Willow was a rising 5-year-old Irish Sports Horse just starting her ridden career. Her owner contacted me for an initial saddle fit, knowing that as a young horse, Willow’s shape would be changing rapidly. At her first appointment, Willow had a typical young horse outline: slightly downhill, underdeveloped topline, and asymmetry behind the shoulders. The owner was keen to avoid causing any discomfort or restriction that might set Willow up for long-term issues — particularly as the horse was still growing, both in frame and confidence.

We started by taking a full template of Willow’s back, including wither and rib cage profiling, to establish a baseline. From there, I fitted a lightweight, close-contact jump saddle with adjustable gullets and wool-flocked panels. This gave us the ability to make precise adjustments over time as Willow’s musculature developed. To support the fit long-term, we scheduled a 3-month follow-up, and I worked with the owner to build a walk-focused groundwork and hill work programme, ensuring Willow was developing balance and straightness without a rider before progressing under saddle.
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‍Within just a few months, Willow’s back showed clear signs of development. Her withers lifted, the shoulder asymmetry had reduced, and her overall posture improved. When I re-templated her at the follow-up, we were able to make small flocking adjustments to keep the saddle balanced — without needing a full refit. Her rider noticed a significant improvement in Willow’s willingness to move forward and lift through her back, particularly in transitions and over poles. By prioritising fit from the beginning and keeping a close eye on development, we set Willow up for long-term comfort and performance.