High Plains Saddle Fitting, JH-C LLC

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High Plains Saddle Fitting, JH-C LLC

English Saddle Fitting in Cowboy Country.

10/30/2026

My dearest clients, I’m having surgery on my shoulder in December, and will need at least the following 4 weeks to recover. This to say that if you are due for a saddle fitting or re-check, you should reach out to get on the schedule. I have plenty of time in November to get everyone in. And don’t worry, for any of my clients who have custom orders coming, I promise, you will get your saddles! ❤️❤️❤️

10/29/2026

When we talk about the importance of wither clearance, we’re not just talking about the space needed ABOVE the wither to protect it from damage. We want to be sure that the sides of the wither are protected too! That’s where your horse’s trap is, and it is both important, and delicate. When you see a saddle with a narrow pommel essentially using the sides of the wither as a support system to achieve clearance above, you also tend to see damage in that trap, ie big hollows behind the scapula. The two are connected.

10/26/2026

We all have an ego. It’s a part of our identity, and in many ways, keeps us safe. But oftentimes, when our egos flare up in the face of new information, it’s operating from a much younger, less mature version of us. Recognizing the way it feels in the body is the first step. Addressing it can be helpful. Thanking it for its protection. Inquiring how old the version of us that’s operating it. When it IS coming from a younger version, a gentle reparenting, from the strong and loving adult we are today, or even coming in as our highest self, to say, “it’s ok to not know everything. You won’t be ostracized for not knowing this. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s ok, I’ve got this. I’ll take over here.” It may seem silly, but I’ve found it to be powerful and highly effective.

10/23/2026

Saddles sliding forward on ponies! This is a common problem! The truth is that there are not a lot of pony saddles out there that have rails that actually don’t match the width and angle of the typical pony’s back, and having both the tree points and the rails match the width and angle is so important. Both too narrow and too wide saddles will want to slide forward on these builds. The other biggest issue is that many ponies have a forward girth groove, which will also pull a saddle onto the shoulder. This is when using a shaped girth can be helpful. Like, a crescent, or a girth specifically designed for horses with forward girth grooves. It often entails trying a number of things, and there are sometimes even more things at play. Like a rising, active lumbar, and the low point on the pony’s back being fairly far forward.

10/22/2026

In a world that can feel very isolating, with so many horse owners seeming to choose not learning or doing better with their horses. When professional advice falls on ears who ask for it, but are unwilling to hear it or listen. When taking a break from riding to properly rehab a horse to help its overall condition and longevity is like asking something completely unreasonable. People who say they’re in it for the horses, but it’s so clear that they’re in it for themselves. The daily grind of this can beat a person down who is in this industry trying to facilitate change. Like you’re screaming into the void. And it makes meeting other like-minded horse people one of the most magical things! People who are always asking the hard questions, especially of themselves. Always learning. Dropping their egos. Truly putting the horse first, day in and day out. I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE SUCH A GROUP OF PEOPLE AROUND ME.

10/21/2026

Let’s talk about the straps attached to our saddle pads, where they attach, and why they’re there. When they are lower and longer, they are meant to attach to your billets under your flap to keep your pad in place under your saddle(not keep your saddle in place, ope 😅). When they are higher up and shorter, they’re meant to attach to the D rings to both keep the pad in place, AND keep the pad up over the wither. If you’ve ever had your pad slip down over your horse’s wither, you get it! I love these for this reason, and I ALWAYS use them. Now, if you still hate them and want to remove them, it’s better to remove the entire strap with seam rippers than it is to cut it off and leave the square that is still attached, because that square can cause a pressure point. It can get a little more complicated when you use a half pad that also has straps. IMO, it’s best to use the straps on the lower pad, especially if it has the D ring straps. That will hold both pads up if you have a square pad with the lower straps and a half pad with the higher, use both.

10/19/2026

One last fitting before one of my dearest clients moves back home, to make sure everything is looking good for their sendoff. It’s been such a pleasure! You will be missed! I can’t wait to see the places you will go!

10/16/2026

This is a shoutout. To all of the villages out there helping their saddle fitter hold down the fort while they are away doing fittings.

Saddle fitters often cover large regions, and many days include hours of travel to and from the areas where their clients are. Some cover areas large enough that they are gone for weeks at a time.

I don’t know a single fitter who doesn’t have SOMEONE at home, helping them manage their home, pets, horses, children, while they are away. And for many of us, it takes a while team.

So here’s to the helpers. The ones feeding our pets, picking our children up from school, making sure the wheels don’t fall off the bus while we are away. We couldn’t do this without you.

Tag your village.

10/15/2026

I love a curious horse!   And whether they are curious or not, I believe in respecting them.  I show every horse I see the flexicurve that I use to take their tracings every time I go to place it on their back. Not because I fear their reaction. Because I respect them enough to show them what I am about to touch them with, and hope that they consent, in their way.   I show every horse I see the saddle I will place on their back before I do it. Because I think it is only fair.   I do not feel entitled to touch them, in any way, without asking them first.   This frustrates some owners. I get a lot of “oh, he’s fine.” And, “you don’t have to do that.”

But I do. Because I respect them.   And guess what? My equine clients are generally happy to see me. They know that I see them, and respect them. Making them comfortable, both physically and mentally/emotionally, is my goal.

10/14/2026

I believe that there are ways to find comfort for both horse and rider in a saddle, and Erreplus has done some real work in perfecting this.

Address

Omaha, NE
68112

Website

http://www.highplainssaddlefitting.com/

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