MM Equine Enterprises LLC

Fitting routes with appointment availability this week in:
Franklin, KY on Thursday
Oak Grove, KY and Clarksville, TN on Saturday!

Schedule along either existing route on the same day for a discount while I’m in the area!
Message me with your barn address and what kind of riding you do to get scheduling options!

is underway!
I went up in weight today- 26lbs in each hand, only 10.5 minutes total today. My hands and traps fatigued before my legs did…
I never figured I’d be a *matching set* girlie but I am convinced I lift heavier when my nails match my outfit- today this theory is correct 💅💁🏻‍♀️✨

This was in addition to adding 10lbs to my deadlift and normal leg day activities

Join me and saddlefitting.us in the challenge- start where you can, aim for at least 20% of your body weight for 20 minutes… your horse probably does it

Let’s talk about build up pads

I’ve never recommended one and I’ve never evaluated one that had me saying “this improves the saddle fit”

Because the location of the build up increases the problem that makes people most often reach for the pad-

The traps have atrophied, the scapulas are prominent, they rub on the bars as the horse moves and the horse is getting sore due to too much pressure… but the saddle has already been purchased and this gap makes people feel that it’s “too wide” so pads like these are marketed as a solution to fill in the gap or lift the front of the saddle but anatomically speaking- they are not a solution.
They may lift the saddle, but not in a way that respects the horses anatomy and biomechanics.

In this photo the scapula is roughly traced out in green chalk on both the horse and pad. You can easily see how about half of the build up area is over the scapula. This often results in a bigger gap behind the causal angle of the scapula or bridging in the middle of the saddle, where most of our weight should be, because that’s the strongest part of the back.

If we have atrophy behind the scapula causing the saddle to be downhill and lack wither clearence or we have a horse with “sore shoulders” or traps the LAST thing we want to do is increase the amount of pressure on the traps and caudal angle of the scapular cartilage, which is precisely where half of the build up sits on this pad.

If we have to fill in a gap TEMPORARILY while a horse gets fit or rehabs, let’s do that with a removable shim placed precisely where it’s needed and reevaluate within 3 months.

I made the mistake of telling saddlefitting.us that I wasn’t going to let her beat me at everything in the gym so I started carrying kettle bells on the stair master because I wanted to catch up…

I’ve been doing this in secret for a couple months and kept going up in weight… normal stairmaster feels easy now.

I usually do 5-10 minutes as a warm up and then another 10 minutes as a cool down with my “leg day activities” in between.

Normal stair master feels easy now, but I have to keep stepping it up now that she knows, so WE’RE INVITING YOU to suffer with us… 🫶

20%+ of your body weight for 20+ minutes

Last week I did just over 25% for about 23 minutes solid (only breaking for water)

If this feels excessive, remember that we regularly expect our horses to carry 20% of their body weight… in the heat… outside… and run and jump while they do it

I’m getting caught up from a busy week!

Yesterday was a 12+ hour day with a youth clinic followed by fitting English and western horses and I finished up the day with a spot flocking appointment- cue the infamous “Alpha Mare” flocking box from saddlefitting.us 💕

The REV is my favorite saddle to spot flock because I can drop the panels, spot flock easier, and put it back together in record time!

Updated calendar for the rest of July!
I’ve got upcoming routes to southern KY and Rolla, MO
Message me ASAP to get scheduled!

Despite the way that last week of July is looking, August is already starting to fill up!

🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m Maggie Steen - happy to assist all our friends in TN, KY, AL, GA, and more in getting a CRS saddle! I travel with some bare trees plus measuring tools and photograph as well

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I really love what I do

As if getting to walk in and help improve performance and help people and horses be more comfortable and competitive wasn’t enough…
I also have some of the best clients- people with kind hearts that put their horse’s welfare first, work on themselves, put in hard work with their horses to set them up for success, and give me the sweetest thank you cards and most delicious snacks!!!

Thank you Sarah and Binks for your kind words and helping me help you!

Fitting route with availability TOMORROW 7/7
Message me asap if you’d like to be added to the schedule tomorrow at a discounted rate!

Saddle fitting (includes girth, saddle pad, and breast collar fitting) have your saddle fit evaluated, try demos/consignment saddles, or flocking adjustments made!

Big fitting (includes bridle fitting and bit fitting)