AMP Saddlery

Everyone wants the magic exercise, supplement, or training trick… but sometimes your horse is just screaming for freedom to move 👀😂

This Harry Dabbs Saddle Makers Arion is a great reminder that once you find a saddle that truly lets them use their body comfortably, the horse underneath you might surprise you in the best way.

Because comfort changes movement. Movement changes muscle. Muscle changes performance. 🐴✨

Not all exercises to improve topline are complicated.
Elevating the front end on a platform or pedestal helps open the spaces in the spineous processes. Adding neck positional exercises in the form of carrot stretches is an added benefit.
Here, we are using the retaining wall of the arena, which is about 16" raised.
While standing on a hill is better than nothing, maintaining the palmar alignment has the most benefit.

When we say we offer a wide range of new and used saddles and come to you… we aren’t lying 😉

From adjustable options to used inventory to demos, we load up and hit the road. Now for the important question… who can name some of the brands in this photo? 👀

Quality saddles that will truly last for years are getting harder and harder to find on the used market. Many of the older saddles with excellent craftsmanship are being held onto, while newer saddles continue to climb significantly in price due to increases in materials, labor, shipping, and manufacturing costs.

Over the past year alone, many brands have already implemented double-digit percentage increases on saddles, and unfortunately I do not see that trend slowing down over the next year or two unless manufacturing costs stabilize.

I am not saying this to scare anyone or pressure anyone into buying a saddle. I just believe in being upfront so horse owners can make informed decisions and plan accordingly. If you have been considering a custom saddle, or even debating replacing a saddle that no longer works for your horse, now may genuinely be the time to start exploring options before pricing increases further with me or any fitter/brand rep!

Please also understand that the price I may have quoted you recently for a custom saddle may not be the same price six months from now due to continued manufacturing increases. This is not price gouging, but costs being directly passed on to retailers and fitters.

A well-made custom saddle is an investment, but when properly fit and cared for, it should serve both horse and rider comfortably for many years.

Now less talk about the frustrating state of financial affairs and more time outside enjoying our horses. Happy riding ❤️

This photo looks calm. Quiet. Normal. And that’s exactly the point…

Because most horses don’t go from calm to explosive overnight…
They whisper first.

We often don’t start listening to our horses until they start shouting. But the reality is… horses almost always whisper first.

The whispers are small. Easy to dismiss. Easy to explain away.
The horse is still working. Still jumping. Still doing the job. Still winning the blue ribbons.
So we tell ourselves everything is fine.

But horses rarely go from comfortable to explosive overnight.
Most of the time, there were quiet signs long before the behavior ever showed up.

Some of those early whispers might look like:

• Not wanting to be caught for work
• Grumpy during grooming
• Kicking out or bucking more than normal
• Standing tense during saddling, or not standing still at all
• Not wanting to stand quietly at the mounting block
• A horse that suddenly feels stiffer one direction
• Hollowing when being ridden
• Small attitude changes (a horse that seems overall less willing or unhappy)
• Pinning ears during grooming, tacking, or riding
• A horse that starts to rush, brace, or lean under saddle
• Becoming excessively spooky when previously relaxed
• Not wanting to go forward anymore

Individually, these things can seem minor.
And sometimes they are.

But when they start to stack up, they’re often your horse trying to tell you something isn’t right.

If those whispers go unheard long enough, eventually the horse starts shouting.

Now the horse is refusing jumps.
Now they’re reactive during saddling.
Now they’re hollow, tense, or defensive under saddle.
Now they are displaying dangerous behaviors under saddle (bucking, rearing, and more…)
Now they’re labeled as “behavioral.”

At this point, we absolutely can and should address the physical issues.

We can:
• Adjust the saddle
• Evaluate tack
• Involve the vet
• Address soreness or muscle tension
• Improve fit and comfort

But once a horse has been uncomfortable long enough to start shouting, there’s often another layer that needs attention. There needs to be some relationship repair.

By this stage, the horse may have developed a negative association with:
• The saddle
• The mounting block
• The arena
• The work itself
• And sometimes… even us, because we are associated with the things that caused discomfort

Not because we intended harm… But because from the horse’s perspective, they had to escalate their communication to be heard.

Horses are incredibly trusting animals.
But they are also incredibly honest.

If work has been uncomfortable for a period of time, they may begin to anticipate discomfort, even after the physical issue is resolved.

This is where rebuilding begins.

This is where groundwork becomes valuable again.
This is where slow, quiet rides matter.
This is where rewarding relaxation and softness becomes critical.

You may need to:
• Rebuild confidence at the mounting block
• Reintroduce the saddle slowly
• Focus on relaxation before performance
• Return to basics and build upward again
• Give the horse time to realize that work is comfortable again

The good news is horses are incredibly forgiving.

They want to trust us.
They want to work with us.
They want to feel comfortable and successful.

But rebuilding that trust takes time.

It often requires slowing down, being patient, and allowing the horse to relearn that work no longer equals discomfort. And just as importantly, allowing them to realize that we are now listening. That they no longer need to shout to be heard.

And that’s why listening to the whispers matters so much.

Because the earlier we listen…
the less we have to repair later.

Your horse is always communicating.
Sometimes the quietest conversations matter the most.

As show season is approaching please make sure to listen to your horses no one wants their horse to be upset or for you to get hurt.

Remember why we do this sport… because we love our horses.

Saddle cost isn't something everyone is privy to, so what does the saddle market actually look like? Here we break down what your dollar actually gets you for both the new and used market in pricing tiers. Knowing your needs versus what you're willing or able to budget is key to creating a realistic purchase experience.

Under $1500
New are synthetic, made in Asia, and designed to last 6-8 years at best. These are designed for the easy to fit horse, and are a *my first saddle* to be used with lesson horses leases.
Used saddles in this price range are typically approaching expiration or expired and unsafe for use.

$1500-2500
New are the *my first saddle* leather options. They also are typically made in Asia, and designed to last 6-8 years. They are also designed for easy to fit horses, but toward the upper end youll find options with some spec variations for horses with a few specialty needs, but not complex fit challenges.
Used in this range will occasionally yield something of quality, but typically takes a lot of searching.

$3000-5000
New are decent quality saddles by lesser known brands. They are sold by independent fitters, and can be anything from off the peg, to customizable options like flap, panel, or adding a personal touch of color. These saddles are typically designed to last 15-20 years from this price point forward with a few exceptions.
Used, this is an approachable price range for used big name brands that still have life left, but are several years old.

$5000-7000
New luxury and fully bespoke saddles of lesser known brands, and entry point for some of the big name brands. Lesser known brands typically offer fully bespoke in this category and use top quality hides, tech, and materials. Big names in this category will be on lower grade leathers and typically little to no customization.
Used big name brands less than 5 years old, sometimes can be found with a transferrable warranty.

$7000-10,000 New big name brands, off the peg or a menu of options. Several will have top grade leather options.

$10k+ bespoke big name brands, if they offer that level of customization. Bespoke does mean customized tree, made to measure panels, flaps, and personalization galore. Many will fit to a bare tree, take measurements of the horse and rider, and then you just trust your maker to build exactly what you need and want.

Its always best to have a qualified, independent fitter assess your horse and you to guide on what your actual needs are. You may have desired a $2000 budget, but have a horse that needs a customized saddle because of their conformation. An independent fitter can help guide you to realistic goals and eliminate many stumbling blocks due to incompatible fit.

Questions you are absolutely allowed (and encouraged!) to ask your saddle fitter:

• What training or certifications do you have?
• Do you regularly pursue continuing education?
• Are you trained in specific brands or tree structures?
• What brands do you carry or have access to?
• Are you independent, or do you work for a specific brand?
• How do you evaluate whether the tree fits my horse, even though it’s inside the saddle?
• Do you assess fit dynamically as well as statically (how it fits standing vs. under saddle)?
• Can you explain why this tree works (or doesn’t) for my horse?
• Can you explain why a saddle might not work for me as a rider?
• What changes should I expect as my horse develops?
• What price range is realistic for what my horse and I need?
• What are the next steps if you don’t have something in stock that fits us?

A knowledgeable fitter should never be intimidated by these questions.

Saddle fitting is not just “does it sit on the back.” It requires understanding tree shape, brand construction differences, panel design, flocking systems, balance, and how horses change over time.

Continuing education matters. Brands evolve. Horses develop. Fitters should evolve too.

If your fitter welcomes questions and can clearly explain the “why” behind their decisions, that’s a good sign.

Saddle fitting should not be hush-hush. Educated owners create better outcomes. Knowledge protects both horses and riders long term.

Feel free to message me a question or ask below! 🥰

Can you name the gullet bars?

There are 8 different brands of gullet bars in this photo. All different systems, all different widths, all specific to their brands tree and saddles.

Most people see colored metal.

I see brands, tree shapes, tree point length, and exactly which saddles each one belongs in.

Color does NOT mean the same width across brands.
A “red” in one system is not the same as a “red” in another.
A “wide” can measure very differently depending on the manufacturer.

Part of why you hire a saddle fitter is because I can tell you:
• what brand each of these belongs to
• what width it is in that system
• how that brand progresses between sizes
• and whether it will actually work for your horse’s shape

And not only can I identify them… I carry the tools needed to swap out each brand’s bar on site.

Every manufacturer fastens their gullet plates differently inside the tree. Different bolt placements. Different access points. Different internal structures.

It’s not just “unscrew and swap.”

You have to know how the saddle is built.

This isn’t even all the gullet systems I carry 😅

That’s the difference between changing parts… and understanding how a saddle is built.