Saddle Fitting
Whether you’re worried about a saddle you already have, or shopping for the perfect fit, saddle fit can have an enormous impact on comfort and performance— just ask your horse!
A poor-fitting saddle can be seen in attitude changes of the horse, decline in performance, atrophy of muscles, short-term lameness or long-term crippling of the animal.
Because my goal is to serve as an impartial advocate for horse and rider, I don’t represent any saddle company, take a commission of sales, and typically don’t have saddles available to try.
A saddle fitting session may include:
One-on-one saddle placement tutorial
Evaluating conformation and gait analysis
Testing for back pain or injury
Measurement for back tracings
Structural evaluation of the saddle
Fit check of saddle to horse and rider
Written evaluation appropriate to deliver to your saddlemaker, veterinarian, or insurance.
$85 USD per horse
+$50 USD FOR BACK TRACINGS
$35 USD SAVINGS for Saddle checks
with WELLNESS THERAPIES session
+ travel costs
SADDLE MAINTENANCE
The saddle is one of the costliest investments an equestrian makes. Protect that investment with regular saddle maintenance and ensure a safe and comfortable ride for you and your horse. Over time, the flocking in saddle panels can compress or become lumpy and hard. Sometimes, if the flocking is in good condition and the saddle has an external access point in the panel, it’s possible to add flocking to improve the fit for your horse. Other times, it’s necessary to remove the panel from the saddle to access the flocking or to completely remove and replace the flocking which takes considerably more effort. Billets and webbing are other critical parts of the saddle that sometimes require replacement.
All modifications are generally done in the studio unless other arrangements are made in advance. To ensure optimum performance over time, I offer three types of flocking to match what is already in your saddle: Jacob wool, Long fiber wool, or 80% wool/20% synthetic blend. Ideally, I prefer to check the fit with horse and rider before and after reflocking to ensure that we have achieved the perfect fit, but saddles can be shipped if preferred. Review the shipping process HERE.
Saddle Maintenance services are charged in addition to a Saddle Fitting session.
$150 USD OVERFLOCK
$265 USD DROP PANEL + OVERFLOCK
$300 USD Complete Reflock
$140 USD Billet Replacement
+ Shipping Or Delivery Travel Costs
WELLNESS TherapIES
Massage, stretching, and specialized techniques like trigger point release, stress point treatment, myofascial release, Manual Ligament Therapy™, circulatory massage, lymphatic drainage, and kinesio-taping can be powerful tools for your horse's well-being. Massage is used in different ways for a variety of reasons and situations, but they all share the core benefits of massage:
Removal of metabolic wastes
Release of naturally occurring endorphins
Lengthening of muscle fibers to decrease the likelihood of overuse or stress-related injury
Improved immune function by stimulating the lymphatic system
Prevention of chronic conditions by monitoring and early detection.
There are several types of massage sessions designed to meet specific needs. READ MORE ABOUT MASSAGE
ACUPRESSURE
Acupressure is a gentle modality developed over thousands of years, which focuses on restoring balance and smooth flow of Qi (a.k.a. 'Chi') throughout the body. This ancient TCM modality recognizes and honors the mind-body connection and can be used to balance emotional states in addition to mending the body or providing pain relief. By detecting and addressing imbalances early, you can often catch them before they escalate to serious infections or chronic conditions which require veterinary care.
In treatment, physical pressure is applied to specific points on the body to influence flow through the meridian. Unlike Acupuncture, no needles are used.
Acupressure is a wonderful tool for supporting general health, influencing recovery, and managing pain without medication, but isn't a replacement for veterinary care. If your horse is experiencing fever, signs of infection, or a physical emergency, please call your vet immediately.
$85 USD Single Session + travel costs
$225 USD/ 3 SESSION PACKAGE (saves $30)
$425 USD/ 6 SESSION PACKAGE (Saves $85)
$650 USD/ 10 SESSION PACKAGE (saves $200)
ABOUT SUZE WOOD
I'm a master saddle-fitting consultant and equine wellness therapist based in Waitsburg, Washington who specializes in sustaining and optimizing performance for competitive equine athletes, supporting the recovery process for horses who are ill or have been injured, and geriatric support.
A lifelong animal lover, my interest in equine biomechanics and bodywork was sparked in 2010 after observing the physical changes and challenges my horse Duke went through when changing disciplines to begin a new jumping training program. After several years of self-directed study I decided to follow my passion and dedicated myself to improving the comfort and well-being of horses.
I've completed 450 hours of intensive training through the Northwest School of Animal Massage, including anatomy & physiology, kinesiology, advanced massage techniques, acupressure, horse behavior, handling, and energy work. I’ve been nationally certified by the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure & Massage and licensed in the state of Washington. In 2019 I added saddle fitting to my service offerings, receiving training and certification through the international Master Saddle Fitting Consultants organization.
The majority of my clients are in the Pacific Northwest, but I'm a seasoned globe-trotter who gladly travels internationally and throughout the United States to serve horses and the riders who love them.
photography by Reema Al-Zaben
Washington State License #AM60568871
NBCAAM Certificate # M-125-15
