Chris is back from a very quick week's trip to the UK, attending the launch of the new GFS Premier range of saddles.
It was a great opportunity to see the latest range and spend time with some UK-based saddle fitters and, of course, the GFS team of saddle makers and designers.
The new GFS Premier range will be in stock at Balanced Saddle Fitting in late February, offering some exciting new additions to the popular, very versatile and affordable range of English saddles from GFS. A warm thanks to the incredible hospitality from Geoff Fieldhouse and the GFS team, with a special shout-out to Janelle.
View Chris Barnett's upcoming regional Saddle Fitting Clinics and book your time. Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and can work on your existing saddle and/or bring alternative saddle options with him if required.
Bookings for the spring season are in full flow, so now is the time to book before your horse’s workload increases. We can often book your saddle fitting sooner than you may think Although Chris's availability for saddle fitting can be limited for a few weeks ahead, it's always worth checking in, as depending on our schedule, we can get spaces become available. Plus, it’s always worth going on our waitlist as "horses are horses" and they don’t always play by the rules - so appointments can open unexpectedly. Shorten your wait time by coming to South Auckland We can offer appointment times sooner if you are able to travel to us in Waiau Pa. We have yards available plus...
Come in and see us at Takapoto Estate, have a sit in some superb saddles, and let us know what you are your horse are looking for. We look forward to seeing you at Dressage by the Lake!
About sheepskin half pads and correction pads (shims) Many horse owners have heard the common myth that a made to measure saddle should fit the horse without the need for anything other than a simple cotton saddlecloth - however this is not always the case! A well designed real Sheepskin Half Pad or Shim Correction pad is a valuable tool that is recommended for many instances where horses are not perfectly muscled, show skeletal or muscle asymmetry, show muscle atrophy from previous poorly fitting saddles - or for young horses that are still developing and changing shape. Let's look at some situations where sheepskin or shim pads can help: 1) Horses with a prominent spine raised above the level of...
