The 9 Points of Saddle Fitting Checklist

The 9 core principles of saddle fitting that EVERY saddle should adhere to. 


If you want to help protect your equine partner from PREVENTABLE saddle-related pain,

injury and lameness, you need this checklist. 


A quick and easy way to check your own saddle and know when it may be time to call out a CSE.


The 9 Points focuses on the core principles of saddle fitting that is used for ALL saddle styles and disciplines, ensuring it does not impede or damage the structures o the horse while simultaneously allowing for full freedom of movement and comfort. 


The Tip of the Iceberg

These 9 points will give you insight into where the issues with your saddle are, and an idea of whether or not its fixable. It's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to saddle fitting, and a piece of the 80+ point evaluation we use to determine overall fit issues and solutions. 

Protect Your Horse

Protect your horse (and yourself!) with the core principles of saddle fitting, and learn to quickly identify when there is a problem to prevent it from escalating into something bigger, and possibly causing permanent damage. 


You are the voice for your horse, arm yourself with the knowledge you need to speak up against questionable fitting methods that can leave your horse crippled or behaving dangerously. 

Avoid Preventable Injuries

See what our students from around the world are saying! 
From professional riders, to bodyworkers and licensed veterinarians, our students come from all regions and walks of life, with all sharing the same passion for protecting horses and riders from PREVENTABLE injury, discomfort and pain caused by ill-fitting saddles. 

Pavlina Plevková

The Certified Equine Ergonomist course exceeded my expectations. Over the last few years, I have become more interested in saddle fitting, mainly because of my pony mare. I wanted to find a comprehensive educational program where I would learn what to focus on when choosing a saddle and what to look out for.

After a coincidence, I enrolled in the Saddlefit4life educational program and I am glad that I decided to do so. The course was very comprehensive, information based on knowledge of horse anatomy and biomechanics. I gained a lot of new information, skills and I began to understand the context. At the same time, I was thrilled by the saddle fit, so I will definitely be educating and improving in this direction.

sarah-joy cottingham

The CEE course has been incredibly comprehensive and insightful. The knowledge I have gained has already significantly helped me in my Equine Body Therapy and horse training work which is the main reason I undertook this course.

I never intended to train in saddle fitting, I had other courses I wanted to do! However if I was to get to the source of why so many of my clients horses were experiencing recurring pain, behavioural issues and ongoing pathologies especially when many had saddles professionally fitted! I had to further my education about saddles.

And there began my search for the holy grail of saddle fitting - The Equine Ergonomist training.

This training has answered the questions I had and will continue to have. I have not only embarked on a journey of learning I have had to “unlearn” many theories and concepts about saddle ftting and saddle design that I never questioned in my 45 years of riding.

I dedicate this qualification to my amazing horses throughout my life that suffered in silence from my ignorance and lack of knowledge and information.

I pledge to continue knowing better so I can continue doing better.

I am very excited to offer this as a vital component to my equine services and contribute further to the welfare and longevity of our most deserving equines.

I am forever grateful to Jochen and his team at saddlefit4life!

sheri betancourt

My name is Sheri Betancourt and I have owned and operated “Against All Odds Animal Therapy” for over 10 years in New Jersey treating horses and dogs with Acuscope/Myopulse therapy. During this time I have added several certifications to my therapy business including equine kinesiology taping, equine massage, homeopathy, as well as advanced canine and equine Acuscope/Myopulse therapy. I am looking forward to incorporating Saddle fit 4 life CEE as well.

Saddle fit has always been a special interest of mine, as I was constantly called out time after time to work on the same horses for back and body soreness, many of them already having been fit for saddle after saddle. I wondered ....what was I missing?

I was drawn to Saddle fit 4 life CEE course as I LOVED the idea of (once certified) not being affiliated with any specific brand of saddle maker, and hoped I then could really make a difference in the comfort of the horses I had been working on.

I truly had no idea how much I would learn.

This course was very comprehensive and filled with tons and tons of information. There was A LOT more to it than I had anticipated, and at times very challenging. It was an eye opening experience for sure.

With this education & certification...I now feel I can guide my clients to help them find a saddle that not only comfortably fits their horse, but also fits them as well.

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