Montague Saddles - Julie Knaggs

01/06/2026

Dear people, I have always wondered what tribe I belonged to.

This weekend I discovered there is apparently a whole tribe of horse owners who watch Britain's Got Talent and then immediately message their saddle fitter afterwards. 😆

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
Because the moment it finished, my WhatsApp lit up with nine saddle fitting and refit enquiries.

Nine!

I was not even watching Britain's Got Talent myself, but judging by my phone, a lot of my clients were. 📱🐎

𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀, 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱?
𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀!

I have already informed my box rest pony, Molly, that she will be doing that one day.

She gave me a look, carried on eating, and completely ignored my exciting plans for her future.

I am choosing to believe she understood every word and is quietly preparing for her debut. 🐎🧡✨

So tell me, were you watching Britain's Got Talent, watching the bridleless riding, or doing something far more productive? 🧡✨

Picture of my devil pony Louis, as he was known, back in 2001, on his way to being ridden Bridleless!

01/06/2026

Just had to share this fab story from my fab client Tracey Duncan at the British Bridleless Competition at Merrist Wood this weekend!

Brilliant Tracey, this takes me back a few years, really well done for showcasing what can be done without a bridle!

28/05/2026

So what does a saddle check actually involve? 🐎✨

Most people think saddle fitting starts with the saddle itself. For me, it starts with the horse.

Before the saddle even appears, I spend time looking at how the horse stands, moves and feels through the body. I am feeling for areas that are tighter, weaker or not moving as easily as they should. I am looking for signs of tension, asymmetry, hollows, muscle loss or areas where the back simply is not able to lift and work comfortably.

I am also looking at the overall shape of the horse because the ribcage, girth area, shoulders, neck and even the jaw can all influence how the horse moves underneath the saddle. Quite often the back is reacting to something happening elsewhere within the body.

Then I look at how the horse responds to touch. Horses are incredibly honest, but many of their signs are very subtle. A small tail swish, a change in the eye, tension around the mouth, a tiny expression shift or an area where they suddenly feel less comfortable.

Most horses are talking to us all the time, we just have to slow down enough to notice it. 🧡

Only then do I place the saddle on. Again, I am simply watching and listening to the horse. Does the expression change? Does the horse turn and look? Is there a moment where the body tightens slightly? Horses are often very clear about discomfort, but because the signs are quiet they can easily be missed.

Then comes the girth, and this is another stage I do very gradually. One thing many people do not realise is that tightening the girth not only tightens around the ribcage, it also pulls the saddle down onto the horse’s back. Quite often what people think of as “girthiness” is actually the horse reacting to pressure from the saddle itself.

At this point I start looking at how the saddle is balancing on that particular horse. Is it allowing the horse to lift through the back comfortably? Is the balance helping movement or restricting it somewhere?

After that, I have the horse walked in hand. This is one of the most important parts because horses often need a few moments to process a different feeling within the body. I am watching the walk, the posture, the expression and the overall feeling of relaxation.
I am waiting for the moment the horse softens.

Sometimes it is a slightly longer stride. Sometimes the back starts to swing more freely. Sometimes the expression changes and the horse simply looks more comfortable within itself. Often the balance of the saddle changes slightly at this stage too, because once the horse begins to move more freely underneath it, small adjustments can make a big difference.

Until I see that moment, I do not add the rider. ✅

Sometimes it happens within seconds. Sometimes the horse needs several minutes to reorganise and soften through the body first. If adjustments are needed, we make them before anybody gets on.

Then comes the rider.
As the rider mounts, I want the horse to remain comfortable, quiet and relaxed. Once the rider starts walking, I also want to know how the rider feels because so many riders have quietly accepted discomfort as just part of riding.

It should not be.

A saddle should always feel comfortable for the rider. Not just “bearable” or “something you get used to.” A well suited saddle should support the pelvis, allow the leg to hang naturally and feel balanced and easy to sit in without force, tension or discomfort. 🧡
I look at how the rider sits, how the pelvis fits within the seat, whether there is enough room, whether the shape and twist suit that individual person, and how the hips and thighs naturally hang.

Two riders can have the same length leg and still look completely different in the saddle because everybody is built differently. That is not a fault. It is simply anatomy.
So a saddle check is never just about the saddle itself.

It is about understanding the whole conversation between horse, saddle and rider, because the saddle sits between two moving bodies, not on top of a static shape. 🧡✨🐎

If this sounds like the sort of saddle fitting experience you would like for your horse, feel free to WhatsApp me for more information or to book an appointment. ⏩

📍 Based near Basingstoke with regular saddle fitting visits along the M3, M4, M25, M40 and M1 corridors.
Apparently I am the queen of the motorways… 👑☕🏉🐎 Fuelled by coffee and rugby podcasts.

27/05/2026

A little follow up on the RYDE stirrups post because so many people messaged me afterwards 🧡✨

What fascinates me most about rider biomechanics is how quickly horses react to tiny changes. Riders often think they need bigger corrections, stronger aids or more exercises. But sometimes the body is simply trying to organise itself around a lack of support.

That is why I love the RYDE stirrups so much. They allow me to alter how the rider’s foot is supported with incredible precision. Tiny changes in foot balance can soften a calf, free a hip, quieten a seat and help the rider stop bracing without even realising they were doing it.

And horses feel that instantly.

The horse does not care whether the change came from a complicated exercise or a tiny adjustment to the rider’s balance. It only feels the result. A softer side. A freer shoulder. An easier bend. A back that swings more comfortably. A rider who suddenly sits in harmony instead of effort.

That is the bit I find magical 🧡✨

Not forcing movement. Allowing it.

RYDE stirrup test rides are available as a £30 add on during saddle fittings and biomechanics sessions if you would like to feel the difference for yourself 🐎⏩

26/05/2026

An update on the endless box rest pony saga! 🧡✨

Molly really is the most amazing little pony. Through all of this box rest she has hardly given a cross look, has stayed sweet to handle and honestly behaved far better than most horses would after this long confined indoors.

I, however, may be slightly less delighted about the whole situation at this stage 😅
She is still wearing her very special shoe created by Craig Tordoff and thankfully we are finally getting the result we have been waiting for.
The contents have now started to come away. Fairly grim to deal with if I am honest 🤢 but actually a really positive sign and part of the healing process.

One thing that has fascinated us throughout all of this is Patrick’s involvement. Molly is regularly massaged by him, often for up to 25 minutes at a time, and we always watch carefully to see whether he keeps returning to particular areas that may need checking more closely.
It is quite incredible how much horses communicate with each other when you slow down enough to watch properly.

So although progress sometimes feels painfully slow, things are finally moving in the right direction ✅

The little lady continues to be an absolute superstar 🐎🧡✨

22/05/2026

🧡Ryde Stirrups

Today I did a refit for the lovely Catherine Heilbron before her Cotswold Cup competition 🧡✨

We have saddle refit sessions together, often just removing tiny biomechanics issues before they grow into bigger ones. And honestly, those tiny details matter far more than most people realise.

This time, the right bend had gone, lessons had not really resolved the issue, despite her usual perseverance!

Now Catherine has been riding in RYDE stirrups for at least six months and absolutely loves them. For me as a fitter, they also give far more scope to fine tune support for the rider’s foot and leg.

So after a few minutes of watching the canter, I noticed a little extra tension through the right calf.

I adjusted the right stirrup by two clicks. About 2 mm.

Suddenly…there was the right bend again..easy and fluid 💫

Tiny changes in rider support can completely alter how the horse is able to organise movement underneath you, so they are for the horse as well as the rider!

It's not always strength, more schooling, extra lessons, “trying harder”, sometimes it's just biomechanics!

This is when RYDE stirrups really are fascinating things 🧡✨🐎

If you would like to try a set during your saddle refit or biomechanics session, just ask me ⏩✅

Absolute Equestrian Collective

🧡✨

21/05/2026

Whenever I see a client I always ask them to send in a story, as SMART Saddles really do love sharing stories of real people with real horses 🧡✨

Not polished adverts. Not perfect posed photos. Just genuine experiences from horses and riders out there doing life together 🐎

So if you have a SMART Saddle and it has helped your horse, your riding, your comfort or confidence… send your story in using this link ⏩
smartsaddles.com

You never know, your horse might end up featured on the SMART Saddles website 💫

🧡✨🐎

Prospective clients are always interested to know how SMART™ saddles have been used by existing customers in different fields.

21/05/2026

Loving following the story of the gorgeous Brego now in his SMART Saddles Trail saddle, even more gorgeous and floofy in real life!

Give him and Sally a follow on Follow the Rabbit

Brego 👑

The noble steed.
He really is starting to look like he could carry a mythical king. A strong, purposeful, half Viking pony.
Lord of the Rings fans, this is your boy. (Although I don’t know what I’m Tolkien about because I’ve never read the book or seen the film. The Hobbit finished me off).

I do feel honour-bound to try horseback archery with him at some point tho 😉

16/05/2026

This month for the first time I have had a few clients whose saddles have drifted right at the rear, even in a SMART Saddle.

Now with a SMART Saddle, the horse is generally able to use both shoulders far more evenly. The saddle moving right is actually quite rare!

So if a Smart saddle that has previously been stable suddenly starts moving slightly right, it makes you look beyond the “bigger shoulder”, lame right hind explanation.

And at this time of year… grass and gut comfort can become an issue.
Rich spring grass can affect the digestive system far more than many people realise. Even horses that are not overtly ill can become a little uncomfortable through the abdomen and ribcage.

When that happens, the horse often changes posture and movement patterns before owners notice any obvious symptoms.

The abdominal wall tightens. The ribs stop moving quite so freely. The horse may brace slightly through the thoracic sling and back. Push from behind changes. Balance changes.
A horse that feels a touch tighter through one rein. Transitions that feel less smooth. More tension around the girth. A slightly shorter stride behind.

And because saddles sit on a moving body rather than a static shape, the saddle can start to drift dynamically. Not because the saddle is suddenly “wrong”. Because the horse underneath it has changed.
Horses change, but that is not only normal but welcomed! But it can also be an indicator that something needs checking!

So sometimes the saddle moving is not the problem at all. It is simply one of the first visible clues that the body is organising itself differently 🧡✨🐎

If your horse suddenly feels different at this time of year, even in small ways, it is always worth paying attention and considering that grass may be part of the issue.

Thank you to my lovely vet Adam Jackson at Jackson Equine Independent Veterinary Practice for the discussion about this earlier this week, and his prompt treatment when Patrick got colic.

WhatsApp me to book a saddle and biomechanics assessment ⏩

🧡✨

15/05/2026

𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙀𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧 2026, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. 🧡✨

This is the second year running, which honestly means a huge amount to me.

Not because of titles or letters after my name, but because it comes from you. The people I work with every day. The horses I get to help. The conversations we have on yards, in arenas, and sometimes standing in the mud trying to work out what is really going on underneath the saddle.

I am not an SMS saddle fitter.
And that matters in this context.

The Equine Fitters Directory is inclusive. It recognises fitters across disciplines who are out there doing the work, continuing to learn, and putting horse and rider at the centre of what they do.
That is something I am very proud to be part of.

If you have worked with me, if your horse has felt the difference, if something has made more sense, or simply felt better… I would be incredibly grateful if you felt able to add your nomination.
It genuinely does make a difference.

Thank you, always, for trusting me with your horses. 🧡🐎✨

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 “𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲” 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻👇

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZ1WjRilyEQtLbtKYcJDdW6-YN07cittNo04rKbbth7p0j_g/viewform

Thank you for taking the time, it genuinely counts 🧡✨🐎

📞 WhatsApp me if you would like help, advice, or to book an appointment

Please don’t forget to tag when you share:
FB:
Insta:
Sponsor:
🧡✨🐎