Our Story – 15+ Years of Helping Riders Find the Right Saddle
It Started With a Love for Horses and Good Saddles
Welcome to Best Horse Saddle Shop.
If you have been around horses for any length of time, you already know that buying a saddle is not always as simple as choosing a size and clicking “buy.”
Every horse is different. Every rider is different. And what works perfectly for one horse may not work at all for another.
That is something we learned very early in our journey.
For more than 15 years, we have been involved in the horse saddle industry, helping riders find saddles for different horses, riding styles, and budgets. Over the years, we have seen just about everything—from riders looking for their very first saddle to experienced equestrians searching for a particular brand, model, or size.
What has kept us going is quite simple: we enjoy horses, we enjoy saddles, and we enjoy helping people find something that works for them.
Best Horse Saddle Shop grew from that experience.
How Best Horse Saddle Shop Began
When we started, we didn’t set out to build a huge online store.
We simply wanted to make quality saddles easier for riders to find.
As we worked with more customers, we realized how difficult saddle shopping could be. Riders often had questions about seat sizes, tree widths, saddle types, fitting, condition, and whether a particular saddle was suitable for their discipline.
There was also a lot of confusion surrounding used saddles.
A used saddle can be a fantastic option, but customers need to know what they are actually buying. Cosmetic marks are one thing. Structural problems are something completely different.
That experience helped shape the way we run our business today.
We don’t expect every customer to be a saddle expert. If you are unsure about something, we believe you should have the opportunity to ask questions and get useful information before making a purchase.
15+ Years Later, We’re Still Learning
One thing working with horses has taught us is that there is always something new to learn.
Over the last 15+ years, we have come across different saddle designs, brands, materials, construction methods, and fitting requirements.
We’ve also learned from customers.
A dressage rider may look at a saddle completely differently from someone who spends weekends trail riding. A jumping rider may have very different requirements from an endurance rider. And a pony owner may face fitting challenges that are completely different from those of a large warmblood.
That’s why we don’t believe there is one “best saddle” for everybody.
The better question is:
What saddle is right for this horse, this rider, and this type of riding?
That is the approach we try to take every day.
Why Saddle Fit Matters to Us
One of the most common questions we hear is:
“Will this saddle fit my horse?”
It’s a very important question, and unfortunately, there isn’t always a simple yes-or-no answer based on a photograph or a single measurement.
A horse’s back shape, withers, shoulder movement, tree width, saddle length, panel design, and many other factors can affect fit. The rider’s size and position matter too.
We provide information to help customers understand these factors, but we also encourage riders to work with a qualified saddle fitter when they need an in-person assessment.
Our job is to help you make a more informed decision—not to pretend that an online store can replace an experienced professional who can actually see your horse and saddle together.
We think that’s the honest way to approach saddle shopping.
Our Approach to Used Saddles
Used saddles have always been an important part of our business.
There are some excellent pre-owned saddles available, and buying used can give riders access to quality brands and models at a more accessible price.
But we know that buying a used saddle online can also make people nervous.
That’s why we pay close attention to the condition of the saddles we list.
When a used saddle comes into our inventory, we look over the important areas, including the:
- Tree
- Leather
- Panels
- Billets
- Straps
- Stitching
- Hardware
- General construction
- Overall appearance
We’re looking for signs of excessive wear, damage, or other issues that customers should know about.
We also look at the smaller details because sometimes they tell you a lot about how a saddle has been cared for.
A used saddle doesn’t have to look brand new to be a good saddle. Normal signs of use are expected. What matters is being clear about the condition so the customer knows what to expect.
We Believe Pictures Matter
When you’re buying a saddle online, photographs are extremely important.
You can’t pick up the saddle, turn it over, sit in it, or examine the leather yourself before ordering.
That’s why we try to provide photographs that show the saddle from different angles.
Customers want to see things such as:
- The seat
- Flaps
- Panels
- Billets
- Stirrup bars
- Cantle
- Pommel
- Leather
- Areas showing normal wear
We believe a customer should be able to look closely at a saddle before deciding whether it is worth considering.
If there is visible wear or a cosmetic mark, it is better to show it than hide it.
Where Our Saddles Come From
Finding good saddles takes time.
We look at different factors when considering saddles for our inventory, including the brand, model, size, construction, condition, discipline, and overall value.
With used saddles, condition is especially important.
We don’t want to fill the website simply for the sake of having hundreds of listings. We would rather offer products that give riders useful choices.
Sometimes a customer is looking for a very specific saddle and we may have it. Other times, they are still figuring out exactly what they need.
That’s where having a broad selection becomes useful.
A Look Behind the Scenes
Most customers only see the finished product page.
They see the photographs, description, measurements, price, and checkout button.
But there is quite a bit of work that happens before a saddle reaches the website.
A saddle has to be received, checked, cleaned when appropriate, measured, photographed, described, and prepared for listing.
For used saddles, we also spend time looking carefully at their condition.
Once an order is placed, the saddle needs to be properly packaged so it can make its journey safely to its new owner.
It’s not the most glamorous part of the business, but it’s an important part.
We know that when someone orders a saddle online, they’re trusting us to send them the item they saw on the website—not something that looks completely different when it arrives.
The People Behind the Shop
A business is never really just a website.
There are people behind the emails, phone calls, product listings, photographs, packing, and customer questions.
Our team has spent years learning about saddles and working with customers from different riding backgrounds.
We don’t expect everyone who visits our website to know exactly what they need.
Sometimes a customer has a very specific question.
Sometimes they simply say:
“I’m buying my first saddle and I don’t know where to start.”
That’s okay.
We’d rather have someone ask questions than rush into buying the wrong saddle.
Our goal is to make the process easier and less intimidating.
What Our Customers Have Taught Us
Over the years, we’ve heard from riders with all kinds of stories.
Some customers have been searching for months for a particular saddle.
Others have outgrown an old saddle and needed something different.
Some have bought their first saddle for a new horse, while others have been riding for decades and know exactly what they like.
We’ve also had customers who initially weren’t sure whether buying a saddle online was the right choice.
That feedback means a lot to us.
Of course, no business gets everything right all the time. We listen when customers tell us what they liked, what confused them, or what they think could have been better.
That feedback helps us improve.
Why We Don’t Believe in One Saddle for Everyone
You may have noticed that we offer quite a few different types of saddles.
That’s intentional.
We stock saddles for different disciplines and riding preferences, including:
Dressage Saddles
For riders focused on dressage and a balanced riding position.
Jump Saddles
Designed around the needs of riders who spend their time jumping.
English Saddles
Including different styles for riders looking for traditional English saddlery.
Western Saddles
For Western riding, trail riding, ranch work, and other Western disciplines.
Endurance Saddles
For riders who spend long hours in the saddle and have different priorities for comfort and weight.
Pony and Cob Saddles
For horses and ponies that may require different fitting considerations.
Adjustable Saddles
For riders who want flexibility when saddle fit requirements change.
Used Saddles
For riders looking for quality saddles at different price points.
Different horses and riders need different things.
That’s why variety matters.
What We Care About Most
After more than 15 years, our priorities haven’t really changed.
We want customers to have access to good information.
We want our product descriptions to be useful.
We want customers to understand the condition of used saddles before they buy.
We want questions to be answered clearly.
And we want people to feel comfortable shopping with us.
We know that purchasing a horse saddle can be a significant decision. For many riders, it isn’t an everyday purchase.
That’s why we don’t take the trust involved lightly.
Looking Ahead
We are proud of how far Best Horse Saddle Shop has come, but we don’t see 15 years as the finish line.
There is still plenty we want to improve.
We want to add better saddle guides, more useful fitting information, clearer product photographs, and more resources for riders who are trying to make sense of the saddle-buying process.
We also want to continue listening to our customers.
Because at the end of the day, the people who use our saddles are the ones who know what matters most.
Thank You for Being Part of Our Story
Whether you’ve been riding for years or you’re just getting started, we appreciate you taking the time to visit Best Horse Saddle Shop.
Maybe you’re looking for a dressage saddle.
Maybe you need a jumping saddle.
Maybe you’re searching for a Western saddle for weekend trail rides.
Or perhaps you’ve spent weeks searching for a particular used saddle.
Whatever brought you here, we hope you find the information and products you’re looking for.
And if you’re not sure where to begin, that’s okay too.
Ask us.
Finding the right saddle can take some time, and we’d rather help you make an informed decision than rush you into buying something that isn’t right for your horse or your riding needs.
After 15+ years in the saddle industry, that’s still what matters most to us.
Best Horse Saddle Shop
Good Saddles. Honest Information. A Better Shopping Experience for Riders.
Thank you for being part of our journey.