / last rib on each side. Sometimes this varies by as much as two inches. This asymmetry is explained to the client and some suggestions for body work or exercises that will have a straightening effect will be suggested. This will be noted on your tracing as LOB (length of back).
The fitting includes a basic evaluation of your saddle, including checking tree for soundness and evaluation of the panels (English) or bars and shearling (Western), stitching and billets. Tree length will be noted and any asymmetries in the saddle will be discussed for their effect on your horse.
We will then place the saddle on your horse and I will discuss with you the positive and negative attributes of the saddles fit to your horse. This includes shape front to back and side to side, billets/girth placement (English) and rigging (Western), length of saddle and suitability to your horses back.
We will also go over the pads and girths you use and I will comment or make recommendations.
Please have your horse clean and ready and the pads, girths and saddles you use at the ready. It is helpful to remove your pads and girths and stirrup irons if you wish, to make it easier to view and discuss the saddle on your horse if you are not currently riding in it.
*** Perhaps most importantly is that you understand the time and expertise given at this saddle fitting is for evaluation, training, teaching, listening to you and your horse and advising. I look at the whole horse. I encourage cultivating a back that is capable of carrying a saddle well. If not, I will more likely advise some rehab and exercises if fitting a saddle at the time will be extra challenging due to a poor topline, uneven musculature, crookedness or other postural imbalances.
Also, this saddle fitting evaluation should not have the expectation of a guarantee that the correct saddle for you will be chosen/available. That can be an additional process that is not included in the fitting. Remember what you have been shown, take pictures of the markups on your horse and ask questions and you will be better able to select a saddle or tell if yours is no longer fitting well for a lifetime!
Since I have scaled back on accepting new clients, I can assist with a used saddle search. See the separate summary for this, for what is involved.
Additional services - $75.00/ hour for extra time such as discussions (with sample saddles) of what you need to look for if you are wanting to find a used saddle, for having you ride in and assessing more than one saddle, etc..
Flocking adjustments are an additional charge and are dependent on extent of work needing to be done. (Typically, between $50-$100)
Equine Bodywork or rehab/exercise/stretch/strengthen program and instruction or other further evaluation and discussion can be done at the time of your fitting.
Lori Anderson of Sport Horse Therapeutic Services has been offering saddle fitting and equine bodywork in Wisconsin since 2005. Her passion is to cultivate a back that can easily carry a saddle and will assess your horse and make recommendations. With skills in rehabilitation, core and postural strengthening and releasing tension in horses that are not moving optimally, it is a great pairing with a saddle fitting, ensuring long term comfort for your horse.
As an independent saddle fitter, Lori has fit and worked on literally hundreds of different types of English saddles, taking them apart for repairs or re-flocking and knows what a good saddle tree should look like. Knowing what tree will fit your horse is the first step to selecting the correct new or used saddle.
Trained in rider balance for saddle fitting, Lori can help with ensuring that you are able to find your optimal position and work with pain and stiffness that may be causing your saddle to sit crooked. The rider has a responsibility to be in their best posture too!
Clinics for saddle fit sessions, Introduction to Saddle Fitting, Rider Balance, Posture and Proprioception are just some of the topics available for your barn or riding club to choose from. Please use email or message links to ask any questions.
Farm calls / on-site Saddle Fitting
For distances over 50 miles from 53594 a group of 3 or more is preferred and for longer distances is required. Trip charges in addition to mileage will apply for fewer clients to keep the travel to fitting time balanced. If no group, the minimum initial assessment charge or additional mileage applies. * I make every effort to keep this very reasonable and am generous with my teaching approach and my time!
$150.00 Saddle Fitting assessment: (Rechecks of same horse and saddle within 6 months are $75)
$75.00/ hour Additional services - (assessing additional saddles - analysis of rider in additional saddles, 1st bodywork session or other further evaluation and rehab program discussion). *Body work / sports massage therapy is $60/hour after first session.
Flocking adjustments are dependent on complexity and time involved and range from $30 - $100 in addition to the fitting charge.
What's included in a saddle fitting
Here’s a rundown of what to expect.
Cost for Saddle Fit Evaluation is $150 and additional time is available after (same day on farm or follow up through email) at a rate of $75 per hour
The saddle fitting fee of $150.00 is for a group rate so that I have a balance of fitting time to travel time in order to reach more clients. If you need immediate help, an hourly fee (based on distance) can be added to the mileage charge to offset for clients that are further away!
The following rundown takes about an hour or a bit more, provided you are ready to ride and / or have your horse at the ready! A little extra time within reason is available but since there can be much to cover, there is an extra charge for extended sessions over 1.5 hours.
My approach is, as it always has been, to teach you what you can do to ensure saddle fit for your horse, as since there are so many different body types and fitness levels of horses, it would be impossible to have a saddle for everyone with me. I am an independent saddle fitter, NOT a sales person. I am able to help if you want to order custom saddle for yourself and work with top saddlers in the UK, but I am not a “rep” and I have not been trained by one saddle company on how to fit their saddle only. I would offer to show you saddles that I feel will work for your horse, but it is not a given nor a requirement, it is simply a service. There has been a shortage of good used saddles since Covid and UK shutdowns and I stepped up to learn from and work with theses saddlers, in addition to purchasing trees that can be placed on your horse to do custom fittings. Much time and effort went into this, it is not just a “sale” !!!
You will want to consider all your options and completely fill out the client consult form well in advance, so that in the event your saddle is not a good fit for your horse, you are not wondering what the next steps should be, or needing to start the process again after our session. The form helps to think some of these things through in advance!
Also, if you are looking for a new or used saddle, the tracings I will need to take do vary among saddlers and even tack shops. They all like to see something a bit different, so keep that in mind and feel free to message or email me with questions in advance of your fitting.
SADDLE FITTING IS A PROCESS, NOT A ONE TIME VISIT AND YOU’RE DONE….
If you have been using a saddle fitter and are just in need of a tune-up for your saddle, that is great! But in many situations, this is not the case. Please do not be disappointed with the information if your saddle does not fit, but be ready to learn and be taught how to avoid this in the future!
Please, please, take notes.. I am no longer able to find the time to summarize the entire fitting and evaluation after I leave. Notes, pictures, even videos of the fitting are encouraged as there will be a lot of valuable information given.
I suggest you get ready and start to ride prior to my arrival so that when I arrive, I can see you on the horse. This way the horse is warmed and I can see you ride in current state of saddle fit and note any rider asymmetries or imbalances that will help if we decide to make some adjustments, then we may have you ride again!
Then we will have you get off, but I like to look at the saddle on the horse before you un-girth. Then we untack and start looking at everything from the hoof up! Best if we can be in well-lit and level area, as we will need to have your horse standing square. * If your horse is not able to stand square due to pain or discomfort or just lack of having been asked to do so, it saves a lot of time and makes the tracings and fitting more accurate if you can practice this in advance!
I will do a markup of the landmarks for your horse’s saddle area, palpate for any painful areas and assess for uneven muscle development or high/low syndrome as this affect saddle fit.
I will then get on a stool and view your horse from behind looking at the markings which help define a larger or set forward or back shoulder and scapula. All horses have these asymmetries but when the shoulder it's not only larger but further back it will affect saddle fit notably. The health and size of the longissimus and latissimus muscles along the back will be noted, looking to see if there is any atrophy here, which commonly there is. When I mark up your horses back during a saddle fitting, I use these landmarks for analysis: The caudal edge of the scapula; · The top of the shoulder; · The last rib; · The horses optimal channel width, found by palpating for the supraspinous ligament. I am cognizant of the nerves along the back and the cranial (Accessory Nerve) that runs through the wither area as I mark these on your horse. In effect, I am outlining where the optimal weight bearing area for your saddle should be.
I will take pictures of your horse and do a basic wither tracing after for our records. I will do a full set of pictures and full tracings ($15.00 extra) if you feel you will be needing to look for a new saddle.
I will then measure the distance from around an inch behind the scapula to the last Thoracic vertebral space / last rib on each side. Sometimes this varies by as much as two inches. This asymmetry is explained to the client and some suggestions for body work or exercises that will have a straightening effect will be suggested. This will be noted on your tracing as LOB (length of back).
The fitting includes a basic evaluation of your saddle, including checking tree for soundness and evaluation of the panels (English) or bars and shearling (Western), stitching and billets. Tree length will be noted and any asymmetries in the saddle will be discussed for their effect on your horse.
We will then place the saddle on your horse and I will discuss with you the positive and negative attributes of the saddles fit to your horse. This includes shape front to back and side to side, billets/girth placement (English) and rigging (Western), length of saddle and suitability to your horses back.
We will also go over the pads and girths you use and I will comment or make recommendations.
Please have your horse clean and ready and the pads, girths and saddles you use at the ready. It is helpful to remove your pads and girths and stirrup irons if you wish, to make it easier to view and discuss the saddle on your horse if you are not currently riding in it.
*** Perhaps most importantly is that you understand the time and expertise given at this saddle fitting is for evaluation, training, teaching, listening to you and your horse and advising. I look at the whole horse. I encourage cultivating a back that is capable of carrying a saddle well. If not, I will more likely advise some rehab and exercises if fitting a saddle at the time will be extra challenging due to a poor topline, uneven musculature, crookedness or other postural imbalances.
Also, this saddle fitting evaluation should not have the expectation of a guarantee that the correct saddle for you will be chosen/available. That can be an additional process that is not included in the fitting. Remember what you have been shown, take pictures of the markups on your horse and ask questions and you will be better able to select a saddle or tell if yours is no longer fitting well for a lifetime!
Since I have scaled back on accepting new clients, I can assist with a used saddle search. See the separate summary for this, for what is involved.
Additional services - $75.00/ hour for extra time such as discussions (with sample saddles) of what you need to look for if you are wanting to find a used saddle, for having you ride in and assessing more than one saddle, etc..
Flocking adjustments are an additional charge and are dependent on extent of work needing to be done. (Typically, between $50-$100)
Equine Bodywork or rehab/exercise/stretch/strengthen program and instruction or other further evaluation and discussion can be done at the time of your fitting.
Saddle Flocking and Repairs
English saddle billet replacement: $35 each
Billets will be ordered to best match your saddle and style desired!
To begin, we need to know how many, and where and how they are attached on your saddle. If the panels need to be unstitched to access the webbing/tree to attach them, there is an extra charge. (just dressage saddles shown as the H/J and AP are more standardized.)
Please provide pictures under your saddle flap showing where the leather portion of each billet (for one side) is located and we will get you a quick quote! You may email this these pictures to SportHorseTherapeutics@hotmail.com.
English saddle wool re-flocking (complete strip flock). $250 - $275
For your “new used” or well loved saddle… (be sure to see our video below on how to tell if your saddle needs to be reflocked) You will ship your saddle with a return label. Saddle will be done within a week and promptly and safely returned to you.
There are some details to be discussed so that there are no surprises and the saddle works for the intended horse.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN SENDING US OR DROPPING OFF A SADDLE TO BE REFLOCKED:
**We start by asking, does the saddle currently fit the horse? If it does, we can simply replace the wool and all is well.
But.....
If the saddle fits a bit tight at the withers- You may want to consider having the tree widened, if it is a saddle that has a malleable iron head plate. SHTS can do this service for you.
If the current flocking is very compressed and hard - New flocking will cause it to fit tighter, at least for a while. If your flocking is compressed and it just fits your horse, then the saddle does not “truly” fit, as the panels are not to spec.
It fits great, but my horse is more uphill now and I feel like I am sitting in the “back seat” - No problem here! As long as I know, and you have the panel room (gusseted or full rear panels) I can be sure to add enough wool in the rear of the panels, because it is hard for a fitter to get to the very back after the saddle is sewn up.
**What if you just bought the saddle and are not quite sure it fits, but you are sure the flocking is felted (compressed and degraded beyond it’s life expectancy)?
In this case, I would advise we do a fitting. I can look at pictures of your horse and saddle and determine if it is a good fit and if I can make it better! (See the long distance fitting Notes on fb page)
Reflocking includes looking at the tree, to be sure there are no twists, cracks, protruding screws or tacks. Cleaning all the dirt out from under the panels and flaps, replacing all the wool and of course sewing it all back together.
You (unless local) would send it to me, with a return label in a box that is strong enough to make the return trip, that's it!
Note: I will not “try” to MAKE a saddle fit if I don’t feel it is right for you or your horse.
I think you will find that the level of communication and time I will spend with you, besides having more reasonable rates, sets my reflocking service in it’s own category. A saddle shop will just “take your saddle” and flock to spec or a tracing. I find viewing pictures and talking to my customers imperative to success with this, it’s important, it is a valuable asset to your training program or just your horses comfort on a trail ride!
As an independent saddle fitter, I have taken apart every version of English saddle there is. They come apart in many ways, shapes and forms. I have the knowledge, experience and tools to work with all types.
Watch the video below to learn a bit about checking your saddles wool flocking condition.
Videos on English Saddle Flocking
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The Video below is a 1/2 panel that is being re-flocked. The pictures to the left show the condition of the old flocking (balled up) and the start of the new!
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