Welcome to Western Saddle Fit
From People Who Understand Western Saddles
Rod and Denise Nikkel spent over twenty years hand making custom saddle trees for individual saddle makers. Now, they are sharing what they have learned about fitting Western saddles so others can benefit from their extensive experience and hard won knowledge.
How do you know if your western saddle fits your horse correctly?
While the principles of saddle fit are common between all saddles, how they actually apply varies between different types of saddles. There is very little information about how western saddles should fit and function originating from people whose background and experience is primarily with western saddles. Coming from Rod and Denise Nikkel, experienced and well respected western saddle tree makers, Western Saddle Fit - The Basics will answer that question.
For those who want to learn more, Western Saddle Fit – Well Beyond the Basics will cover all the material in The Basics video in more depth, plus include additional information. There are sections on rigging types and positions, troubleshooting saddle fit problems, anatomy and biomechanics as it relates to saddle fit, myth busting, and much more.
For a full index of what is in each video, click the links to the right.
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The Basics
This 67 minute video gives a rider the knowledge they need to evaluate if this saddle will work on this horse based on an understanding of how the factors in the tree, the saddle, the horse, the rider and the padding affect the fit.
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Well Beyond the Basics
This 6 hour video series goes much deeper into the information explained in The Basic video and includes many additional sections, including more about rigging and other saddle factors affecting the fit for the rider, along with equine anatomy related to saddle fit.
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Additional Resources
Check out the Saddle Fitting Articles section for lots more information!
- This video is a must for anyone who rides in a western saddle. David A Morris - Tree and saddle maker (NSW, Australia)
- Your video explains precisely what I have had to learn by trial and error over many years and many horses. Laurie Knuutila - Saddle fitter (Alaska, USA)
- If you have ever been frustrated with western saddle fit, you'd be very well advised to pick up a copy. Adam Till - Equine business owner (Alberta, Canada)
- If you are a beginner or been riding 50 years you can benefit from it. Brad Ford - Calf roper (Kentucky, USA)
- Now I understand a lot of the things I've read, but didn't really get. Clay Banyai - Rider and expert leatherworker (South Dakota, USA)
Learn from people who know Western saddles...
Having built thousands of saddle trees over more than two decades, Rod and Denise Nikkel share their expertise with you in their first 67 minute video that will teach you The Basics of Western Saddle Fitting. Whether you are a recreational rider or you ride for a living, whether you are a saddle maker, trainer or other equine professional, or you just want to learn more to benefit your own horses, this video will give you the information and confidence you need to assess whether this saddle will work on this horse - plus a whole lot more!
Western Saddle Fit - The Basics (DVD)
Watch the intro to the right!
$34.95 US plus shipping
$44.95 Canadian plus shipping
Own a retail store or website? Contact us for bulk pricing and a shipping quote.
- It is high quality information from highly reputable source with clear and concise presentation. Margaret Withers - Cinch maker (NSW, Australia)
- I will be watching this over and over. Diane Kaser - English and Western rider (Michigan, USA)
- I will definitely be using it to let my customers understand the why's and what for of custom saddles. Danny Buckley - Saddle maker (Florida, USA)
- If I had a feed store it would be playing all day. Davis Reynolds - Saddle maker (Arizona, USA)
- I find your DVD a valuable information source not only regarding western saddles, but saddles in general. Sandi Vodnik - Saddle fitter (Slovenia)
There's more on this site than just the videos...
The Nikkels have published a blog on their saddle tree site, www.rodnikkel.com, since 2011. They put up many posts about saddle fitting along with the ones about trees. Now they have compiled and organized the fitting posts (there's over 100 of them!) into seven categories. Click on the links and prepare to spend some time reading...