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Your guide to becoming an SMS Registered & Qualified Saddle Fitter
The Society of Master Saddlers Certificate in Saddle Fitting is the worldwide qualification for saddle fitting and is verified & monitored by an independent educational body – City & Guilds (C&G).
The journey to SMS Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter (QSF) takes at least 3 years, and is designed to support all Trainee Saddle Fitters from introductory level to final assessments. It includes compulsory elements - in blue - recommended training - in red - and recommended learning - in gold. Committing to the full Pathway will give the greatest benefit to your saddle fitting skill set and is excellent preparation for gaining the C&G Saddle Fitting qualification. Progress through the pathway is individual and so some elements and duration may vary.
Year 1
A two-day course covering the basic principles of the SMS recommended saddle fitting system. This course is the foundation to our Saddle Fitting Training Pathway, and is a long standing and essential element of CPD for equine professionals such as Physiotherapists, Coaches, Vets, and Saddlers.
- Introduction to the Course
- Tree Design
- Saddle Trees & Construction
- Identifying Faults in Saddles
- Maintaining Records
- A veterinary surgeon’s thoughts on saddle fitting
- Structure and Functioning of the horse relevant to saddle fitting
- Safe Handling of the Horse and Running-up
- Condition Scoring, Conformation and Movement
- Back Assessment
- Principles of Saddle Fitting
Day 2 On the practical day, after an introduction delegates will circulate around different stations in small groups, experiencing both practical demonstrations from our lecturers and the opportunity to get hands-on with trees, flexicurves and saddles.
Stations cover:
- Practical Saddle Fitting
- Taking Templates and Back Assessment
- Conformation, Horse Description and Running-up
You will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire alongside your membership application or prior to your QSF course attendance. This information helps you and the SMS to ensure that any learning or skills gaps are met. Skills assessments are repeated throughout the pathway to evaluate progress and your developing training needs.
The SMS represents and supports every part of the Saddlery Industry, from manufacturers, to craftspeople to saddlery fitters. By joining the Society, you will have access to an extensive saddle fitting training program as well as advisory policies and guidelines relating to business and the saddlery trade. Once you have completed an Introductory Fitting Course or are in training as a saddler you can apply to join the Society as a Trainee member.
For those not employed or in partnership with a SMS Qualified Saddle Fitter, the Mentor Scheme, which can be joined once you’ve completed the Introductory course, provides on the job training for independent saddle fitters. You will gain valuable insight into the skills required to become a QSF. In Year 1 – the full Mentor package provides you with 4 on the job training days with your Mentor, a workbook is included plus a 12-month support package, giving you the opportunity to discuss relevant topics with your Mentor on a monthly basis. There are case studies to complete as well as continual skills assessment. Your Mentor in most instances will be allocated outside your intended working area. For those not wanting the full package, you may choose either training day only or monthly support. For those employed or working with a training provider you have the option to purchase the workbook separately. Additional training days can be purchased separately as required.
Year 2
In order to take any City & Guilds assessment you must register with the SMS office 6 weeks prior to any assessment being attended.
A basic course to enable you to re-flock and adjust the flocking in a saddle panel as well as carrying out basic safety checks. This course prepares you for the SMS City & Guilds Certificate in Saddle Flocking and Flocking Adjustment, whereby you will undertake a written test, carry out a complete re-flock of a saddle and make adjustments to a saddle under assessment conditions. This assessment forms a unit of the Saddle Fitting Qualification.
Flocking courses are carried out by independent training providers a list of which can be found Here
Five days of intensive training in the advanced principles of the SMS recommended saddle fitting system & essential associated learning.
Candidates based in the UK will complete training and be assessed in year 3. It is recommended that candidates achieve the flocking qualification prior to the saddle fitting assessment as it is a compulsory unit.
The three days of practical sessions is a residential course, fees include overnight accommodation, breakfast & lunchtime meals
Day 1 starts with a course overview before delving into the principles of saddle design and construction. You’ll look at conformation from a saddle fitter’s point of view and how different options in tree, materials, shapes and sizes effect saddle fitting. Client communication and customer care will be covered alongside record keeping and the SMS Code of Practice.
Day 2 centres around a series of veterinary lectures. You will learn about equine anatomy, and locomotor system as it relates to saddle fitting and examine the short and long-term effects of an ill-fitting saddle for horse and rider. Safe handling and bio security will be covered, and there is a focus on the role of the Saddle Fitter within the team of equine professionals responsible for horse care.
Day 3 looks at the influence of the rider on saddle fit and their requirements of the saddle. You’ll look at practical saddle tree fitting, conformation and evaluation of the horse in hand before moving onto the ‘15 point’ procedure of practical saddle fitting and the 7 points of recognising a good fit.
Day 4 reiterates the 15-point procedure and the use of the 7-point recognition of a good fit. You’ll have the opportunity to assess the horse and take templates as well as looking at difficult fits and solutions, correct adjustments and use of pads. We also consider other influences and advances in design and research.
Day 5 is all about putting what you learnt into practice. In small groups, you will assess conformation and gait for saddle fitting, explore rider influence and have the opportunity to do three saddle fittings.
The online and interactive training platform encourages you to complete training modules, join in group discussions with your peers and monitor your own progression, identifying your skills gaps. With learning guides and videos to help you establish best practice in the saddle fitting process. You will be given access to Moodle on payment of the theory sessions of the Qualification Training Course.
Your Mentor will visit your place of business and spend a day with you and your clients offering assistance and guidance on best practice, the full mentor package (10a) also includes the 12-month support package renews for a second year. For those not wanting the full package, you may choose either the training day only (10b) only or monthly support (10c).
A one-day module focusing on saddle tree design and suitability for differing breeds and horse’s back profiles. This module provides the opportunity to understand a fundamental part of saddle design and fit, and to get hands-on with a number of tree designs and types.
A one-day module highlighting common saddle fitting challenges of difficult to fit horses. Working in small groups to learn problem solving techniques as well as provision for peer discussion.
Year 3 - 5
Renew your support package for 12 months (optional). Additional on the job training days may be purchased as required.
A morning or afternoon session to run through a mock saddle fitting assessment with a post mock appraisal with an SMS Lecturer/Assessor. Essential preparation for the final assessments.
A ‘hands on’ two-day module, looks to fine tune the skills you have learnt on the QSF course whilst under the supervision of SMS lecturers & assessors. In small groups you will first assess static saddle fit before progressing to full ridden saddle fit assessments. Limited to 16 delegates.
A four-day basic course to enable you to re-flock and adjust the flocking in a saddle panel as well as carrying out basic safety checks. This course prepares you for the SMS City & Guilds Certificate in Saddle Flocking and Flocking Adjustment unit, whereby you will undertake a written test, carry out a complete re-flock of a saddle and make adjustments to a saddle under assessment conditions.
The Society endeavour to schedule this course and assessment available to International students just prior to the Saddle Fitting course and assessments to limit the need to travel.
Five days of intensive training in the advanced principles of the SMS recommended saddle fitting system & essential associated learning. Training is delivered by webinars and a three day practical course
Most international candidates will go on to take the City & Guilds assessment at the end of the course. It is recommended that international candidates wishing to be assessed at the end of the practical course should have a minimum of three years experience in saddle fitting.
This is a residential course, fees include overnight accommodation, breakfast & lunchtime meals
Day 1 starts with a course overview before delving into the principles of saddle design and construction. You’ll look at conformation from a saddle fitter’s point of view and how different options in tree, materials, shapes and sizes effect saddle fitting. Client communication and customer care will be covered alongside record keeping and the SMS Code of Practice.
Day 2 centres around a series of veterinary lectures. You will learn about equine anatomy, and locomotor system as it relates to saddle fitting and examine the short and long-term effects of an ill-fitting saddle for horse and rider. Safe handling and bio security will be covered, and there is a focus on the role of the Saddle Fitter within the team of equine professionals responsible for horse care.
Day 3 looks at the influence of the rider on saddle fit and their requirements of the saddle. You’ll look at practical saddle tree fitting, conformation and evaluation of the horse in hand before moving onto the ‘15 point’ procedure of practical saddle fitting and the 7 points of recognising a good fit.
Day 4 reiterates the 15-point procedure and the use of the 7-point recognition of a good fit. You’ll have the opportunity to assess the horse and take templates as well as looking at difficult fits and solutions, correct adjustments and use of pads. We also consider other influences and advances in design and research.
Day 5 is all about putting what you learnt into practice. In small groups, you will assess conformation and gait for saddle fitting, explore rider influence and have the opportunity to do three saddle fittings.
Upon SMS Assessor recommendation and/or after you have 3 years saddle fitting experience you may apply to take the C&G Certificate in Saddle Fitting. You must achieve/pass the mandatory units and written exam to gain your qualification. This six-part assessment takes place over one day and covers the following units:
Unit 401 – Saddle assessment & fault finding
Unit 402 – Conformation, movement and condition of horses for saddle fitting
Unit 403 – Taking a template
Unit 404 - Saddle fitting – 2 fittings
Unit 405 – Saddle flocking and flocking adjustments
Unit 410 – Written exam
If you have achieved your C&G Certificate in Flocking & Flocking Adjustments Qualification Unit 4751-13 prior to this assessment day you will be exempt from unit 405.
Additional Learning
Complement your SMS Pathway and saddle fitting development by attending courses provided by our training partners; BETA, Centaur Biomechanics, and Horses Inside Out. Attendance of a one day First Aid course is also highly recommended.