_ _ _ An ill-fitting saddle will inevitably
cause problems for you and your horse.
The horse, the rider and the saddle are all inextricably linked. If you have an ill-fitting saddle, this will create inconvenience for both the rider and the horse.
The following problems might arise if you have an ill-fitting saddle:
- Horse suffering bodily pain
- Horse refusing to move
- Uncomfortable contact
- A saddle that keeps slipping sideways or shifting forward or backward
- Clear difference between moving to the left or right (preferred side)
- Physical discomfort for you as a rider
Causes
As a saddle fitter working with a variety of experts, I am fortunately able to fix and prevent any kind of problems. Some common causes I encounter:
- A saddle that is incompatible with the shape of the horse’s back
- Broken or twisted tree
- Asymmetric saddle
- Asymmetric saddle pads or padding
- Asymmetric wear and tear
_ _ _ _ _ No used saddles
I don’t sell any pre-used saddles, as a saddle may have hidden, invisible defects that could potentially create problems. I therefore make a point of recommending only trustworthy premium brands.
_ _ _ Testimonials
Wow! I’m thrilled to see my horses so well looked after and just feel so lucky to have met Natalie.
Natalie spent ages with me trying to find the perfect saddles for my horses, which wasn’t easy. A big thank-you for all your dedication, time and support in making these valuable improvements and for committing to keeping an eye on everything in the future.
Our daughter, Lisa, is an avid equestrian and currently rides a category-D and a category-E pony. After Natalie started her business, we asked her to check our ponies’ saddles. It turned out that one of our ponies has some back and girth issues and is sensitive on top of that, so we spent quite a bit of time trying to find a good saddle fitter. Natalie really takes time to do the best job she can and takes as much of an interest in Lisa as she does in the ponies. Both ponies improved their gait – which became both smoother and more elegant – and Lisa feels much more comfortable riding as well.
With her impeccable approach, she’s made both our ponies and our daughter happy with the results. We would certainly recommend Natalie to other pony riders and their parents!
After the physiotherapist expressed some doubts about my saddle, I scheduled an appointment with Natalie. She checked and inspected everything and was honest to me about her findings. We quickly found out there were some technical issues with my saddle, which was just one year old at the time.
My horse has started walking correctly and using the correct muscles.
Natalie even gave me some pointers on what to do with my old saddle. She wants to prevent defective saddles from getting sold on to new buyers, so she has arranged for a colleague of hers to repair this saddle. She cares as much about the rider as she does about the horse’s comfort and welfare!
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