Saddle Fitting

I schedule 1-1.5hrs for saddle checks and 2-2.5hrs for new saddle fits. If you need to book a time slot in your arena or hire an arena it is best to do this roughly 30 minutes after appointment start time to make the most of your time in the arena. If you have multiple saddles that need checking and aren’t sure how long to allow, just ask, I’m normally fairly good at gauging how long we should be.

No, please do not exercise or warm your horse up ahead of the saddle fit appointment. For templating it is essential that we minimise the influencing factors that can cause variables in the template taken. I will always endeavour to take the template at the start of the appointment with the horse standing square on level ground with a relaxed posture. A warm horse may present the saddle differently to a cold horse, it is essential I see the saddle on both the cold and warmed up horse to ensure the saddle fits in all scenarios.

Just like us, horses weight, muscle tone and body shape change with their workload, diet and age. An ill fitting saddle can not only cause significant discomfort and pain to the horse, but also negatively affect posture and performance which can lead to problems outside of the saddle area. It is our responsibility as horse owners and riders to ensure the horse is as comfortable as possible when we ride.

This will depend on the age and work load of your horse. As a guide, the Society of Master Saddlers advise all saddles are checked at least every 6 months. Younger and older horses as well as those going through work change or rehab are likely to change shape more rapidly. In these cases it can be advised to have your saddle checked as frequently as every 6 weeks, but this will be subject to individual circumstances and the judgement of both owner and fitter.

I am fortunate enough to work with David Dyer Saddles’ stock which is the largest selection of both brands and models in the UK. Whilst the majority of the stock is new, there are some second hand saddles available as well. Brands include: Albion, Amerigo, Arena, Bates, Black Country, Equipe, Erreplus, Fairfax, GFS, Harry Dabbs, Ideal, Jeffries, John Whitaker, Kent and Masters, Kieffer, Meadow Creek, Passier, Prestige, Thorowgood, Wintec and more.

No, not if you do not need or want a new saddle. Where possible I will always try to work with existing saddles and offer solutions even if it is a temporary fix. In the case where the existing saddle is not a viable option, I am more than happy to advise and guide solutions. I will always explore options with you to make sure we find the most suitable saddle solution for each individual horse and rider combination.

When buying a new saddle, it is an opportunity to try a wide selection and find a saddle that makes a noticeable difference to both yourself and your horse. You can feel the difference in yourself and your horse when you are trying multiple saddles back to back and make an informed decision. The fitter will also have a duty of care in regards to the saddle, and if buying new, you will usually have warranties through the manufacturer.

Your horse, in, clean and sound to ride. Bridle, saddle cloth, stirrups (and stirrup leathers), girth and any other boots, pads etc you would normally use. No, we don’t check saddles without a saddle cloth any more. This is deemed unsafe. Rider PPE - hat, boots, gloves, appropriate clothing. A safe area to ride, ideally an arena, but a riding field that is safe is also ok. If you have any questions, just ask. I’m always happy to answer questions.

This is not something that we currently offer.

No, the stock I work from is not my own so it is not my place to offer out saddles for people to try. BUT, all saddles purchased come with a 2 week ‘right to cancel’ which means you can change your mind for any reason and get a full refund providing the saddle is in the same condition it was sold to you in. We are all understanding and realistic people, if you feel like the saddle isn’t right for you for any reason, just let either myself or the team at David Dyer Saddles know.

I am based in Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex and travel roughly a 1hr drive radius from my base. Some areas I may go a little further, and some a little less. This is down to how many customers I have in the area and the viability for getting back in a timely fashion if you need me.

Yes, I am a Society of Master Saddlers Qualified Saddle and Saddle Fitter. I have passed all my exams for both and have an annual subscription with the Society of Master Saddlers to ensure certain aspects of my insurance and training. All SMS Saddle Fitters must complete a certain amount of CPD to maintain their membership and a refresher course every 2 years. I also keep up to date with all manufacturer training and areas that interest me - biomechanics and equine anatomy relevant to saddle fitting.

Yes, David Dyer Saddles stock is all available to purchase at the time of your appointment unless specified for any reason but this will be openly discussed when trying the saddle (and doesn’t happen very often). As a result, there may be small signs of wear on some of the saddles but we try to ensure all customers trying the saddles take the upmost care so as not to cause any damage to items they aren’t purchasing. If you would like to order a brand new, never sat in saddle, that is absolutely fine as well. Most stock items will be available to order in new and still be subject to the returns policy. The only exception would be on orders that are considered ‘bespoke’ but this would be made clear at point of order.