Sam Lander Saddles

27/05/2026

When your van is at the menders, thank goodness for Noddy the horse lorry!

26/05/2026

Looking after your arena saddle

23/05/2026

Zenny looking very happy in his lovely new bridle 🦄

20/05/2026

It really is all about having the right team in place for your horse

🪶 Saddle fit… or body restriction?

🦴 Not every issue under saddle starts with the saddle. The horse’s body is constantly changing — through training, compensation, and daily workload — and this directly affects how the saddle sits and feels.

🧵 Through the fascia, the back, shoulders, and ribcage are all connected. Restrictions in one area (like the thoracic sling or ribcage) can alter posture, lift, and symmetry… which can make a well-fitted saddle suddenly look or feel “wrong”.

🔍 What I often find:
– Reduced thoracic lift - the horse drops away from the saddle
– Asymmetry through the ribcage affecting saddle balance
– Tightness through the scapula/serratus ventralis limiting shoulder movement
– Thoracolumbar junction stiffness changing how the back moves under load

🏇 What riders often feel:
– Saddle tipping, slipping, or sitting unevenly
– One rein feeling harder than the other
– Loss of lift or “throughness”
– A horse that feels tight, hollow, or resistant

⚖️ Of course, saddle fit absolutely matters — but it’s not always the starting point. A physical restriction can mimic a saddle issue, just as an ill-fitting saddle can create restriction.

🤝 This is where a good working relationship between your osteopath, saddler, and yourself becomes so important. Looking at the horse as a whole — not just one piece of the puzzle — gives the best outcome for comfort and performance.

❓ So where should you start?
– If your saddle has suddenly started feeling wrong → check the horse’s body first
– If you’ve recently changed saddle or it’s never quite been right → start with the saddler

✨ The key can actually be assessing both together — the horse’s body and the saddle — to understand what’s driving the change.

📍Supporting horses (and riders) across Berkshire, Hampshire & Wiltshire to stay comfortable, balanced, and happy all year round.

20/05/2026

Fitting the lovely Zenny with a new Evo Equine anatomical bridle this morning. Just as well we were able to go for a bespoke bridle - he needed a mixture of cob and pony sized pieces to achieve a perfect fit and we were able to try a few different head pieces to make sure there was no ear pinching!

Can't wait to see him in his sparkly browband when it arrives

Get in touch if you need a new bridle or would like a combined Saddle and Bridle fit

EvoEquine LTD

19/05/2026

Wise words from Poppy Webber - Qualified Saddle Fitter , keeping your horses functioning at their best really does take a team

Your saddle fitter is ONE part of your horse’s TEAM. And honestly, it’s so important horse owners understand that.

Yesterday I went to see a horse whose saddle had suddenly started slipping dramatically to the right. The owner messaged saying it was super urgent because it had come on quite suddenly.

I found her a slot in the diary, but also suggested she book the osteopath in the meantime. I also mentioned ulcers/gastric discomfort because yes… that can absolutely contribute to saddle slip too. Particularly right-sided slip. And there had been some history.

The osteopath visited a couple of days before me and by the time I arrived yesterday… the slip had stopped. 👀 Who’d’ve thunk it?

Now, does that mean the saddle fit should be ignored? Absolutely not. The saddle still needed checking to make sure everything was balanced and comfortable. But it’s a really good example of why saddle fit should never be looked at in isolation.

A slipping saddle isn’t always just a ‘saddle problem’. Sometimes it’s the horse waving a little red flag somewhere else in the body.

The best results happen when your horse’s professionals work together, not against each other. Saddle fitter. Physio/osteo/chiro. Vet. Dentist. Farrier. Trainer. Nutrition. They all overlap more than people realise.

Your horse can’t tell us what hurts. So we have to join the dots for them. 🐴

18/05/2026

So, this morning I went to a clinic organised by the British Horse Society with Classical Rider Training UK - anybody that knows me well will know that this definitely pushes me way out of my comfort zone!

The morning was brilliant, watching other riders on the simulator and seeing the difference that tiny changes made to their position was so useful for rider observations in saddle fitting and seeing myself on "Fred" (whilst uncomfortable!!!) was really interesting.

I have been prescibed lots of stretches before riding and Shakira like moving of my hips in front of the mirror (only when everybody is out of the house!!!) I will also be riding with my eyes closed as it turns out that I am less 'locked' that way - who knew????

17/05/2026

What to do with your Sunday off…..play around with my horses and saddles of course!

Sunny has been feeling very slightly off and when I checked his saddle it just wasn’t fitting as well as it used to. Tried the Cavaletti GP on and it suited his shape perfectly - really pleased with the contact through the panels and how it sat on him. I’d initially thought that he would need a 17” but as the Cavaletti saddles come up quite long the 16.5” was a much better fit.

Today was the first time I’ve ridden in the GP and I found it very comfortable, Sunny went really well and felt back on form - his trot had felt a little short and his canter had been feeling off too. So pleased I can offer these saddles to clients and to my own horse.

I am riding my young thoroughbred in the Bates All Purpose - this is the + version with a square cantle. I feel really secure in this saddle, (important at my age on a young TB!) I just wanted to double check the width and balance today as Scooby is only four and fresh out of training so changing quite a lot. All was good and we had a lovely ride - doing lots of walk work, some poles and lots of bending 🥰

Bates Saddles

Cavaletti Collection

16/05/2026

15/05/2026

Yesterday was not a day for fine weather riders (or saddle fitters) but there was treasure at the end of the rainbow in the form of 4 year old Teddy!