Saddle Fitting & Saddle Services in Worcestershire

Masters Saddles provides professional saddle fitting services across Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, helping horse owners improve comfort, movement and rider balance through correct saddle fit.

Whether you need a new saddle fitted, an existing saddle checked, reflocking, or a gullet change, I offer honest, practical advice based on your horse’s shape, way of going and workload.

📍 Based near Evesham, covering Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and surrounding areas.

Professional Saddle Fitting (New & Existing Saddles)

A correctly fitting saddle is essential for your horse’s comfort, performance and long-term soundness.

During a saddle fitting appointment, I will:

Assess your horse’s shape, muscle development and movement
take templates of your horses withers and saddle area
Check saddle fit statically and in motion
Make any necessary adjustments
Assess rider balance and position
Advise on suitability, adjustments or alternatives

I work with both new and second-hand saddles, ensuring the saddle fits horse and rider, not just the horse alone

REFLOCKING & ADJUSTMENTS

Wool Flocking & Balance Corrections

As your horse changes shape, saddles often need adjusting to maintain comfort, balance, and even pressure distribution.

Reflocking services include:

Wool flocking adjustments
Correcting saddle balance
Remedial Saddle fittings
Improving weight distribution
Ongoing fit support

Reflocking can often extend the life of a saddle and improve comfort without the need for replacement.

Types of reflocking available

There are several ways a saddle may be reflocked, depending on the horse’s shape, the condition of the saddle, and how much adjustment is required:

Minor adjustment (on-site):
Small amounts of wool are added or redistributed during a fitting appointment to improve balance and fit.

Partial reflock:
A larger proportion of the existing flocking is removed and replaced with new wool to correct fit and balance.

Full reflock (workshop-based):
The saddle panels are removed from the seat, all old flocking is taken out, and replaced entirely with new wool. This is usually carried out in the workshop

GULLET CHANGES

Adjustable Gullet Systems (including Wintec)

Some saddles feature adjustable gullets that allow width changes as your horse develops.

I offer:

Gullet size assessment
Safe gullet changes
Fit checks before and after adjustment

Gullet changes should always be carried out as part of a full fit assessment to ensure overall balance is correct.

NEW & SECOND-HAND SADDLES

Saddle Sales & Advice

I supply a range of new and carefully selected second-hand saddles.

All saddles are:

Checked for soundness
Assessed for suitability
Fitted to horse and rider

If your current saddle is unsuitable, I will explain your options clearly — with no pressure to buy.

SERVICE AREAS

Masters Saddles provides saddle fitting services in:

Evesham
Pershore
Cheltenham
Stratford-upon-Avon
Coventry
Worcester
Tewkesbury
Warwickshire & Gloucestershire
Oxfordshire

If you are outside these areas, please get in touch to check availability.

Saddle Repairs

Even the best saddles require occasional maintenance. Julie offers a range of repair services, including hand-stitched repairs, replacement girth straps, and general upkeep. Small issues can quickly become big problems—keeping your tack in top condition ensures safety, longevity, and peace of mind every time you ride.

Made-to-Measure Saddles

Looking for a saddle built just for you and your horse? Julie works directly with trusted saddle manufacturers in the Walsall area—renowned for their craftsmanship—to design bespoke saddles that meet your specific needs. From simple leather options to luxurious dressage saddles with custom finishes and matching boot leather, every detail is tailored for comfort, performance, and personal style.

What happens at a Saddle fitting?

Information gathering – The saddle fitter will engage in a detailed discussion about your horse, confirming the horse’s name and essential details such as color, height, age, breed, sex, and any unique identification marks. They will also inquire about the horse’s medical history, including any past illnesses, lameness issues, or any current treatment under veterinary care.

2. Assess the horses back – this gives the fitter the chance to get hands on with the horse, feeling the horse for lumps, bumps and abnormalities. The fitter will observe any reactions such as happy reactions, or adverse reactions possibly due to pain or soreness in areas under the saddle and around the saddle area.

3. Templates – The fitter will take templates of the horses back, this gives a record of your horses back in terms of saddle area. This allows any saddles to be made to measure and any adjustments that may be needed.

4 Saddles – The fitter will look at any existing saddles, checking for safety and condition of the saddle. If a new saddle is needed, the fitter may place a few different saddles on the horses back to get a feel to what would work for the horse. A little like a tailor in a dressmakers, working out the best possible fit.

5. Adjustments – Your fitter may made adjustments to the saddle before the final fitting. This may be a change of gullet bar or an adjustment of the flocking of the saddle.

6. Ridden assessment – this is where the fitter will observe the rider on the horse in the fitted saddle. Checking for the fit of the saddle and rider. Making observations to make sure the saddle isn’t effecting the horses “normal way of going”. A fitter usually likes to see the three gaits of walk, trot and canter.

Looking for an Equestrian Property?

Many of our clients are horse owners who are also searching for homes with land, stables or equestrian facilities. If you’re planning a move or looking for a horse-friendly property in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire or the Cotswolds, visit our specialist equestrian property business.

Fully registered and compliant, with expert knowledge of horse owners’ needs.