Please read the following information to prepare for your upcoming appointment with Safe and Sound Saddle Fit:
- Be prepared to ride during your appointment. If you are unable to ride, please have someone else present who can ride your horse instead.
- Please groom your horse before your fitter arrives. If your horse needs a short warm-up, please also do so before your appointment.
Step 1: Static Fit Evaluation
- Your appointment begins with an in-barn evaluation of your horse (untacked, standing on level footing in cross-ties or other quiet area).
- Evaluation includes palpation, tracings and/or measurements, conformation analysis, and discussion of your horse’s health/soundness/training history as well as any fit concerns you may have for your horse and/or yourself.
- Your saddle is first evaluated on your horse without a pad or girth/cinch. Your fitter will assess the saddle’s balance, position, tree shape, and condition of the tree, panels, and billets.
Step 2: Dynamic Fit Evaluation
- You then tack up using your regular pad and girth, and ride your horse in an arena (or other safe location with soft, level footing) at the walk and trot. Canter is optional.
- Your fitter will evaluate the saddle’s balance, position, stability, and your horse’s behavior and movement to determine any adjustments needed.
Step 3: Adjustments and Reevaluation
- If your saddle is wool-flocked, your fitter may then adjust the panels using 100% natural wool. Adjustments can take approx. 10-20 minutes, depending on how much wool is needed.
- If flocking and/or padding are adjusted, your fitter will reassess the fit and observe changes in the saddle’s balance and stability, your comfort and position, and your horse’s behavior and movement.
- Occasionally, multiple minor adjustments are needed to optimize the fit.
- Saddle Fit Checks can take 30 to 60 mins per saddle, depending on adjustments needed.
- If your saddle is found to be an unsuitable fit and/or if you wish to try any of our in-stock demo or pre-owned saddles (and provided your fitter has time in their schedule), your appointment can become a New/Used Saddle Fitting and your Current Saddle Fit Check will be included in the New/Used Saddle Fitting fee (Each fitter’s fees can be found here or at the bottom of this page).
Fees:
- Payments are due at the time of service. Cash, Venmo, PayPal, credit card, or check (payable to ‘Safe and Sound Saddle Fit’) are accepted.
- Each appointment has a $20 office fee, also due at the time of service. Travel fees ($40/hour round-trip) are additional and are divided between all clients that day.
- Saddle Fit Check fees start at $100 (Tasha) or $140 (LK) per saddle/horse + travel & office fees (any adjustments incur an additional fee). Each fitter’s fees can be found here or at the bottom of this page.
- If your saddle requires a complete flocking replacement, your fitter will need to take your saddle to extract old material and replace with new wool (this can take approx. 3-5 business days). Complete reflocking starts at $300 + travel & office fees, and includes an initial fit check after the work is complete.
- Initial fit evaluations for saddles purchased from SSSF receive a 50% discount if scheduled within 8 weeks of receiving your saddle (travel & office fees apply). Initial fit evaluations scheduled after 2 months are subject to the standard Fit Check and Flocking Adjustment fees.
Policies:
- Please provide at least 24 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling.
- HEALTH & BIOSECURITY: We take our human and equine clients’ health very seriously. We travel to many locations and touch many horses, saddles, bits, etc. If you or your horse has recently been exposed to or diagnosed with a communicable illness (e.g. strangles, EHV-1, influenza, COVID-19, strep throat, etc.) please contact us to reschedule.
- WEATHER POLICY: If the forecast is 10ºF or below or 100ºF or above on the day of your appointment, you will be contacted at least 24 hours prior to reschedule. We may also need to reschedule your appointment if weather and/or driving conditions are hazardous. We thank you for your understanding as we try to keep everyone comfortable, healthy, and safe!
Contact info@safesoundsaddle.com with any questions or concerns, or to reschedule your appointment.
Thank you and we look forward to assisting your and your horse!
