A 14-page, saddle-maker-led check you do at the barn — standing, saddled, and in motion — before you ride, buy, or order custom.
Your horse can't tell you the saddle pinches. This workbook shows you where to put your hands to find out.
I'm Chelsea Sazama, I run Rocking S Saddle Shop in Montana and teach saddle fitting demonstrations. This is my actual check, in the order I do it:
- ✓ Before it goes on — horse, pad, and cinch (including why over-padding backfires)
- ✓ The saddle itself — broken tree, uneven rigging, and the hidden nails even your hand can miss
- ✓ On the horse with NO pad — balance, clearance above and around the withers, contact along the bars, bridging, and stability
- ✓ Pad, cinch (the 8-inch buckle rule), and rider up
- ✓ In motion — because standing still proves almost nothing — plus how to read the ride afterwards
- ✓ A troubleshooter: what you found → what it usually means → what to do first
- ✓ Dennis Lane A/B/C profiling worksheet, a side-by-side saddle comparison sheet for shopping, and a seasonal re-check log
Print a fresh set for every horse and every saddle. US Letter, works printed or in a tablet notes app.
Launch price $19 through Thu Nov 19, 2026, then $24.
This is for you if: you ride western, you're saddle shopping, your horse's behavior or back changed, or you're thinking about custom and want real measurements first.
This is not: a substitute for a hands-on fitting or a vet visit, and it doesn't cover English saddles.
FAQ
How do I get it? Instant PDF download after checkout. Nothing is shipped.
Can I print it more than once? Yes — for your own horses, as often as you need. Please don't share or resell the file.
What if it shows my saddle doesn't fit? Then it just paid for itself before you bought pads, shims, or another saddle on a guess. Page 9 tells you the first move for what you found, and Page 14 tells you how to get a hands-on check.
Refunds? It's a digital download, so all sales are final — if your file won't open or downloads wrong, contact me and I'll fix the file, fast.
Questions? Chelsea's cell — 406-939-2277 or email — RockingS2018@hotmail.com