Saddle Fitter for Trilogy Performance Saddlery

by Cheryl Erpelding

Angie Taylor has been riding dressage for over 30 years and has ridden in almost everyone of the leading brands of dressage saddles. The first time she sat in a Trilogy saddle 10 years ago, she bought it right then and sold her saddle the next day. She was so impressed with the quality of the saddle and the company, that two years ago she completed the extensive 5-day training program owner Debbie Witty requires of her fitters. Debbie follows up with “On-the-Job Training,” coaching the saddle fitters every step of the way. She also has annual training which is required to be a fitter for Trilogy.

With her knowledge of dressage riding and training, the step into saddle fitting made perfect sense for Angie. She got into saddle fitting, because she was having a hard time finding a good fitter and getting help in a reasonable amount of time. A good saddle fit is one of the most important keys to helping horses move better and help riders to sit better. The training includes learning how to use the saddle fitting tools, what kind of wool to use, how the saddle panels affect the horse’s back and how the shape of the horse’s back impact’s the saddle fitting, and more. Angie is excited to be a part of the fitting team, as Debbie is always there to consult with the fitters via FaceTime and give every customer the customized fitting they need to help their horse’s perform at their best.

One of the most important concepts Angie wants to get across is that many people don’t realize that they should check their saddle fit every 6-8 months. Dressage horses, as they move up the levels, change the shape of their backs. Also when a horse gains or loses weight the saddle fit changes. Saddles need to be reflocked and make sure the transitions of the saddle panels are smooth and have even contact. There is more to saddle fit than just checking to see if the saddle clears the withers. Every saddle is different and every horse is different. Angie highly encourages all riders to read Debbie Witty’s “Seven Saddle-Fit Points that Every Rider Should Know” article which is on her website www.PerformanceSaddlery.com.