The Holistic Saddle Fitter

27/04/2026

I'm hoping to go out later this year to do some saddle fitting for these beautiful horses. It will be an unforgettable experience! 🐴🦓🦒🦛

20/04/2026

Come and join us on Saturday for some great natural horsemanship tips and also excellent cake! 🤠

Tickets to attend a 2026 Horse Demonstration event. Please check the dates by address in the description.

15/04/2026

The best thing about my job is meeting lovely people and their equines and knowing that we are all doing our very best for the welfare and comfort of their horse. On a recent trip I met Julie and her horses, all kept together at a yard that was so calm and peaceful it was a truly relaxing experience. Julie is a big fan of purple but the closest she could come was pink leather so she had a stunning buckaroo saddle custom fitted and made by The Western Saddler Ltd. with pink seat and bucking rolls and has added purple latigo and gorgeous purple conchos as well as purple bridle and rope reins. I went to check the fit and asked her if I could share these fab photos! It looks stunning! 🤩

26/03/2026

Are you looking for a western saddle for your horse or mule? Would you prefer a second hand saddle to buying new but have concerns about buying through FB or Ebay as you haven't seen the saddle in person and can't tell whether it fits your horse? www.western-saddles.co.uk is run by a qualified western saddle fitter (www.holistic-saddle-fitter.co.uk) so I can provide advice and you also trial the saddle for two weeks so you have time to check it fits. It's the smarter way to buy a quality second hand western saddle! If you've got a saddle to sell, I can help with that too! Drop me a line🤠

10/02/2026

This is what it's all about - making horses comfortable and riders happy!! In November I saw a very handsome gelding who is very broad backed. His lovely owner asked me to check his saddle and I found it to be too narrow across the withers. They asked me to look for a good second hand saddle that I thought would fit as a custom made saddle is out of reach. Then a customer sent me a saddle to advertise on their behalf and I instantly thought of Olley! Well I took it up to him and it fits! He's a happier horse, his owner is happy, the person selling the saddle is happy and so am I! 😂 Olley's owner has also asked me to sell his old saddle so it can go to a new home and horse it fits. I love it when a plan comes together! 🤠 Some pics of Olley's old saddle and the new one. If you are looking for a second hand saddle or want to sell your saddle drop me a line www.western-saddles.co.uk

05/02/2026

Charlie rides in a TWS western saddle fitted by The Western Saddler - don't they look amazing. This is on my list of things to try this year! ❤

We are so proud to have been a part of this project to showcase the amazing sport of horseback archery with .tv
Along with our friends and horseback archery gb team members & .addison284

Beyond ecstatic to be able to share the finished result, I love how it has turned out ... watch below, horse archery, side saddle and Eriskay ponies

https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_GB/ondemand/event/16627/competition/425128/ride-season-6/episode-10-ambitious-archers-skilled-saddlers-esteemed-eriskays?fbclid=IwdGRzaAPwxJpjbGNrA_DEmGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHuQmOBL2PD-mVw-CDUW2OQTwMC8b1sFIRmsKz-DDChYpm5ImuTQok-01xQBb_aem_uW5SxE71Zmq_1HjTF1Zt3A&sfnsn=scwspmo

31/01/2026

I often hear that western saddles can be longer than the last rib, that this is normal and has been done for years. It may have been done for years but that doesn't mean it's good for the horse! Here Horses Inside Out explains really clearly why the lumbar should not be weight bearing. I never fit or recommend saddles where the tree puts pressure beyond the last rib. For short backed horses we can shorten the tree and add flare at the back of the tree to lift it away from the lumbar. A saddle that is too long for your horse's back will very likely be uncomfortable for them and can lead to muscle soreness. 🤠

25/01/2026

We had friends staying with us last night so I didn't go to the yard until late morning. My two mares are on a track in a herd of 8 so out 24/7 with multiple hay nets, shelter, water buffet, salt lick etc. I did some poo picking, filled some nets then wandered round the track to find my painted mare with a carrot to say hi. She licked my hands then positioned herself for a wither scratch arching her neck and back and getting that distant look as I worked all along her back to her hindquarters. Then she huffed and turned round so I could do the other side. 😄 my hands ache and I have so much dirt under my finger nails but that 20mins of quiet connection makes January worth it!! ❤❤ pic of Nelly (and Applejack) in the school after some liberty work last weekend. X

18/01/2026

Something totally different today! A lesson on Hoggy the mechanical horse at Sparrows Oast Stud and Livery near Maidstone. I'm over 50 and I know I'm wonky but I wanted to know how wonky! The first pic shows I'm rotated to the left so my right shoulder is further forward and is also dropped. My right side is flexible but not stable or strong and my left side does all the work so is strong but rigid!! 😱 After some exercises you can see I'm sitting better, but there's still work to do! It's such a valuable thing to do for us and our horses as our asymmetries can cause them to compensate which can lead to muscle soreness. Thank you to Nicola for straightening me out somewhat! 😊

12/01/2026

Hope you are all surviving January! Here in Kent we had a little bit of snow for a few days and now it's all melted 9 degrees outside and drizzle for the forseable future!! Anyway, Maria from The Western Saddler is hoping to spend more time with her family during 2026 and develop her training courses for western and treeless saddles so I'm expanding my range to cover the east of England and some of the south coast. The postcodes I am covering are below and shown on the map.
AL E LN PE TN
BN EN LU RG TW
BR GU ME RH UB
CB HA MK RM W
CM HP N SE WD
CO HU NG SG YO
CR IG NN SL
CT IP NR SM
DA KT NW SS
DN LE OX SW

I'll be planning a trip soon so if you are in this area and would like a saddle check or a new fitting please drop me a line. See you soon 🤠

23/12/2025

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🤠

The winter solstice has passed and spring is on its way! 🌞