Perfect Fit Step 1-13 – Trail Saddles by Steele

THE PERFECT FIT STEPS 1 – 12 EXPLAINED
The perfect fit for horse and rider is always our focus at Steele Trail Saddles and one reason we provide our Demo “Try before you Buy” Trail Saddle Demo Program. This allows you the opportunity to test the rider’s groove while trail riding and see if the fit works for you as well as for your horse.

When you purchase a Steele Trail Saddle you choose the style, color of the seat, and leather color for the saddle. We base the length of the fender to fit your height and the saddle size to fit your weight to ensure the perfect fit. We take the comfort of horse and rider seriously and have found the following photos allows us to help our customers with the perfect saddle, therefore have added it to our “Try before you Buy” Trail Saddle Demo Program..

*We need a photo from you before you receive a trail saddle demo taken with your horse standing on level ground with their head up in riding position. To be sure the horse is level, take a broom handle or something straight and place it from wither back to the hip so we can see what fit is correct for you. The straight item needs to be level (you may have to pull the stick off the wither slightly to make it level or lift one end to make it level. We need to see the straight line in relation to your horse’s back) ASK FOR A STEELE SADDLE DEMO NOW

Do not send photos in unless you are using our pad and saddled up correctly. We will not accept any photos without our pad being used under the saddle.

We need a total of 12 photos after you ride the Steele Trail Saddle Demo: (It is a MUST that you take the final 4 photos after the first ride whether it is a good fit or a bad fit)

NOTE: If your horse has a high back bone please do the BELT TEST so we can check to see that the low point on the seat is not an issue for your horse. Simply put a regular size belt or a latigo strap under the saddle. If a belt, have the buckle sticking out behind the seat laying on the pad behind the saddle, staying in the the center air passageway making sure it doesn't get under the left or right side of the tree. The end of the belt should be in the front of the saddle. Mount and walk your horse out for a few minutes to let the pad settle then reach around behind you to grab the buckle and pull it out. If it comes out easily you are good to go. If it is tight let us know!

We ask that you send the photos in this order and take the photos with your horse standing on level ground with their head up in riding position.

First tack up the Steele Trail Saddle with the Steele saddle pad and tighten the girth. Please do not over tighten the girth.

1. Photo of the front of the horse at an angle showing the saddle from front shoulder of your horse back to include the entire saddle. NO Rider

* 1. Photo of the front of the horse at an angle showing the saddle from front shoulder of your horse back to include the entire saddle. No Rider

2. Full side view of the saddle on your horse. NO Rider - Before Ride

* 2. Full side view of the saddle on your horse. NO Rider - Before Ride

3. Stand off the hip of the horse and take a back angle of the saddle full view of saddle. NO Rider

* 3. Stand off the hip of the horse and take a back angle of the saddle full view of saddle. No Rider

4. Photo from the front of the horse at an angle showing the horse from it’s front shoulder back to include the entire saddle. With Rider

* 4. Photo from the front of the horse at an angle showing the horse from it’s front shoulder back to include the entire saddle. With Rider

5. Full side on view of saddle. With Rider

* 5. Full side on view of saddle. With Rider

6. Stand off the hip of the horse and take a back angle of the saddle full view of saddle. With Rider

* 6. Stand off the hip of the horse and take a back angle of the saddle full view of saddle. With Rider

7. Lift leather fender and take a photo of the full girth system when tacked up. (We need the entire girth from the D-ring on the saddle down to the D-ring on the girth.) NO Rider

NOTE: Use the holes in the latigo straps to tighten girth instead of tying a "cowboy knot". The knot when tying can result in soring your horse.

* 7. Lift leather fender and take a photo of the full girth system when tacked up. (We need the entire girth from the D-ring on the saddle down to the D-ring on the girth.) NO Rider

8. Step away from the horse and take a photo of the entire horse (Side View) with the saddle, so I can check the levelness. This needs to be the entire horse including the feet. NO Rider - After Ride

* 8. Step away from the horse and take a photo of the entire horse (Side View) with the saddle, so I can check the levelness. This needs to be the entire horse including the feet. NO Rider - After Ride

PHOTOS NEEDED AFTER THE VERY FIRST RIDE - DO NOT DISTURB THE PAD: Ride the Steele Trail Saddle with the Steele Saddle Pad a minimum of an hour (we would prefer longer) so that we have an impression of the top side of the pad as well as a sweat line to measure the fit of the saddle on your horse. Then take the saddle off your horse leaving the Steele saddle pad in place on your horse. DO not disturb the pad and we MUST have these final 4 photos taken after your FIRST ride whether it is a good fit or a bad fit). We are looking at the impression the saddle left on the pad. Do not take photos in direct sunlight as the impression on the pad will not show up.

9. Photo of the pad from on-side view on your horse that clearly shows the saddle impression.

* 9. Photo of the pad from on-side view on your horse that clearly shows the saddle impression.

10. Photo of the pad from off-side side view on your horse that clearly shows the saddle impression.

Remove the pad from your horse and take the final photos of the sweat line on your horse. Be careful of lighting issues so we can see the imprint clearly from a full side view especially with a black horse as it can be difficult for us to see otherwise.

* 10. Photo of the pad from off-side side view on your horse that clearly shows the saddle impression.

11. Photo of the horse sweat line full on side view.

* 11. Photo of the horse sweat line from front shoulder.

12. Photo of the horse sweat line full off side view.

* 12. Photo of the horse sweat line full side view.

13. Belt Test. If your horse has a high back bone please do the BELT TEST so we can check to see that the low point on the seat is not an issue for your horse. Simply put a regular size belt or a latigo strap under the saddle. If a belt, have the buckle sticking out behind the seat laying on the pad behind the saddle, staying in the the center air passageway making sure it doesn't get under the left or right side of the tree. The end of the belt should be in the front of the saddle. Mount and walk your horse out for a few minutes to let the pad settle then reach around behind you to grab the buckle and pull it out. If it comes out easily you are good to go. If it is tight let us know!

13. Photo of the belt test

We will review the photos to see what our recommendations are to ensure the fit is right for you. All riders who use our Try before you Buy Trail Saddle Demo Program will need to send us these photos for our files.

We want this website to be a great resource for you and will continually update it with the latest questions from our customers, news on Steele Saddle, and Steele Testimonials. If you have any questions ,please refer to our If you have any questions, please refer to our Questions & Answers Page and if you do not find what you are looking for use send me a message by our Contact Page.

If you would like to try a demo, give me a call at 615-746-2456 to make arrangements for shipping of your demo. The customer is responsible for shipping and handling of the demo secured via credit card.

Keep in mind the trail riding Steele Saddle demos have seen many miles on the trail, but the seat and the ride will be exceptional and we can build you the saddle that suits your specific tastes. Be sure to look at our new lines of trail endurance lightweight saddles, the Platinum hand tooled trail saddle, and the new slick seat Full Western saddle.

SHIP DEMOS BACK TO:
Custom Tree and Saddle Company, 2473 Erin Rd, McEwen, TN 37101