Custom Saddles

At Saddlery Solutions we have redefined what custom means in saddle-making! The options for customization are practically endless. Once you have ridden in one of our custom saddles you will never want to ride in an off-the-rack saddle again. Our saddles are highly specialized to maximize you and your horse's comfort and performance. Below we will walk you through the saddle making process and discuss the options for customization. We always welcome your feedback and questions. Please feel free to email us at info@jrd-tack.com. So here are just a few of the things that make us different... First we start with a laminated wood and steel tree (first picture below).The wood offers the right amount of give while the steel keeps the tree strong and maintains it's shape. The structure of the tree is extremely important and can negatively impact the horse's back if incorrect. The steel across the pommel i s to keep the head of the tree immobile.
We also take into consideration the length of the points, which are where the tree ends underneath the stirrup bars. The height of the horse's withers should determine the length of the points. The waist should be wide enough that the tree does not create pressure points above the the horse's trapezius muscles. We use three different widths depending on the horse's trapezius muscles. Next we build your seat using large strips of nylon that are pulled very tightly to create the correct amount of flatness or curvature from front to back and side to side. How this nylon is pulled determines the twist the saddle and the balance of the seat, which impacts both horse and rider.

Now the skeleton of the saddle is built and we start building the seat to the specifications of the rider's measurements. A thick layer of foam is put on the seat and then shaved down to conform to the structure of the rider's body. This helps us to further fine tune the balance of the seat so that the rider sits exactly in the correct place and is able to stay in perfect balance with the horse.
We then construct the exterior of the saddle, stretch leather over the seat, and make the panels and the flaps. We flock all of our saddles with 100% wool flocking which will not add extra heat on the horses back and clump up as synthetic fibers do. All custom saddles have flaps that are cut to fit the riders legs and the rider can choose how straight they want their legs to fall.
We also custom make the thigh blocks or kneerolls to fit each rider's legs. They can be as small or large, as the rider prefers, creating anything from very little support to full knee and thigh stability. Your saddle is then shipped to you. Within 3 months after purchase your saddle is checked for fit.