SADDLE FITTING INSIGHTS - FEBRUARY 2026 EDITION
- Academy Team
- Feb 18
- 3 min read
Learning. Welfare. Professional Confidence.
February has been a powerful reminder of why education, collaboration and professional standards matter so much in saddle fitting. From welcoming new students into advanced training, to navigating the realities of winter horse management, this month has been all about adapting, learning and supporting horses responsibly.
🎓 WELCOME TO OUR LATEST STAGE 3 COHORT
Earlier this month, we were delighted to welcome another outstanding cohort of students to their Stage 3 Professional Saddle Fitting Award practical week.
This group truly reflected the global reach of the IASF, with international students joining us alongside experienced saddle fitters seeking to formalise their credentials and benchmark their work against recognised professional standards.
The standard across the group was exceptionally high—as we’ve come to expect—with thoughtful assessment, strong clinical reasoning and a clear commitment to equine welfare throughout the week.
To all our Stage 3 students: welcome to the next level of your professional journey.
🌧️ WINTER REALITY CHECK: RAIN, RESTRICTED TURNOUT & SADDLE FIT
With the exceptional rainfall across the UK this winter, many horses have experienced reduced or restricted field time. While this is often unavoidable, it can have knock-on effects that are easy to overlook.
What We’re Seeing:
Reduced movement
Changes in muscle tone and topline
Weight fluctuations
Stiffer backs and joints
Why This Matters for Saddle Fit
When a horse’s way of going or muscle development changes—even subtly—the saddle fit can change with it. A saddle that fitted well in autumn may now:
Sit differently through the panel
Bridge or rock
Lose balance or stability
Create pressure points as the horse’s shape adapts to their environment
This is a key time to review and adjust saddle fit, particularly as work resumes or intensity increases. Proactive checks now can prevent discomfort, resistance and longer-term issues as we move toward spring.
Happy horses don’t just come from good turnout—they come from thoughtful management and appropriate tack.
💻 VIRTUAL CASE STUDY CLUB – TOMORROW
🕖 7:00 PM GMT
Our next Case Study Club session is running tomorrow evening, and it’s your
chance to:
Work through a real saddle fitting case
Explore horse and rider considerations
Discuss fitting challenges and management options
Learn how other professionals approach the same problem
These sessions are collaborative, supportive, and designed to sharpen your clinical reasoning—whether you’re still learning or already in practice.
📍 IN-PERSON CPD DAY – MARCH 11TH, 2026
Solving Saddle Fit Through Design
📍 Walsall, UK
Join us for an immersive CPD day where we take a complex case study and explore how saddle design choices can be used to solve real-world fitting challenges.
This day bridges theory, anatomy and manufacturer insight—an essential skill for today’s professional saddle fitter.
🆕 NEW VIRTUAL CPD: SADDLE FITTERS ROUND TABLE
We’re excited to introduce a brand-new CPD format: Saddle Fitters Round Table.
These virtual sessions will tackle big, often uncomfortable—but critically important—topics within saddle fitting, ethics, welfare and professional responsibility.
👉 We’re currently running a poll to choose the first topic. Have your say:
🐴 1. Rider Weight & Saddle Fit: Welfare, Fairness, or Taboo? Where does responsibility lie—and should saddle fitters even be part of this conversation?
🚗 2. “Staying in Your Lane”: Where Does Saddle Fitting End?Should saddle fitters comment on lameness, biomechanics, or pain—or strictly refer and step back?
🏔️ 3. Compromise in Saddle Fit: Necessary Reality or Slippery Slope?When is “good enough” acceptable, and when does compromise cross an ethical line?
🐎 4. The Horse vs the Rider: Who Comes First When Needs Conflict?If you can’t fit both perfectly, how do you decide—and who decides?
🫸 5. Should Saddle Fitters Ever Refuse to Fit a Saddle? If so, under what circumstances—and what responsibility follows that decision?
These sessions are designed to challenge thinking, encourage respectful debate and strengthen professional confidence.
🌍 JOIN THE IASF GLOBAL NETWORK
Exclusive Content. Member Discounts. Professional Support.
Becoming part of the IASF Global Network gives you access to:
Exclusive educational content
Discounts on CPD events and training
Virtual discussions and expert-led sessions
A global community committed to equine welfare and professional excellence
Whether you’re a horse owner, student, or qualified saddle fitter, this is where learning meets collaboration.
👉 Join the IASF Global Network today and invest in your professional future.
✨ Until Next Time
Thank you for being part of a community that values education, ethics, and the horse at the centre of every decision.
We look forward to learning with you—online, in person
and around the (virtual) table.
IASF – Working together for the good of the horse 🐴
Comments