Jess Parsons Equine

Jess Parsons Equine LANTRA Accredited Independent qualified saddle fitter (level 4) providing Saddle & bit fitting across Ireland.

Checking your own saddles for fit & soundness as well as flocking saddles and fitting/supplying new saddles & bits.

Have you ever wondered if your saddle is affecting how your horse goes?Because sometimes the signs are there — we just d...
11/03/2026

Have you ever wondered if your saddle is affecting how your horse goes?

Because sometimes the signs are there — we just don't always know what we're looking at.

Before you even get on:
• Ears back or tension when the saddle comes out
• Reluctance to stand at the mounting block
• A change in general behaviour or attitude around tack time
• Back soreness or sensitivity when you run your hands along the top line - and quite common around clipping season, horse not tolerating clippers along where the saddle/girth sits

On the flat:
• Reluctance to go forward, feeling stuck or behind the leg
• Short striding, choppy, uneven way of going
• Not tracking up or working through from behind
• Difficulty bending or staying consistent on one rein - feeling wooden, not wanting to strike off on correct lead or changing behind
• Tail swishing, teeth grinding or ears pinned under saddle
• A general feeling that something is just a little bit off

Jumping:
• Rushing fences or becoming flat on the approach
• Knocking poles
• Losing confidence, ducking out or stopping
• Landing awkwardly or feeling unbalanced on landing
• Not coming up through over the fence, losing the ability to bascule
• Landing on same leg constantly
• Stressy when jumps start to come out

The one who used to love their job and somewhere along the way — stopped.

When a saddle fits well, something shifts. Horses are incredibly honest — when the pressure is gone, when the balance is right, when they can move through their back freely — they tell you that too.

You might feel it as more swing through their back. A rounder, softer way of going. A horse that suddenly wants to go forward rather than being pushed. Less resistance. Balance. Consistant rhythm. Coming up and over a fence freely. That feeling of everything just flowing easier than it did before. Effortless compared to before. And more often than not a sense of quiet. No hustle and bustle and feeling busy, but a quietness. This one in particular is gold.

And sometimes a rider pulls up and just says — "that's my horse" - "I feel him swinging, I can really feel him underneath me" - "I can't believe I didn't do this sooner"

That's what a saddle fitting can do. That's why it matters.

This is why I love what I do. It's about that moment right there ♥️

This is so important!!! Anyone who tells me they had a saddle fitter out who didnt have them ride... you've some questio...
10/03/2026

This is so important!!! Anyone who tells me they had a saddle fitter out who didnt have them ride... you've some questions to ask!

There is only a handful of circumstances where this is not possible - but 99% of the time this is incredibly important, static fit vs ridden fit can be completely different!

In the last 3 weeks I have turned away 6 saddle sales — and stopped fittings mid-session because the horse in front of m...
10/03/2026

In the last 3 weeks I have turned away 6 saddle sales — and stopped fittings mid-session because the horse in front of me wasn't 100%. And I'd do it again every single time.

Here's why.

A saddle fitting should be the start of something brilliant — a horse going better, a rider feeling more secure, a partnership and connection between horse and rider working the way it should. But sometimes, when I arrive, I can see that we're not quite there yet. And I'd rather be honest with you than take your money.

In those 6 cases — no saddle, however perfectly fitted, was going to fix what was going on underneath. Putting a saddle on a horse that isn't ready isn't a fitting, and selling you a saddle regardless is not morally right. And that's not something I'm willing to do.

So instead I referred back. To vets. To physios. To dentists. To nutritionists. To the people who can actually help right now. And we wait for the all clear before we go any further. Because once we're all on the same page — working as a unit together — that's when we can give you and your horse the best possible outcome.

I want the process to be right, not just done. I genuinely care about what happens after I leave your yard. And if something isn't right — if your horse is telling us something — then the kindest thing I can do is listen to that, refer you to the right people, and come back when the time is right.

And to every owner in that situation — the fact that you're looking, asking questions and getting things checked? That tells me everything about the owner that you are. Your horse is in good hands.

Some of my favourite fittings have been the ones that took a little longer to get to. Because we did it properly🫶♥️

Why do saddle fitters charge a call-out fee?Whether it's a new fitting or a current saddle check — and regular checks re...
09/03/2026

Why do saddle fitters charge a call-out fee?

Whether it's a new fitting or a current saddle check — and regular checks really matter, horses change shape, work changes, seasons change — the fee reflects a full professional service.

It covers fuel, mileage, insurance, qualifications, CPD, hours of travel, and a van full of carefully selected stock. Not one saddle and a hope.

That stock is bought, maintained, cleaned and updated constantly. I travel to brands, visit headquarters, go to different countries to know exactly what I'm putting on your horse's back.

There's no PA, no team. Just me — which means every call, text, message and enquiry is me too, long before I've loaded the van.

When you buy through me you're not just buying a saddle. You're buying the fitting, the aftercare, the accountability. I can't always compete on price vs the bigger shops, I do try my very best, but I'm not always able to compete with the big guys. But I can compete on everything that matters. ♥️

Because the goal was never to sell you a saddle — it was always to provide a service. And honestly? I love every minute of it. Seeing you and your horses happy, comfortable and having fun together — there really is no better job in the world. ♥️🍀♥️🐴

Where has February taken us 🥰
26/02/2026

Where has February taken us 🥰

26/02/2026

Following on from a previous post about behaviour and pain, how interesting is this? A recent paper describes a 14-year-old Welsh competition pony presented for explosive, dangerous behaviour in canter, just three weeks after a change of ownership. She was referred for investigations and later found to have malformed spine and an extra rib!

Previously, the mare had competed in low-level dressage and showjumping. On arrival with her new owners, a mild hindlimb lameness was noted, which didn't resolve with rest - what escalated was her behaviour under saddle. On examination she had:
• Marked epaxial muscle atrophy over the mid-thoracic spine
• Visible right-sided scoliosis
• Severe restriction in thoracic flexion and extension (T9–T12)
• Pain reactions on palpation and mobilisation
• Stiffness and difficulty maintaining canter leads
• No neurological deficits

Radiographs revealed abnormal vertebral bodies, partial fusion between T11–T12, an additional malformed spinous process, and mild kyphosis.

Postmortem CT confirmed complex congenital thoracic malformations, including:
• Scoliosis centred at T10
• Partial vertebral fusion
• Abnormally shaped vertebral bodies
• A malformed additional rib with altered rib-to-spine articulations
• Degenerative changes in multiple articular and costovertebral joints

In simple terms: the spine was structurally abnormal from birth. Over time, altered biomechanics likely increased mechanical stress, restricted motion, and contributed to pain, particularly at canter, where spinal motion demands increase significantly.

What makes this case especially important is the timeline: the pony had worked previously - she had competed. The behavioural escalation followed a change in ownership and management which the authors suggest could be due to compensatory mechanisms gradually failing, or that subtle discomfort had previously been attributed just to temperament.

This paper reinforces several key points:
• Not all back pain is kissing spines.
• Not all pain presents with neurological deficits.
• Structural abnormalities can exist in mature, functional horses.
• Behavioural change (especially after changes in rider, workload or management) deserves investigation.

Importantly, the authors stress that severe imaging findings alone are not an automatic indication for euthanasia. Findings should always be interpreted in context and with correlation to clinical symptoms. But when behaviour changes, particularly in a previously “coping” horse, it’s certainly worth asking why. This paper also highlights how sometimes the story starts long before the behaviour becomes impossible to ignore - right back when the horse was developing in the womb!

If you have any concerns about your horse's behaviour or think a work-up is needed, do feel free to contact us to discuss and we can arrange a visit with Emiliano!

Read the full paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0737080626000365?dgcid=author

When you take a saddle on trial... and come home with two red ones 😁♥️Sitting pretty in the gorgeous GPX by Black Countr...
22/02/2026

When you take a saddle on trial... and come home with two red ones 😁♥️

Sitting pretty in the gorgeous GPX by Black Country Saddles and honestly, what a way to spend a Sunday 🫶

This is exactly why we do what we do — happy horses, happy riders! 🏆

♥️🍀♥️When you are surrounded by the best brands in the world — with such a vast range of options to choose from across t...
20/02/2026

♥️🍀♥️

When you are surrounded by the best brands in the world — with such a vast range of options to choose from across trees, leather options and customisations — finding the right saddle becomes an enjoyable and easy experience 🫶

I'm switching over to Equigate to manage all my templates, records and notes going forward — keeping everything organise...
20/02/2026

I'm switching over to Equigate to manage all my templates, records and notes going forward — keeping everything organised in one place!

To all my amazing existing clients, I'd really appreciate if you could download the app and fill in your details ahead of any upcoming appointments ♥️

Then save me as your practitioner so we're all set and ready to go! 👌
My practitioner number is B73838 — just search this in the app! 🐎

It'll make everything so much smoother for both of us — less paper which has been getting lost and damaged, more time focusing on you! 💪

Download the Equigate app today and let's get you set up! ♥️

Well hello and welcome Jeffries Saddlery 👏👏♥️🍀This is just gorgeous 🥹This particular model is the Jeffries Jump 17.5", L...
19/02/2026

Well hello and welcome Jeffries Saddlery 👏👏♥️🍀

This is just gorgeous 🥹

This particular model is the Jeffries Jump 17.5", Liberty tree, wide.

Fancy a demo? Get in touch!!

♥️Bates Saddles Apex🫶
18/02/2026

♥️

Bates Saddles Apex🫶

The best job in the world. ♥️
18/02/2026

The best job in the world.

♥️

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0851661093

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