Testimonials

Want to know what people are saying about Western Saddle Fit - The Basics?  Here's some reviews!

 

 

 

---

Carrie Disbrow - Rider (Florida, USA)

I wish I had purchased the video before I started saddle shopping.

I really learned alot about saddle fit from your video. I wish I had purchased the video before I started saddle shopping. Western Saddle Fit is the name of the their website (which) is an encylopedia of saddle fit. I also purchased their video for my library and refer to it often. I can say that after many years and many saddles I now have a saddle that fits my horse.

Rex Youngberg - Saddle Maker (Queensland, Australia)

Your presentation is clear, precise and just chock full of valuable information.

I thoroughly enjoyed your DVD of Western Saddle Fit-The Basics.  Thank you for this fine production.  I will need to watch it a few times in order to take in everything and ensure I have a firm understanding.  This will not be difficult as your presentation is clear, precise and just chock full of valuable information. I look forward with eagerness for the release of your next production.

Ian Leighton - Trainer and Clinician (Tasmania, Australia)

This video is very informative and more importantly makes sense.

I would recommend it to anybody wanting to know more about saddle fit. Thank you.

David A Morris - Tree and saddle maker (NSW, Australia)

This video is a must for anyone who rides in a western saddle.

The presentation is extremely well scripted. No waffling or going off on tangents like so many instructional videos that we see these days. Rod and Denise's dialogue is energetic, fast, concise and without repetition. Obviously a lot of professional preparation. There is heaps of stuff out there about English saddle fit (and not all correct) but this video is the first decent info I've seen on western and technically applies to all fan and bur type saddles, ie military/cavalry, packsaddles, Aussie fender stock saddles and a lot of endurance saddles.

Clay Banyai - Rider and expert leatherworker (South Dakota, USA)

Now I understand a lot of the things I've read, but didn't really get.

Finished watching the video this weekend. I think it's very well done. Rod explained things very well and now I think I understand a lot of the things I've read, but didn't really get. I think anyone that puts a saddle on a horse ought to watch this video so they understand how things work together.

Laurie Knuutila - Saddle fitter (Alaska, USA)

Your video explains precisely what I have had to learn by trial and error over many years and many horses.

I watched the video last night. Two words: Thank You! I have been a sales rep for (brand) saddles for many years and I certainly wish I had had this video when I started doing saddle fitting. Your video confirms and explains precisely what I have had to learn by trial and error over many years and many horses. And I did learn a few things! Well done! Thank You! I will be recommending it to everyone I know that wants to learn about saddles! (I am not a newby to saddle fitting. I've been at it a long time and have had to tell many people that their "off the rack" 3000.00 saddle they just bought does not fit their horse. Now I have your video to show them that I am not just making this stuff up!)

Brad Ford - Calf roper (Kentucky, USA)

If you are a beginner or been riding 50 years you can benefit from it.

I highly recommend anyone that rides a horse to buy this video! If you are a beginner or been riding 50 years you can benefit from it. Rod and Denise Nikkel have done a great job!

Diane Kaser - English and Western rider (Michigan, USA)

I will be watching this over and over.

I am so glad I ordered this and intend to share with my friends. This video is way more than I even imagined. So much information about saddle fit and padding. I really enjoyed the information. It was well written and easy to understand. The repetition about placement, etc. was great. I will be watching this over and over. I learned lots too. I will be sharing the information about ordering and encourage everyone who rides to get this. Rod did a great job delivering the messages. I thank you and the horses thank you. Everyone who has a horse should order one.

Terry Henson - Saddle Maker (Texas, USA)

I thought it was an outstanding overview of the basics of saddle fit!

I feel like it should be required viewing for everyone who rides a horse. The majority of fit issues I see can be attributed to saddle position, horsemanship, or a combination of the two. You guys hit those points heavily and in my opinion got your point across. If the horse industry in general understood saddle placement, fit issues would be drastically reduced and kudos to you guys on your education efforts. Really enjoyed it and hope you'll see fit to put out more, targeting craftsmen as well as consumers. This one definitely hits the average rider. That's why I think it should be required viewing for all of them!

Sandi Vodnik - Saddle fitter (Slovenia)

I find your DVD a valuable information source not only regarding western saddles, but saddles in general.

I have recently purchased your DVD. I have to let you know I am very grateful to you for it! I am a saddle fitter, working with English saddles (mostly dressage saddles) and I find your old and new Web Sites as well as your DVD a valuable information source not only regarding western saddles, but saddles in general. What opens eyes a great deal is some of the misconceptions you debunk. It clarifies a lot, thank you for that! During my initial education I learned many of them. But observing old saddles, old photos, thinking about my riding time of almost 30 years, some of them remained a puzzle. This puzzle was partially resolved during my further training, but some important parts are now finally clear after reading your websites and watching your DVD. It's always good to look "over the fence" and learn from there, too! 

Adam Till - Rider, equestrian business owner (Alberta, Canada)

If you have ever been frustrated with western saddle fit, you'd be very well advised to pick up a copy. 

Unlike other DVDs on the subject which tend to gloss over some of the points which can really cause issues with folks, this one starts at the tree and works up. Since these folks made their living building trees AND riding them, they know the subject in an intimate way. Just about all of my favourite sticking points are addressed too, such as: -do certain "types" of tree (Wade, 3B etc) fit more horses than others? -where do you put a saddle on the horse's back? -what concepts of fit from english saddle fitting don't apply the same way with western trees? -what do I do if my cinch doesn't run vertically to the saddle? ...and many others as well. If you have ever been frustrated with western saddle fit, you'd be very well advised to pick up a copy of the DVD. 

Danny Buckley - Saddle Maker (Florida, USA)

I will definitely be using it to let my customers understand the why's and what for of custom saddles.

Excellent video. Your explanations are simple and easy enough for anyone to understand. I will definitely be using it to let my customers understand the why's and what for of custom saddles. I figured it would be a whole lot easier to just let someone watch the video for an hour than spend two hours "trying" to explain even a small amount of what you packed into 67 minutes.  Great job.  I literally consider it a business investment.

Mitch Chyczewski - Saddle Maker (California, USA)

The most informative education one can get about saddle fit and trees.

I recommend that all horse related people should watch their videos, from recreational riders to saddle makers. All can learn something valuable.

Davis Reynolds - Saddle Maker (Arizona, USA)

If I had a feed store it would be playing all day... 

As a saddle maker and to the person interested in buying a new custom or used saddle, I highly recommend that you purchase this video. If I had a feed store it would be playing all day and just maybe folks would realise that there horse would perform better with proper positioning of their saddle to take the money home. Think about it this way, does your saddle fit your horse? What kind of padding are you using? Are you sitting in the right spot on your saddle? Does your saddle move? Or does it stay in the right spot? Do you know where the bars of the tree should set on your horse? Buy it, your horse will thank you for it.

Margaret Withers - Cinches Down Under (NSW, Australia)

It is high quality information from highly reputable source with clear and concise presentation. 

As a cinch maker I need to know about about saddle fit as customers often ask questions. That this dvd is made by a couple who have years of knowledge and experience in western saddle construction and who are highly renowned and respected around the world is a huge bonus. As the use and popularity of western saddles has spread to areas with a more "English" style of saddle and riding, the knowledge of how western saddles differ and function has not followed. This DVD goes a long way in addressing this. I found the video provided clear, concise information without a lot of jargon or waffle. It is very definitely value for the money. Buy it, watch it study it. It is well worth the time. It is high quality information from highly reputable source with clear and concise presentation. A fantastic all round package.

David Clouse - Retired farrier (Texas, USA)

Today my copy is being viewed by 3 folks who I hope will buy one.

I would be happy to give you my thoughts on this remarkable CD I will be letting several of my riding buddies view it as well. I feel as though I got my money’s worth plus. As a retired  AFA 1250 CJF Farrier I can’t count how many hours I spent answering owners question about how I thought their saddle fit their horse. This DVD will take a load off me. Today my copy is being viewed by 3 folks who I hope will buy one.