THE SADDLER'S TECHNIQUE

This is the course for you if you wish to train to work as a consultant saddle fitter with The Western Saddler Ltd.

 

Equines are not designed to be ridden and The Western Saddle Fitting Course is an in-depth and highly detailed course, designed to teach inquisitive, questioning and caring horse lovers everything they will need to know about treed and treeless Western saddle fitting; to help equines to be as comfortable as possible under saddle.

 

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to work alongside The Western Saddler, as part of a highly respected group of self-employed Western saddle fitters. 

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Course Outline (this may be subject to change):

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Level 1 - The Western Saddle with Maria Score The Western Saddler:
·       Introduction and course overview. What you will learn. How you will be assessed.
·       English and Western Saddles.
·       Western saddles: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
·       Western Saddles: Structure, function and care.
·       Western saddles: style and makes.
·       Western saddles: tree types, angles, measurements and hands-on assessment.
·       Saddle pads: purpose, development, types, styles and fitting.
·       Cinches/girths: design, materials and fitting accessories.
Discussion. 

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Level 2 - Horse and Handler Psychology with Ben Hart Equine Behaviourist:
·       How understanding the true nature of the horse allows you to make rational judgements on their character.
·       How the process of domestication allows you to stay safe and understand the behaviour you’re seeing.
·       Spotting the early signs of fear and anxiety in order to stay safe and be an ethical saddle fitter.
·       Understanding how equines learn in order to effectively introduce new tack and equipment.
·       Understanding different training techniques so that you can predict the equines behaviour.
·       Donkeys, mules and horses and their differences.
Discussion.

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Level 3 - Horse Anatomy and Physiology with Amanda Hemingway Chartered Physiotherapist:
·       The skeletal system: anatomy, maturation. Range of motion of the axial skeleton.
·       The appendicular skeleton and gait analysis.
·       The muscular system: understanding the horse’s back.
·       Principles of backing, training and physical fittening in relation to saddle fitting.
·       Observation, palpation and taking a case history.
·       Implications for the saddle fitter.
·       Demonstration of a full evaluation of the equine.
·       Hands on practice.
Discussion.

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Level 4 - The Consultation with Maria Score The Western Saddler:
·       Working safely with horses
·       Rider size, measurement, issues, skill, weight.
·       Assessing existing tack, type of work and training programme.
·       Evaluating saddle fit without the rider.
·       Evaluating saddle fit with the rider
·       Demonstration and practice: Taking a template and measuring for saddle fit, padding, shimming and

        girthing.
·       Pre-consultation information gathering.
·       The first visit information gathering.
·       Accounts and record keeping.
·       Revision and review.
Discussion. 

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Level 5 - Final Assessment: with Maria Score The Western Saddler
Maria will observe you offering a complete saddle fitting service to a case study of your choice, at an agreed location.  You will be assessed on your knowledge, skills and abilities in the following areas:

 

Part 1:
·       Information gathering
·       Safeguarding the environment: ensuring personal, handler and horse safety and comfort.
·       Establishing a professional, friendly and appropriate relationship with the client.
·       Offering client clear, concise and relevant advice, strictly within your professional boundary as a qualified

        saddle fitter and knowing when to refer on to other agencies.
·       Correct measuring for saddle fit.

 

Part 2:
·       Ensuring correct saddle fit without the rider.
·       Ensuring correct saddle fit with the rider.
·       Record keeping.
·       Client feedback and satisfaction survey.
·       Course feedback.

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Timing: This is a nine-month course, offered over six weekends, to give you time for wider reading and to prepare your case studies.

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The course dates are as follows:

Level 1:          27/28th April 2024
Level 2:          22/23rd June 2024
Level 3:          14/15th September 2024
Level 4:          26/27th October 2024
Level 5:          23/24th November 2024 & individual case studies on location.

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Venue: The venue for levels 1-4 is Fern Animal Sanctuary, Wambrook, Chard. TA20 3DH. Home | Ferne Animal Sanctuary - a registered charity, which I am delighted to support. Ferne Animal Sanctuary is in a beautiful location and has excellent facilities, including free parking, a well-resourced classroom, café and the centre is also kindly offering us a variety of equines to work with.  We may also use horses from our own herd: a quarter horse, an Icelandic (gaited) and a mule. This will ensure that we have a diversity of shape, size and temperament to work with, in which to identify and meet a wide range of saddle fitting need. 

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Stop Press:  Course now full.