Maxine Sayers Saddlery

09/02/2026

Nominations very welcome 😘

Nominate now for Saddle Fitter of the Year

Good saddle fitting can make a huge difference to a horse’s comfort, way of going, and long-term soundness. The best saddle fitters take their time, explain what they’re seeing, and put the horse first,
not the sale.

This award is about recognising saddle fitters who work to high standards. The professionals who understand biomechanics, consider the horse’s shape and movement, and support both horse and rider with honest, knowledgeable advice.

Whether they work independently, run a small one-person business, or are part of a larger business, these fitters play a vital role in equine welfare and performance.

If you know a saddle fitter who stands out for their skill, integrity, and care, someone you trust to do what’s right for the horse, we’d love to hear about them.

Nominations are now open for Saddle Fitter of the Year.

👉 Please share this post, tag a saddle fitter in the comments and nominate via our website, supporting a professional who truly makes a difference. Self nominations are also welcome

24/12/2025

A huge thank you to all my lovey clients of 2025. Looking forward to seeing all your beautiful horses again in 2026. Enjoy the holidays 🎄🥂

07/12/2025

05/10/2025

Great day spent at the SMS development day at Hartpury collage 🤓 The day was as thought provoking and informative as ever. It’s always great to catch up with fellow saddle fitters and speak to some saddle manufacturers that were showcasing.
Always fantastic to listen to Bio mechanics guru 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗞𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗲-𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 and SMS pliance mapping pro 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿. Russell explained the strict criteria surrounding any equine research project start to finish.

We also had a thought provoking presentation on horse owners’ attitudes to saddle fitting, and an update/refresher on the SMS Code of Conduct, so necessary in today’s ever changing world.

Thank you to all who make these days happen!

19/04/2025

Hope everyone is enjoying time with their horses over the long Easter weekend ❤️🥰

17/02/2025

I spent Saturday at Hartpury Collage 🤓The morning was spent with lectures
Dr Russell MacKecknie Guire - Understanding Bridle-Horse Interaction
Claire Johnson and Fiona Bloom - explaining the Equine TMJ: Exploring Dental and Physiotherapy Insights
Dr Kathryn Nankervis - The role of the equestrian professional in bridle and bit fit.
The afternoon we where in the lab with
Dr Kirsty Lesniak and Claire Johnson for the - Horse Head dissection.
A fascinating day with lots learnt and lots to think about.
Thank you so much to all the above and to The Society of Master saddlers for providing great CPD training.

17/02/2025

** 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗 **

𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲’𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲

Russell MacKechnie-Guire, Hilary Clayton, Jane Williams, David Marlin, Mark Fisher, Diana Fisher, Victoria Walker and Rachel Murray

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 (𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻) https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/537

New research funded by the FEI investigating if pre-determined lateral locations on the horse’s head could be used as additional measuring sites to determine the laxity of the noseband. This is phase 1; the next phase is to test a measuring tool (dimensions informed by data from part 1) on the lateral aspect of the horse’s head. This work is underway.

𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Measuring tools to determine noseband tightness are available but their use requires insertion beneath the noseband on the dorsal nasal bone where the noseband is fitted. There are several locations on the lateral aspect of the head that may be practical and repeatable, offering additional sites. This study investigated the repeatability of using three anatomical locations on the lateral aspect of the horse’s head to determine noseband tightness. One hundred horses were recruited and fitted with a snaffle bridle with a cavesson, Swedish (crank) or dropped noseband. Using an ISES Taper Gauge, noseband tightness was adjusted for each noseband (2.0 to 0.0 finger-equivalents). For each adjustment, a digital calliper determined the distance (mm) between the inner surface of the noseband and three lateral locations on the nasal bone, the maxilla and the mandible. Friedman’s analysis was used to test differences between locations (adjusted significance p < 0.02). At 2.0 and 1.5 finger-equivalent tightness, the coefficient of variation was “good” for the lateral nasal and maxillary sites. These sites could potentially be used as locations in addition to the dorsal nasal site for determining noseband tightness. These data can be used to inform the dimensions of a laterally admitted measuring tool.

𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: thank you to the FEI for funding this project. Thank you to Hartpury University, the research team, research assistants, owners, data collection venues, and of course the horses.

09/01/2025

**𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗩𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗟**

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴

Clayton, H.M *, Williams, Murray, R., J.M., Nixon, J., Fisher, M., Fisher, D., Walker, V., MacKechnie-Guire, R

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 (read without a subscription):

https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.14451

For the past four years, we have investigated the pressures beneath nosebands adjusted from 2.0 to 0.0 finger tightness with 0.0 finger tightness indicating that the noseband was touching but not compressing the skin.

In this study we measured pressures beneath the noseband when horses were standing still and when the ingested and chewed a treat.

The research addresses the concern that poor noseband adjustment could create high pressures that may risk pain or tissue damage. This study, along with our previous one, provide quantitative data regarding pressures associated with different degrees of noseband tightness.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀:

🐴 Sub-noseband pressures were highest under the mandibles followed by the sides of the nasal bones.

🐴 All horses willingly ingested and chewed a treat at all noseband tightness levels.

🐴 Noseband pressures were higher when chewing a treat vs. standing at all noseband settings.

🐴 There was no difference in noseband pressure between 2.0 and 1.5 finger tightness when standing or chewing a treat.

🐴Eye temperature and blink rate, which are indicators of pain/discomfort, did not change when the noseband was tightened.

🐴 Even at the tightest setting (0:0 fingers = noseband just touching the skin NOT compressing), maximal noseband pressures were considerably lower than those reported to cause pain/discomfort.

As always, this is a team effort. Thank you to our research assistants, riders, owners and horses.

Thank you to our funders, World Horse Welfare, British Equestrian, Canadian Sport Horse Association, The Worshipful Company of Saddlers and Hartpury University.

23/12/2024

Merry Christmas 🎄 to all my wonderful clients. What a year! Thanks for all your continued support. Looking forward to what 2025 has to bring. Hope everyone enjoys the holidays.