Saddle Fitting Services at The Cheshire Horse

Woman leading a tacked up horse our of the barn

At The Cheshire Horse, we are proud to offer professional saddle fitting services for our local customers. Combined with our generous saddle trial program, professional saddle fitting gives our customers confidence that they are purchasing the best saddle for both horse and rider. Proper saddle fit is imperative to the health and well-being of your horse while also having an immense effect on their performance under saddle. For this reason, we believe that having access to a knowledgeable saddle fitter is vital during the saddle purchase process.

Cindy in her tack room
Cindy Athans in her tack room

Cindy Athans of SaddleFit and Solutions, our resident saddle fitter, has apprenticed with a master saddle fitter for three years and has attended numerous saddle manufacturer workshops, including being fully trained in Horse and Riding Technology (HART) from Bates Saddlery, Wintec, and Arena Saddles. She has participated in the British Horse Society’s Introductory Saddle Fitting Course and Flocking Course and is currently working toward her Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) Certification, an England-based saddle fitting course and exam which is set for next year; she has been fitting saddles professionally for over 20 years. Combined with a lifetime of hands-on equestrian experience as a dressage rider, eventer, natural horsemanship practitioner, barn manager, and trainer, Cindy has a passion for saddle fitting and the effect that a well-fitting saddle can have on both horse and rider.

Cindy specializes in the fitting of Bates, Wintec Synthetic, and Arena Saddles, for English riders, and Circle Y,  High Horse, Tucker, and Wintec Saddles, for Western riders. She utilizes the highly adjustable functionality of these English saddles, including interchangeable gullets and shims, to modify the saddles as needed to accommodate your horse’s unique conformation. These specific English saddles are equipped with HART  and Cair Panels for increased comfort, stability, and performance for both you and your horse. Cindy also is familiar with all of the other brands of saddles The Cheshire Horse stocks, as well as our selection of high-quality used saddles.

When fitting a saddle, Cindy will take a number of different factors into consideration, including your horse’s withers, back, shoulders, and barrel size and shape, while also evaluating your position in the saddle and your horse’s way of going. “I am always striving to provide a fitting service that supports both the horse and the rider,” Cindy says. “The comfort and freedom for the horse and the supported position of the rider is what I focus on.” With our wide selection of saddles and Cindy’s expertise, we are able to accommodate many traditionally hard-to-fit horses, such as horses with high withers or horses with wide and extra wide tree requirements. 

“It’s not just about selling the saddle, it’s about doing the right thing for the horse,” Cindy continues. “Even though there are differences in their saddle designs and fitting systems there are underlying principles when it comes to fitting for the horse’s comfort and ability to perform at his or her best. The challenges are always there in fitting the saddle to accommodate the horse’s changes as it develops through growth and training.”

Cindy is available to travel to your farm for saddle fitting, where she will bring a number of saddles to try on your horse. However, some customers prefer meeting with Cindy at our Swanzey, NH, store location, so that they can try on any and every saddle in our extensive inventory if necessary. We encourage customers to trailer their horses directly to our store, if they feel comfortable doing so. For customers who are further away, Cindy also offers video consultations to help you determine the best option for your horse.

In addition to helping you select a new saddle for your horse, Cindy is also highly skilled in modifying your current saddle to fit your horse (if possible). She is available to reflock saddles, adjust panels and gullets, and perform saddle pad consultations, as needed. Additionally, Cindy routinely performs saddle repairs, such as billet replacements and stitching repairs.

“Fitting new horses is always gratifying to find the solution that works best for both the horse and the rider,” Cindy states. “Working with the Cheshire Horse has allowed me access to a vast number of products that are available to everyone. This allows me the opportunity to solve most fitting issues as they present themselves. It is a great partnership and is always evolving as the industry changes.” 

At The Cheshire Horse, we understand that your saddle is an investment. By utilizing saddle fitting services prior to your purchase, as well as a part of your routine maintenance program, you can be confident that your saddle will withstand the rigors of daily riding, while also promoting a strong partnership between you and your horse.

From a new saddle to saddle fit solutions, we carry everything that you need to accommodate your horse’s conformation and ensure a properly fitting saddle. We encourage you to contact us to set up an appointment for a saddle fitting consultation and see how your horse’s performance can be enhanced. You can learn more about Cindy on her website, SaddleFit and Solutions.

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