Sport Horse Therapeutic Services

09/06/2026

Hey guys, I’ve done my due diligence finding ways to equate shape to trees and I gotta tell you with the English and especially dressage Saddles, I think I really got it going on but I do get a lot of western saddle fit inquiries and I’m just feeling a bit out of my element because I haven’t been keeping up on what’s out there and what the trends are and how the Saddles are balanced.
I was trained in western saddle fitting over 20 years ago and did a deep dive here with the local saddle and saddle shops so I know it’s out there, but I still am not that person that’s going to be helping the western riders like other fitters who I consider my friends. I’ve been doing it this whole time with no complaints but I don’t feel I’m the best and I know there’s a lot of people out there doing it.

I’m referring most of my western saddle fit clients to Laurie Leverich Hills. https://www.hillsequineservices.com/
She’s an awesome body worker that can see what’s going on. Then if you borrow her tool that has been shaped to your horse (after she shows you how to match it to a saddle ) there you are ….you have your shape.

*You have to do your due diligence and learn this stuff, but this is the one-to-one that I think is going to help Wisconsin folks with their western saddle fitting …at least the ones that want to learn. Developing your eye to see the shape of the horse translated to the shape of the saddle tree is everything!

Hills Equine - Your Destination for the Hills Equine Saddle Mapping Tool. Visit the tack shop and explore options for your saddle fittings as if you brought your horse without actually bringing the horse along!

08/29/2026

A horse’s back is not a fixed shape. What back shape do you want to fit your saddle to????

Shape Ratio (Greve, L., Murray, R., & Dyson, S.) allows us to turn a back tracing into a measurable number and a clearer way to track whether the topline is becoming more filled, more peaked, or changing unevenly.

Before-and-after tracings add another layer of information. They can show how a horse’s back profile changes after correct work — where the back expands, where it stays the same, and where it may not be engaging as well.

These changes can matter for saddle fit because the saddle is not sitting on a static structure. It is sitting on a living, changing back. A saddle that looks acceptable on a resting horse may feel very different once the horse begins lifting, widening, engaging the thoracic sling, and using the back muscles under work.

Tracking these changes helps take some of the guesswork out of saddle fit. It can show patterns over time, reveal seasonal or conditioning changes, and help explain why a saddle may work in one phase of training but not another.

In this example, the horse widened most through the front and middle of the saddle-support region, while T18 responded differently. These are external shape changes may reflect posture, thoracic sling use, rib cage expansion, and muscle tone.

For saddle fit, that matters. A saddle is not sitting on a static structure — it is sitting on a living, changing back.

Attached is a set of tracings and the measurements as well as the graphical depictions and separate comparisons for just the T13 region (Twist and center region) that you may find interesting.. this horse was not super fit at the time and I'll be adding other comparisons... any volunteers???

Also attaching some cool ways I can digitize tracings below... these are all done with same tracings you see here!

If you'd like to learn how Saddle Fit Solved is now using new technology to capture the equine back and create meaningful reports, MESSAGE me with your Email and I'll send a sneak peak of the newest chapter for the Seasonal Dynamics of Saddle Fit eBook.

05/19/2026

Wondering if some of that leather covered eye candy could be right (or wrong) for your horse?

My recent videos have focused on the biology of seasonal topline changes, and the why behind what is happening. Next, were looking at the mechanical architecture required to manage these changes. In addition to identifying atrophy and learning ways to mitigate changes, it is all contingent upon Tree Suitability and Panel Alignment.
Before you attempt to mitigate a tipping saddle with shims, you must be certain of your baseline. Shimming is a powerful tool when used as "Prosthetic Muscle," but it is not a remedy for a fundamentally mismatched tree.
In this video, I take you "under the hood" to show you how to feel the tree rails and springs through the leather. Understanding where your tree actually sits—not just where the panels appear to be—is the difference between providing support and creating a fulcrum.
If you shim a saddle that doesn't have a correct tree and channel baseline, you risk turning your equipment into a seesaw that hammers the horse's loin or shoulder with every stride.
For those of you following the Seasonal Saddle Fit series, this is the missing link between observing a problem and implementing a safe, effective solution.
Watch the full technical breakdown here: https://youtu.be/kiSPcddm9Ls?si=7_MathoTt49gNVlz

Before you put down money or a deposit on your next online saddle trial, run the model through my free Fit Risk Assessment at https://www.saddlefitsolved.com/fit-risk-assessment.html

🐴 Before you reach for a shim pad to mitigate winter muscle loss, you must verify your baseline. Is your saddle tree and it's panels/channel actually a func...

05/10/2026

Part 3 of the Equine Back Tracing Masterclass is coming soon...

In case you missed the first video:

Equine Back Tracing Masterclass | Part 1: Why You Should Trace Your HorseYour horse's back changes with the seasons, their workload, their age, and their met...

04/14/2026

With my list of the specs on the saddles in the Horse Emporium booth that I have researched and detailed out in advance... and your horse's pictures (as shown in image)... (and tracings, if you have then!) I can help you work through saddle features that may work best for your horse, tree shapes that are conducive to your mount and after a discussion, point you in a direction you can feel confident about.

Your horse's fitness level, age and breed are all factors.
Lets talk... Knowing more about your struggles and what you are looking for, I can recommend features that help, and give you some insight to make an informed selection.

I look forward to helping, find me in the booth each day for a limited time (see event times on my page: Sport Horse Therapeutic Services