Double Clear Saddle Fitting

A Heartfelt Thank You & A New Chapter

After much reflection, I’ve made the decision to step away from saddle fitting and my role with County Saddlery to pursue new passions outside of the horse industry.

Working with you and your horses has been an incredibly meaningful part of my life, and I am so grateful for the trust, support, and relationships built along the way. Thank you for allowing me to play a role in your horse’s comfort and performance — it’s been an honor.

➡️ I will still have limited availability for maintenance checks and flocking adjustments.

And I’m not leaving anyone mid-process — if we’ve been working on something, I’ve got you.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Thank you again for everything. Here’s to the next adventure 🐴✨
— Aria Tarras

🚨 Last-Minute Openings! 🚨

I’ve got a few last-minute appointment slots available on my upcoming saddle fitting trip! If your horse’s saddle fit has been feeling off or it’s time for a check-up, now’s your chance to grab a spot! I will be offering fit checks and have saddles available for test rides!

📅 May 7th
📍 Milwaukee, WI/Madison, WI and surrounding areas
🔹 Limited openings—first come, first served!

Please reach out to me ASAP to get added to the schedule!

Not all saddle trees are the same! A horse that fits a medium tree in one brand might need a wide in another. 🤯

Tree angles, widths, and shapes vary between brands—and even between models within the same brand. That’s why trying before you buy (or having a fitter check) is so important! I always always always recommend trialing a saddle first and having the fit checked by a professional to ensure you're not saddled (pun intended) with a purchase that doesn't work!

A great reminder and visual that dot to dot measurements are not an accurate measurement of tree width or size!

𝔽𝕦𝕟 𝔽𝕒𝕔𝕥 𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕒𝕪
Did you know that D to D measurements is a totally useless way of measuring saddle width? Cos the D rings can be placed anywhere on the saddle.
Pictured are two saddles - one is XW and the other is MW. They both have the same D to D measurement.

Many of you regularly use a breastplate as part of your tack setup, but did you know that a breastplate that is fitted incorrectly can affect the fit of your saddle?

A breastplate that is too snug can actually pull your saddle forward, which can cause discomfort and restrict your horse's movement as well as change the saddle's overall balance. You should be able to easily fit a fist in between the breastplate and your horse's chest and the straps should sit above your horse's shoulders to avoid interfering with your saddle and your horse's movement. If you are unsure, double check with your saddle fitter to make sure it isn't affecting your horse's movement or saddle!

A fantastic read about the importance of a dynamic (ridden) assessment during a saddle fitting appointment! I always recommend that clients ride in their saddles and typical tack set up before and after any adjustments for these reasons!

𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗨𝗥 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗦

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗗𝗬𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗟𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚

What do you do when you buy a pair of shoes? You select the shoes of choice, try them on and then have a little walk around in them to see how they feel and fit. You wouldn’t purchase a pair of shoes without trying them on and walking in them first. We should afford the same level of detail to our horse’s saddle fit when purchasing a new saddle, or having an existing saddle refitted.

“One of my concerns is that there is a belief that you can fit a saddle statically (without riding), and from an evidence-based perspective, that doesn’t make any sense,” says Russell MacKechnie-Guire. “A saddle that looks in balance statically can behave very differently when it is girthed up, has the weight of a rider and the movement of the horse underneath it. Riders need to ensure that they are present/able to ride for a saddle fitting assessment as riders can’t expect their saddle fitter to make an informed, reliable decision based on the horse stood in the stable.

“We know that lateral saddle slip occurs during motion, particularly in walk and canter and only on one rein and there is no way you can get that level of information from just looking at the saddle on the horse in the stable.”

Russell advises that if you’re having a saddle fit done and the saddle fitter doesn’t request that you are seen ridden in the saddle, you should go as far as terminating that assessment; “it is not acceptable to be able to determine the fit of a saddle without seeing it being ridden in and tested under the conditions in which it is going to be used,” he adds. “So, that should be walk, trot and canter on both reins including circles in a dressage saddle and similarly in a jump saddle but with the added bit of actually jumping in the saddle too. The saddle fitter should stand in the middle of the arena to see the side, front-to-back balance and then in the corner on the long side to see the left-to-right balance. I would advise saddle fitters to use smart phone technology to reinforce what they are seeing providing they conform to GDPR with videos.”

There are rare occasions when you can’t ride the horse during a saddle fitting such as if a horse is recovering from injury that prevents it from being ridden, and if the horse is young and unbacked, but otherwise, every saddle-fitting should include a ridden assessment. Owners need to be mindful of this and challenge the saddle fitter if they say they don’t need to see you ride in it.

“Good saddle fitters should automatically ask you to ride in your saddle, and if they don’t it should be a red flag,” says Russell. “You are paying a reasonable amount of money for a saddle and for the fitting, so you want to know that you are getting a thorough assessment to ensure optimal back health. Given what we know with the affect that saddle fit, design and balance can have on the horse, we are incumbent to ensure that we employ the most detailed possible assessment to ensure the best chances of optimal back health with saddle fit.

“We really must work with our qualified saddle fitters in fitting saddles and avoid the temptation of buying online and fitting by a video or pictures or not at all because the hands-on skills that a qualified saddle fitter have are invaluable to ensuring and safeguarding the horse.”

We all have a duty to safeguard our horses and part of that duty comes discussions. Horse owners need to feel empowered that they can have that relationship with their team to ask that question.

“If your saddle fitter says they don’t need to see you ride in it and you feel uncomfortable demanding that they do, you could say that you want to check that the saddle is comfortable for you as a way out of a confrontational discussion,” advises Russell.

Historically, saddles have been fitted to a horse without a pad or numnah underneath, but thoughts on this have changed.

“It’s fine to see a saddle on the horse without a numnah as a baseline visual, but it’s also important to see it with the equipment that the rider will be using with the saddle because your numnah might have an extra layer of wool which may make the saddle fit differently,” says Russell. “A saddle should be fitted with the girth, pad and any other equipment that will be used. It’s a fit to perform test.”

If you’re having a brand-new saddle fitted, you will go through the same fitting procedure (as a refit) of a static and dynamic assessment, but after an eight to twelve week window to allow the flocking to ‘bed-down’, your saddle fitter should come back to reassess the fit and make any necessary adjustments.

Billets are a crucial part of your saddle’s security, but they often go unnoticed! Over time, they can stretch, crack, or the stitching may come loose—putting you and your horse at risk of an accident.

Next time you tack up, take a moment to inspect your billets for any signs of wear. If you notice stretching, separation, or loose stitching, it’s time for a billet replacement to ensure a safe and secure ride!

Saddle panels come in 3 main types - foam, air, and wool - and each have their own benefits!

✨Foam panels require little maintenance but lack adjustability and once they break down cannot be easily replaced.

✨Air panels are cheaper but react to temperature changes and can feel "bouncy" under saddle.

✨Wool panels provide the best shock absorption and adjustability but require the most maintenance.

If you are looking for the most customizable and horse friendly option, wool is the winner! 🏆 Having the fit of your saddle checked regularly will keep your horse comfortable and happy!

Wither clearance is often measured in fingers, and the recommended minimum is 2.5 fingers to ensure your horse’s comfort! But here’s something many riders overlook—once you add the rider’s weight and tighten the girth, that clearance can decrease significantly.

A saddle that has adequate wither clearance while your horse is standing still might not under saddle, leading to discomfort and restriction. Always check wither clearance with and without a rider to make sure your saddle truly fits!

Where are you putting your saddle?

Your horse’s shoulders (scapulae) need freedom to move, and where you place your saddle can make all the difference!

✅ First Image: The saddle is in the correct position with the tree points sitting about 2" behind the shoulder, allowing full range of motion without restriction. This means better comfort, freer movement, and improved performance for your horse!

❌ Second Image: The saddle is placed too far forward, restricting the scapula. This can cause a shorter, weaker stride, pain and discomfort, muscle atrophy, and long term performance issues.

👉 Always check that your tree points are approximately 2" behind the scapula! Helpful tip: for most adults 2" is about 3-4 of your fingers!

Over time your stirrup leathers can stretch more on one side than the other due to mounting and dismounting! This can throw off your balance and even affect saddle fit.

Swapping your stirrup leathers once a month will help them stretch more evenly and extend their lifespan! Your horse (and your position) will thank you!

Did you know? Girths with elastic on only one end can result in uneven pressure and even damage your saddle over time!

These girths create uneven tension which can cause discomfort for your horse, pull your saddle off balance, and over time can cause your saddle's tree to twist!

Best practice? Use a girth with elastic on both ends or none at all to keep you and your horse comfortable and balanced, and avoid causing lasting damage to your saddle!