Rod and Denise Nikkel have compiled their saddle fit blog posts and webpages in this section to make it easier to learn about western saddle fit. In 2016, Rod retired from building saddle trees, but now he is sharing his knowledge of western saddle fit via a video that you can purchase here.

Rod Nikkel knows the saddle from the top side very well because he rode them for years working primarily on ranches and with horses, including 5 ½ years taking care of a herd of 50-60 horses, including all their tack, for a camp.

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To gain a good foundation for understanding western saddle fit, start by reading the links in this page. Bell curves and cutlery, comparisons to English saddle fit rules, information about pressure and new saddles all give a good grounding for the links in the following pages.

Western Saddle Fit - the Basics gives you comprehensive information on how a western saddle should fit, and how to a saddle on a horse to see if it fits or not. Suitable for any rider as well as equine professionals. For people who want more in depth information, Our Western Saddle Fit - Well Beyond the Basics six hour series of videos gives much greater depth of information about the tree, saddle, horse, padding and how they interact, as well as signs of problems, troubleshooting issues and some anatomy and mythbusting as well!

The #1 saddle fit problem is putting the saddle too far forward on the shoulder blades. Here's links on where to put it, how to find that spot, as well as why you should put it there, with pressure mat data to confirm what we are saying.

Contact Rod and Denise Nikkel

Tack and saddle retailers are already inquiring about bulk orders to sell in their retail locations and on their websites. If you'd like to join a growing number of retailers selling our video, please complete the form to the right and we'll be in touch with a quote!

Rather than trying on every saddle in the store, reading through these links will teach you the different factors that make a tree and saddle fit - or not. This helps you decide specifically what needs to change - or not - to make a saddle work on your horse. Changing width and angle doesn't help if rock is the problem!

Want to know what people are saying about Western Saddle Fit - The Basics? Check out the reviews here!

Horses vary in shape. Riders vary in many ways. This section has links that help you evaluate your horse for possible fit problems and yourself to find the saddle that fits you. It also helps you understand how you affect the horse you're riding, even when you are unaware of it.

"Saddle fit" abounds in half truths, myths, misunderstandings and incomplete information as well as the good stuff. Here's some links that try to cut through the junk and find some truth based on facts.

A systematic approach to dealing with saddle fit issues gets you to the root of the problem more quickly. Information in this section helps you approach the problem in an organized way.

Learning how the horse is made and functions is as important as learning the same about the saddle and the tree, only horses are much more complicated! This section has links to a series of posts on equine anatomy and biomechanics as they relate to western saddle fit.

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Yes, we sell Western Saddle Fit - The Basics wholesale! Here's where you check for pricing.