Testimonials
 
Sally Williment
As a McTimoney Therapist, Eiddwen is highly aware of the problems that badly fitting saddles can cause.  This puts her a cut above most saddle fitters and gives me great confidence in her skills.  Eiddwen is very observant and has been of great help over the years accessing my ponies movement and adjusting his saddle fit to help him be more comfortable. At times she has gone above and beyod with her time, not leaving until she has achieved the optimum saddle fit. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her services."
 
Lindsay Culkin
Eiddwen has been my saddle fitter for many years, she was a great asset in making sure my competition horse was comfy and able to perform, keeping us both happy to do a huge variety of riding, from hacking to eventing."
 
Briony Sparks
"If you have a horse that's basically built like a barrel with legs, you need Eiddwen in your life. My cob Cinder is a saddle fitter's nightmare; short-backed, big shoulders and round all over! Eiddwen is endlessly patient, incredibly knowledgeable and puts up with my 8 million questions.  She really takes the time to understand you and your horse as a partnership and makes sensible, practical recommendations that fitwithin your budget. Cinder adores her McTimoney treatments so much she usually dozes off with a droopy lower lip. Cannot recommend highly enough!"
 
NIkki Shepherd
"Eiddwen is the amazing saddle fitter for my two mares, she also massages my beautiful ex Polo horse, who really benefits from Eiddwen's magic hands."
 
 
JIll Bendall
"Eiddwen you have been brilliant with Don, sorting out his saddle for him and treating him a few times too because he really wasn't in a good condition when I got him. Then coming to do a saddle check and giving him a treatment in the end because the lanky idiot had a fight with a water bucket and came off worse!"
 

 

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ANIMAL-BALANCE

 

 

 

 

Holistic Approach to Saddle Fitting:

 

The influence of saddle fit on horse and rider is an essential component of equine performance. To achieve harmony horse and rider must be in perfect balance, free from restriction and discomfort.  All too often riders are unable to sit in the correct balanced position or find themselves tipped forwards or back by a saddle that is not correctly balanced.  Likewise too many horses are restricted by a badly fitting saddle, resulting in muscle tension, pain and atrophy.

 

ABOUT THE PRACTITIONER               MSFC QUALIFICATION

 

Atrophy of the back muscles could be a sign that your saddle may be causing a restriction

 

Signs that your saddle needs checking include:

 

THE HORSE:

  • Muscle wastage / lack of topline / uneven development
  • Reactive behaviour when being saddled or girthed up
  • Reluctance to stand quietly to be mounted
  • Heat, pain or swelling under the saddle
  • White scar hairs or saddle sores
  • Behavioural changes - napping, bucking, refusal to go forwards, head tossing, jogging or tense movement

THE RIDER:

  • Difficulty achieving the correct shoulder-hip-heel alignment
  • Legs are pushed forwards and seat tipped back
  • Difficulty rising to the trot
  • Getting left behind during transitions or jumping
  • Difficulty applying the aids clearly
  • Feeling tipped forwards as though riding down hill
  • Slipping or sitting to one side

As an animal therapist we understand the importance of an holistic approach to all aspects of the horse, this is especially important when assessing saddle fit.  If the body is not correctly aligned the saddle can not sit in balance, likewise if the saddle or rider are not straight this will lead to imbalances in the horse. A full assessment of the horse's conformation and movement is undertaken at each saddle assessment, in addition  your horse will also be checked for any musculoskeletal pain or restrictions.