Your Expert Fitter

11/15/2025

If you are horse shopping and know that you need a narrow -twist-thigh-seat- really anything with the word narrow, dont buy a creature that looks like this.

This is my potato chonk princess who is a delightful sofa if you also like a wide twist. To put her in a narrow twisted saddle would be physically impossible, or outright cruel. The only compromise would be to build up the saddle sooooo tall that you compromise stability.

To understand why, lets look at the sketch. Everything in blue and teal shows where and how a proper tree would fit her, giving clearance for her spine and ligaments, and allowing the saddle to wrap around her for ample security without sticky pads. The red is what a narrow twist would look like if put on her back. You can see how that would inhibit her topline from lifting, and put pressure on the structures that cannot take weight. It also doesn't look terribly stable.

Us fitters have some tricks up our sleeves to make things more accommodating, like stirrup bar placementsand seat bellies, but a true mismatch where horse and rider are on opposite ends of the spectrum is an impossible ask.

10/27/2025

Check out the inside of an 8 year old foam paneled French saddle.

10/25/2025

This is something I talk about openly with my clients because supporting your changing body is VITAL to continuing to be able to ride comfortably. If you are a dressage rider experiencing discomfort, we need to talk about Famous Saddles and the Intimaseat.

Menopause is a natural chapter in many women’s lives, but it doesn’t have to signal the end of their time in the saddle. 💪

Learn how it can affect performance and what you can do to keep riding strong. ➡️ https://www.usef.org/media/equestrian-weekly/how-menopause-can-impact-equestrian-performance

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10/25/2025

Good morning from the New England coast ⛵️🦞 Tasida Kiley is away at a CE conference covering Equine Podiatry and Biomechanics.

10/25/2025

Sandhills Starter Show Championship is this weekend! Sign up to enjoy this amazing supportive show series we sponsor

10/22/2025

I rarely get to sit and eat, but when I do, its usually a random roadside eatery that may or may not have air conditioning. This tomato is soooo good 😋

10/16/2025

We are excited to be adding to our treeless and ultraflex tree lineup of saddles, as well as shimmable pads for all disciplines, and even bitless bridles with EDIX saddles & bitless bridles

10/15/2025

We've been having a BLAST riding in the Signum Paddle which offers the security of a saddle, and the flexibility and closeness of a ba****ck pad. We stock the original Paddle and the Spring Paddle which simulates a more forward flap of a GP or jump saddle.

10/05/2025

At YEF, our tracings are a vital piece of information. A single tracing holds all the information necessary to hand make a saddle for a horse. It also has information on how that horse is holding themselves and using themselves, thanks to the metrics we use and a consistent means of measuring.
A series of tracings tells the story of that horse, how they are progressing, where they need more focus, and it can also spot changes that could indicate injury or pathology before we otherwise would notice.
To start us off, here is a series of tracings on the same horse. After one of these tracings, the horse was immediately pulled from riding, and the vet was called for a complete workup, despite moving evenly! There was an increase in weight starting around May of 2025 of about 50lbs, otherwise weight has remained constant.

Which tracing do you think was the cause for alarm, and why?

10/04/2025

Saddle Fitter Spotlight:
Saddle Fitter, Georgia, Kristyn Dudley

Kristyn grew up foxhunting in the outskirts of Charlotte NC, and her career in horses has spanned many disciplines and landscapes. She has lead pack horses through the mountains of Utah, managed Arabian breeding stock, and been the home groom for Olympian McLain Ward. Her long-time specialty has been rehabbing horses from injury back to full performance.
She now resides in the NE region of Georgia and enjoys developing foxhunting horses for equestrians of all abilities. Kristyn has an unwavering commitment to putting horses first and a keen ability to listen to their needs, developing trust, balance, and longevity.
Kristyn’s passion for saddlery was born from her time training horses and seeing that so many horses improve merely with properly fitting tack, as well as seeing what a difference the right saddle can make for the rider. She has undergone extensive training with YEF and is pursuing her qualifications with the SMS as well. Her saddle fitting education, combined with her experience with world class equestrians, allows Kristyn to bring to you a saddle fitting experience unlike any other.