_ _ _ Maintaining a saddle’s fit
Maintenance prevents problems
Horses’ bodies keep changing throughout their lives. In addition to their natural growth and development process, they may suffer injuries, while changes in diet and seasonal changes can affect their muscle mass and body fat percentage. Keeping your saddle in good shape, and making sure it continues to meet the horse’s needs, therefore requires regular maintenance.
It’s important to know that saddles undergo a number of changes throughout their lifecycle. The wool inside the saddle pad will become compressed or frayed as a result of warmth and wear and tear, causing the air to flow out of the pad. Your saddle might also exhibit asymmetries, especially if your horse tends to lean into one side.
No restrictions of freedom
A saddle check performed every three months ensures that your saddle remains in place, preventing discomfort. You will be able to train without worry year round, and your horse can move around and perform freely, without restrictions.
Annual subscription
Quarterly saddle check-
Quarterly saddle check
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Suitable for all horses
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Easy access to Natalie and other experts
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Any modifications, alterations, repairs and travel expenses are not included in the above fee.
Saddle-fitting consultation
Before I can advise you on your saddle, I would like to know all about your horse and yourself. I’ll ask questions, make observations and perform physical examinations, in addition to performing several active tests and assessing your current saddle. In other words: I use an in-depth approach to ensure you receive the right advice.
_ _ _ Testimonials
Natalie thoroughly examined my horse and my saddle, which is how we found out that my old saddle had become too tight for my horse. She explained everything very clearly: it turned out the saddle could not be altered, after which I decided to invest in a new saddle.
Again, Natalie took a lot of time to explain to me what she pays attention to, and how the saddle can affect both the horse and the rider. I really felt heard by her, and was able to ask any questions I wanted. We ended up coming up with a new saddle together, and my horse and I couldn’t be happier!
I was experiencing some issues with my horse, and had already consulted several people who all gave me some sort of advice, but I suspected there might be a technical issue with the saddle. I subsequently attended an ESS industry event, where I met Natalie and where I got confirmation that the problems I was experiencing were related to my saddle – including both jumping saddles and dressage saddles.
After I had my horse treated by a vet, Natalie came to see me again to fit a new saddle. She is extremely patient, knowledgeable, and I really feel she understands me!”
My horse, Discovery, is affected by impinging dorsal spinous processes (‘kissing spines’), and I myself have a disability in both my right arm and my right leg. This possibly makes it even more important for me to have a well-fitting saddle. Before I met Natalie, I was noticing that Discovery’s back had become extremely sensitive and that he just wasn’t relaxed whenever we were riding. Natalie checked everything and re-padded the saddle. This made a world of difference, and we’ve been running smoothly ever since.
What I love about Natalie is that she really takes time to discuss all her observations with you, which means there are no surprises. I would recommend her wholeheartedly!
Would you like further information or to schedule an appointment?
Do you have any questions about my approach? If you are looking for advice or would like to schedule an appointment right away, feel free to contact me at+31 (0)6 2257 8257 or send an email to natalie.vanhulst@gmail.com