Western Saddle Fit DVD

[Houlihan Saddlery]

I'm starting to retail this DVD called Western Saddle Fit-The Basics. Rod Nikkel has built saddle trees for 20 plus years. He has spent his career getting the correct information out there with his blogs and now this DVD. Being a saddle maker myself it gets really frustrating with amount of misinformation that is going around. This is one the best saddle fit videos out there that gives reliable information. Even though it says basics any skill level can take something from it. 
Here’s what’s included:
Introduction or “Why we think we have something useful to say.”
Basic Principles of saddle fit
Parts of the tree
Tree factors that affect fit
Bar misconceptions
Parts of the saddle
Saddle factors that affect fit
Safety
Evaluating a horse for fit
Seeing a tree on a horse
Evaluating a saddle without padding
Evaluating a saddle with padding
Signs of saddle fit problems
Effect of the rider
Padding
Saddling
Conclusion or “It’s really not that complicated.”
They are $34.95 plus sales tax for ND residents. Shipping is $7.15 if shipped within the lower 48. 

[oltoot]

I'm probably going to ignite a firestorm here but in my 50+ years associated with saddles and horses,( I'm a saddlemaker and saddle user), i've developed a sore spot about "saddle fitting" To be sure, I much preferred that my customers know, not just believe but actually know, something about trees and riggings and equine anatomy but fundamental was that a decent saddle should outlast a few decent horses so "groups" of horses and "groups" of trees should be the emphasis, not exact, microscopic adjustment to the tune of a specific partner. Once a decision is made, individual accommodations can be achieved with padding, rigging adjustment, etc. IOW, if the expectation from a SF exercise is that exact fit of every horse for the rest of our time, the bar needs to be set at a more realistic height. 

[bikermutt07]

1 hour ago, oltoot said:

I'm probably going to ignite a firestorm here but in my 50+ years associated with saddles and horses,( I'm a saddlemaker and saddle user), i've developed a sore spot about "saddle fitting" To be sure, I much preferred that my customers know, not just believe but actually know, something about trees and riggings and equine anatomy but fundamental was that a decent saddle should outlast a few decent horses so "groups" of horses and "groups" of trees should be the emphasis, not exact, microscopic adjustment to the tune of a specific partner. Once a decision is made, individual accommodations can be achieved with padding, rigging adjustment, etc. IOW, if the expectation from a SF exercise is that exact fit of every horse for the rest of our time, the bar needs to be set at a more realistic height. 

Just for curiosity's sake.... (I don't plan to make a saddle, just curious)

So you are saying, once you have a saddle made for your horse, in the future keep the size of horse and saddle in mind for future horse purchases?

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

1 hour ago, oltoot said:

I'm probably going to ignite a firestorm here but in my 50+ years associated with saddles and horses,( I'm a saddlemaker and saddle user), i've developed a sore spot about "saddle fitting" To be sure, I much preferred that my customers know, not just believe but actually know, something about trees and riggings and equine anatomy but fundamental was that a decent saddle should outlast a few decent horses so "groups" of horses and "groups" of trees should be the emphasis, not exact, microscopic adjustment to the tune of a specific partner. Once a decision is made, individual accommodations can be achieved with padding, rigging adjustment, etc. IOW, if the expectation from a SF exercise is that exact fit of every horse for the rest of our time, the bar needs to be set at a more realistic height. 

You'll get no argument from me on that philosophy.  Add to it that while poor saddle fit certainly CAN cause behavioral issues in a horse, I think a lot of behavioral issues get blamed on saddle fit when in fact it's pilot error and too many horsey treats by well meaning people who are certain their horse loves them with it's whole heart and would never ever do anything wrong without a very valid reason (besides the fact that the spoiled rotten barn pet would rather stand and eat all day with his buddies.)  However, the saddle fitting video in question does not disagree with our position either, and the Nikkels will be the first to admit that they do not microfit trees.  I bought the video myself, just to see if it would be something I would recommend to my clients.  I see the same misinformation on FB day after day regarding saddle fit, gullet widths, etc. I think the video is geared toward people who don't in fact know how to fit a saddle, and is an attempt by the Nikkels to dispel some of the myths that are flying around out there.  I seriously thought about carrying the video for resale in my shop, but an informal poll of my clients showed that I would not get my investment back.  Maybe it would be one of those impulse purchases that once they're standing there ready to check out, they grab at the last minute, but I just felt my money could be better spent on something that would regain my investment more quickly.  I wish the Nikkels all the luck in the world at marketing their video, and do hope that they can realize enough profit (or even keep their money together on the original one) to make their second video.  I feel it always helps to have another professional back up what I try to tell my customers, and the video does that. 

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

14 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

Just for curiosity's sake.... (I don't plan to make a saddle, just curious)

So you are saying, once you have a saddle made for your horse, in the future keep the size of horse and saddle in mind for future horse purchases?

I think most people buy horses based on the individual horse they are considering purchasing.  If that means they have to get a different saddle, then so be it.  However, many people tend to favor a "type" of horse, such as a thick built, squatty, mutton withered type, or a more angular better backed and withered type, so it would stand to reason that they could keep and use the same saddle on future horses.  It does not usually make sense to have a saddle built specifically for one horse that has an odd back that nothing else available will fit, in fact most tree and saddle makers won't do it.  The handmade saddles (and all saddles really) are more often built to fit a range of horses within a set of parameters.  If Denise Nikkel comes along, she will be able to explain this much better than I can.

[bikermutt07]

3 minutes ago, Big Sioux Saddlery said:

I think most people buy horses based on the individual horse they are considering purchasing.  If that means they have to get a different saddle, then so be it.  However, many people tend to favor a "type" of horse, such as a thick built, squatty, mutton withered type, or a more angular better backed and withered type, so it would stand to reason that they could keep and use the same saddle on future horses.  It does not usually make sense to have a saddle built specifically for one horse that has an odd back that nothing else available will fit, in fact most tree and saddle makers won't do it.  The handmade saddles (and all saddles really) are more often built to fit a range of horses within a set of parameters.  If Denise Nikkel comes along, she will be able to explain this much better than I can.

Thanks, that's good enough for my curiosity level.