Your Expert Fitter

05/29/2026

Not all exercises to improve topline are complicated.
Elevating the front end on a platform or pedestal helps open the spaces in the spineous processes. Adding neck positional exercises in the form of carrot stretches is an added benefit.
Here, we are using the retaining wall of the arena, which is about 16" raised.
While standing on a hill is better than nothing, maintaining the palmar alignment has the most benefit.

05/23/2026

Join us at the Carolina Horse Park May 30th for a great day of education!
Tasida will be speaking at 10am

04/23/2026

The all new VSD from T&T has arrived!
Do you practice dressage most of the time but want a more versatile saddle? Do you trail ride and want something light weight and balanced? Do you prefer your dressage saddle to do less without compromising your position?

VSD saddles are very slightly dressage! My personal favorites for green horses and hacking out. You should try it, this may be just the saddle you've been searching for

04/16/2026

Designed for high withered athletes, the Oryx is a welcome addition to the lineup!
We've been enjoying the oryx monoflap for eventers, we thought everyone should be in on the fun.
With a narrow twist, narrow semi deep seat, and laid back cantle, the Oryx offers security through those harey moments, but the ease to move about as needed over those big fences.
Available in a variety of luxurious leathers, and starting at only $3500

04/14/2026

Its a common misconception that your fitter knows what saddle models to recommend outside of their own brand inventory. In order to fully understand the scope of the ask, here's an analogy.

Theres an renowned Italian tailor who has spent decades understanding suits. He knows how different fabrics behave on different bodies, which cuts wear best on certain body types, which accents convey the right message for every occasion. He knows that a certain wool blend from Australia needs an extra 1/4" because when sewn it has greater recoil, and that the linen from Malta has less give and isnt ideal for his more robust customers. He knows how self esteem is sewn into a garment.

Thats why people recommend him. Its not because he carries Versace (he probably doesn't, and after a few lemoncello I bet he will tell you all their short comings), its for the quiet luxury experience and suit that feels superior to Versace at half the cost. They can go there, and after a light hearted chat, and a knowing gaze of their physique, with no stress they can have the ultimate suit in a few weeks. How does he do it? My gosh its like magic! I bet he knows a lot about suits!

When he measures you, he is taking all everything beyond the suit into account. His years of education and experience to craft THE ultimate suit for you.

What he cannot tell you is which suits from Men's Warehouse you should go try. Its not because he wants to sell you a suit; its because its an impossible ask. Thats not his expertise; he honestly offers something those big brand cannot.

He can share with you the measurements he took, and yes you can go shop elsewhere with that information, but I guarantee you won't end up with anywhere near the same suit.

Someone who wants to know where to get the cheapest suit that will fit them needs to contact someone who thrifts professionally. That person knows how to hunt a racks and racks of inventory, and the value of those items in the market. The professional thrifter doesn't know how to tailor a suit, but they know how to find something you can wear thats a blue wool in a size 30x30 and a 42 jacket that sorta matches. Will it wear as nicely as the tailor made suit? Never. But youll likely wind up with *a* suit, and maybe itll fit you well enough that you aren't embarrassed.
The tailor is happy to help within their capacity. He may even carry a few affordable off the rack suits to choose from. Just dont be disappointed when he cannot send you with a list of choices at men's warehouse.

www.yourexpertfitter.com

04/13/2026

Let's imagine for a moment that this was your horse's pelvis. Is it symmetrical?
If not, do you think it would affect how this creature moves? Would it also affect their muscling and the development of the hind limbs?
Would this horse have a easier lead in canter?

The body isnt symmetrical, and it doesn't take great trauma for things to get grossly askew. Your organs are not perfectly symmetrical, and yet we assume all pairs of bones would somehow be even?

When discussing the athletic development of a horse, its useful to develop your eye to the functional anatomy in order to set realistic goals and expectations. Learning what is postural vs conformation will save you a lot of cursing over a glass of wine.

You can play keep/toss to observations when horse shopping, but not so much with one you already own. Ignoring this stuff doesn't make it go away. We can not ignore a horse's functional asymmetry and create the expectation that they will progress like a more symmetrical horse. We also need not hyper focus these challenges and deem a horse incapable of improving. The body is absolutely brilliant at adaptation.

A lot of the supportive rehab for structural asymmetry is guiding the body to compensation patterns that are healthy and useful. OK, we know he has a crooked pelvis, we can teach him how to perceive his body in a manner that creates greater even function behind through different exercises that focus on different muscle chains per side.

This pelvis will never know a sound and even extended trot, or a long career as a 1.40m jumper, or slide a stop at congress, but they'd probably do ok with someone who wants to happy hack and local show that weighs their left stirrup a little too heavy. 😉

Thanks for playing with my crooked bovine pelvis photo 😁

04/12/2026

How does a rope halter work?

Check out EquinePartnership’s video.

04/08/2026

Part of our saddle fit Evaluation is if the horse is currently fit for purpose. This is done through visual and tactile assessment standing, as well as moving either led, under saddle, or both.
If a horse is not currently fit for purpose that can result in a fail, and halting the saddle fitting until they are within the spectrum of usability. The information gained also offers valuable insight as to how the horse is going to influence saddle fit, and develop a performance improvement plan for optimization.

What are we evaluating visually at rest?

1.Body condition-are they between a 4 and 7
2.Posture at rest- limb placement and loading, sternum in relation to forelimb, hind cannon in relation to tuber ischism, topline vs bottom line, spinal deviation, scapula placement, head and neck carriage
3.Muscle balance- how is this horse covered, what muscles are hypertrophic, what muscles are hypotrophic, do the muscles activating at rest produce ease and relaxation
4. Symmetry- how do the two sides of the body compare
5. Temperament- how does the horse interact and respond to its environment

Functional Conformation plays a role as well in how a horse is going to move and influence a saddle. It in our evaluation offers more of the source for function or dysfunction in certain aspects.

04/05/2026

🏆 Get Famous! WIN a Bespoke Luxury Famous Saddle 🏆

NCDCTA riders and volunteers, this one's for you! Famous Saddles is giving away a custom bespoke luxury saddle and entering is as easy as showing up to the NCDCTA events you're already attending.

📋 HOW TO ENTER:

1️⃣ Attend or volunteer at any of the following qualifying NCDCTA events:
• NCDCTA Schooling Shows
• NCDCTA Recognized Shows
• L Program Session B
• L Program Session C
• Jillian Kreinbring & Dr. Steve Peters clinic

2️⃣ Grab your scorecard or proof of attendance and snap a photo

3️⃣ Submit your entry at famous-saddles.com/ncdcta-get-famous-contest-2026

🎟️ BONUS: Every class scorecard or day of attendance counts as its own entry, so the more you participate, the more chances you have to win. Compete in 3 classes? That's 3 chances to win!

🎉 The winner will be drawn at the NCDCTA Gala at the close of the 2026 season.

🐴 Browse the full saddle collection at famous-saddles.com
📧 Questions? Email [email protected]

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This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook/Meta. No purchase necessary to enter. See full official contest rules at famous-saddles.com/ncdcta-get-famous-contest-2026