We start with a clinical examination of the horse. Problem areas are highlighted and pathologies discussed. The horse’s medical history is reviewed. 

Then, we measure the horse. We trace the measurements on paper, and assess any asymmetries. Everything around the horse evolves, in a constantly changing process. No horse - or rider - is ever exactly the same over time. The horse’s tack needs to evolve along with the horse and rider. In order to allow us to work intelligently over time we store the data on file. In this way, any change will be identifiable. In extreme cases, we can take a mould of the horse’s back. 

Now we proceed to inspecting existing tack. We check that it is symmetric, the condition of the panels, the width of the gullet, etc. If the saddle is valid, we put it on the horse to check the fit. 

If our client is interested in new material, we do a static fitting at this stage. This serves the purpose of selecting a number of saddles to be tested mounted.   

During the ridden evaluation, we tack up without numnahs. This helps us analyse pressure points. We need to see horse and rider in the three paces - and over jumps, if it is a jump saddle we’re looking for. We check that the saddle fits our selection criteria, and we look and compare the horse’s paces under the different saddles tried. The rider’s feedback is essential, and any number of specifications can be tried in order to find what meets the rider’s needs.  

Only if a saddle meets our selection criteria before, during and after the ridden trial, can we recommend the saddle for that horse.  

The consultation takes the equipage into consideration, and their objectives. We can assist in assigning remedial work for poor horses. We can analyse and measure the horse’s mouth and consult on bits. We can do follow up work to guarantee that horse and rider always work with tack that fits.  

All other professionals around the horse are more than welcome at our fittings. The saddle is a very important part of the process that is riding, but it builds on the other links in the chain. In fact, the ideal case is to consult the equine dentist, osteopath, and farrier before calling the saddle fitter.  

A  consultation with ALLURES takes two hours on average. It is often interesting to group several riders and horses together for half a day or a day’s work. The consultation fee will be reduced, and everybody will learn more when more horses are examined and more saddles tested.