Categories
Shipping and Returns
Warranty
FAQ’s
Fitting Kit / System
Fitting A Downhill Horse
Trail / Traditional Fenders
Trail Seat / Flat Seat
Adjusting Stirrup Position
What are your tree widths?
Q. How long does it take to receive my saddle?
A. Once we have received your order and payment, your custom hand crafted saddle will be added to our production queue. If your saddle has our standard options and tooling, you can expect your saddle in 2-4 weeks depending on the season. Saddles with special options/ requests, including 3/4 tooling & Full tooling can be expected in 6-8 weeks. (Accessories with 3/4 & Full tooling can be expected in 6 weeks.) Feel free to contact us ahead of time to see how our schedule is running at 915-345-4130.
Q. What is your return policy?
A. You are required to contact our office (915-345-4130) for a RMA number PRIOR to return. Please have your order number ready when you call. Saddles or Accessories returned without a RMA number will be refused and will not receive a refund. Your full purchase price (minus shipping charges) will be refunded within 30 days as long as it meets the refund requirements as outline below.
Return policy on products other than saddles:
1. Accessory returns may be made within 90 days and require the item to be unused and in new condition*.
2. Custom made accessories are not returnable except for warranty reasons.
3. Return policy on Saddles (Click here to see our full terms of purchase – you will be required to agree to this upon checkout). Saddles with 3/4 tooling are not returnable.
If you are not fully satisfied with the purchase of a new Specialized Saddle you can return it in new condition within 10 days for a full refund less freight. As stated above, you are REQUIRED to contact our office (915-345-4130) for a RMA number PRIOR to return. Saddles returned without a RMA number will be refused and will not receive a refund. Your full purchase price (minus shipping charges) will be refunded within 30 days after receipt of saddle.
NOTE: ANY saddles made with non-standard custom options not available on the order form, upgraded seat color, sizes smaller than 15″ or larger than 17″, or semi full and full tooling are non-refundable.
* – New condition: Accessory items must not show any signs of use. There must be no scuffs, dirt, scratches, horse hair, etc.
Warranty for all products other than saddles:
Specialized Saddles warrants products we manufacture will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 90 days after the invoice date of purchase. The sole responsibility and obligation of Specialized Saddles is to repair or replace at its discretion, product during limited warranty period.
Warranty for Saddles
Specialized Saddles warrants saddles we manufacture will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 1 year after the invoice date of purchase. Saddle trees have a five year limited warranty. The sole responsibility and obligation of Specialized Saddles is to repair or replace saddle tree at its discretion during limited warranty period.
Q. How much do the saddles weigh?
A. Each type of Specialized Saddle has a different weight:
- Eurolights weigh 12 to 15 lbs.
- Ultralights weigh 9 to 10 lbs.
- Trailmasters weigh 15 to 16 lbs.
- Internationals weigh 16 to 17 lbs.
- TW Saddlery Westerns with horn weigh 17 to 25 lbs.
Q. What sort of tree do you use?
A. Our trees are made by one of the oldest and most reputable saddle tree manufacturers in the United States. They are made of Southern Yellow Pine wood covered in fiberglass. These trees are strong and durable yet very lightweight.
Q. What kind of leather do you use?
A. Specialized Saddles are crafted using the highest quality grade 1 leather from Wickett & Craig Tannery. It is the finest US tanned leather available. The leathers are made following the time honored tradition of natural and eco-friendly veg-tanning. Saddles result in rich patinas that only better with riding and age.
Q. Where are the saddles made?
A. All of the Specialized Saddles and TW Saddlery saddles are made in one of our two factories in Texas.
Q. What is the Patented 3-D Fitting System and Fitting Kit?
A. The Specialized Saddles 3D Adjustable Saddle Fitting System (click here to learn more) is the only system in the world that actually lets you adjust all three dimensions of saddle fit to match perfectly all three dimensions of a horses’ back; the width, dip and angle. The Fitting Kit is designed to help you through hard to fit problems with your horse by our master fitter/company owner, David Kaden. (David also uses Photo Fit – click here to learn more). It is also a tool to help you decide before you purchase a saddle if you need our standard tree or wide tree. Just add the Fitting Kit to your Specialized Saddle order and it will be shipped out to you so when we ship your saddle, it has been pre-fit to your supplied dimensions.
Q. What is a downhill horse and how do you fit it?
A. A horse that has a higher croup than wither is commonly referred to as a “downhill horse” or “butt high”. This body type can be difficult to fit as the saddle tends to slide forward over the withers, especially with very wide horses. It can also give the rider the feeling of falling forward or inability to get their legs under them.
Riders tend to put flat shims in the front to raise the saddle, but when this is done it lifts the saddle bars off the middle of the horses back causing bridging. Doing this puts most of the weight in the front of the saddle. This causes a pressure concentration because all the weight that should be distributed along the bars of the saddle is now concentrated on the horses shoulders. Some riders with horses that are downhill have also tried using pads that are thicker in the wither area to try to level out a saddle, but again it causes the same problem as putting extra shims in the front. When a horse is down hill the saddle still needs to fit and have an even distribution of weight along the entire bars of the saddle.
The best solution for a downhill horse is to purchase a TW Saddlery saddle or Specialized Saddle with with a trail type seat that has more rise built into it than a flat seat. The trail seat has a steeper angle and puts the rider in the pocket of the saddle more, so the seat will feel like a normal flat seat when put on a downhill horse. A Saddle with a trail seat can be fit to the horses back without extra shims in the front to level it for the rider and provide the ideal even distribution of weight along the entire bars of the saddle.
Q. How long has Specialized Saddles been in business?
A. Specialized Saddles started business full time in 2000. Our products are the saddle of choice for many top Endurance riders in the US and around the world. We are also one of the leading manufacturers of trail and gaited horse saddles
Q. Do you make custom saddles for draft horses and mules that may not fall within standard tree fitting parameters?
A. Specialized Saddles uses special trees for mules and extra wide horses so we can make a saddle that uses our adjustable fit system but fits your type of riding animal. Should you change mounts you can still use your adjustable Specialized Saddle to fit to perfection. Please contact one of our fitting specialists to discuss your fit requirements: 915-345-4130
Q. What is the difference between Leathers, Trail fenders and Traditional Fenders?
A.
 | Specialized Saddles Leathers are available on the Ultralight, Eurolight, and International (shown to the Left on the Eurolight). They are made from 1.5” biothane and are very strong and durable. They feature easy to change roller buckles. Leathers can be ordered with fleece stirrup leather covers to prevent pinching or rubbing of the calf. (Shown to the right on the International). |  |
Specialized Saddles Trail fenders have a biothane neck that connects the fender to the stirrup. Biothane is very flexible and requires NO breaking in as well as being extremely durable and very easy to clean. The biothane around the neck of the stirrup allows the foot and leg to move more freely with the horse. This lets the ankle and knee position themselves where is best suited for the rider relieving unnecessary pressure on the knees and ankles. The trail fenders also have a roller buckle for easier adjustment than the traditional Blevins buckles found on other fenders. This feature is particularly helpful in saddles that are used by multiple riders and can even be adjusted while on the horse. Shown to the left is the trail fender on the Eurolight.
Traditional fenders have a leather neck that is 2.5″ wide. They require breaking in by either long hours in the saddle or through wetting the neck, twisting the leather and allowing to dry. This may require repetition to ensure the fenders stay turned. Once fenders are turned they keep the stirrup in a ready to use position. Traditional fenders have Blevins buckles to adjust stirrup length. Blevins buckles hold the fender tight together and can be difficult to change stirrup length. Shown to the right on the Trailmaster.
Q. What is the difference between the Trail Seat and the Flat Seat?
A. The trail seat has more rise in the front than the flat seat. It allows the rider to sit in the pocket of the cantle. It is great for gaited horse riders and trail riders that do more sitting in the saddle. It is also good for riders with down hill horses. The steeper angle puts the rider in the pocket of the saddle more, so the seat will feel more like the flat seat on a downhill horse. A saddle with the trail seat can be fit to the horses back without extra shims in the front to level it for the rider and provide the ideal even distribution of weight along the entire bars of the saddle. The trail seat helps hold the rider in because of the rise and can help provide added security.
Specialized Saddles Trail Seat
The flat seat has a lower rise in the front than the trail seat and has a cut out. This seat puts a rider more in the middle of the saddle like a dressage position. The lower rise makes it easier to post or two point. It has a cut out in the front and when the rider rises to post the front of the seat will not bump the riders crotch. This ensures that over long periods of posting the rider does not get saddle sores. It is especially helpful for men with prostate problems and women with chronic pelvic pain. The flat seat is wider in the twist than the trail seat.
Specialized Saddles Flat Seat
Q. How are stirrups adjusted with Specialized Saddles adjustable stirrup positioning?
A. All Specialized Saddles and TW Saddlery western saddles feature adjustable stirrup positioning which allows the rider to put the stirrups in the ideal position for their body. The stirrups can be placed in forward, centered or balanced position.
Shown top and bottom is the TW Saddlery Trail Light
Helpful hits for adjusting stirrup position.
- Try riding with the set screw in the forward, balanced, and centered positions to find which is most comfortable for you.
- If you experience the feeling of tipping of falling forward place the set screws in the most forward position to alleviate this.
- If you feel like you cannot get your legs under you, place the set screw in the balanced or centered position to alleviate this.
Note: set screws are not required
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- Without set screws you can easily change stirrup length for shorter and taller riders
- Without set screws it allows stirrup leathers to move forward and back when riding. This can be helpful when going up and down hills and lets you move forward and back as needed.
Q. What are your tree widths?
A. Our standard trees measure 6″ at the gullet and our wide trees measure 7″ at the gullet. Both can be adjusted 1.5″ wider and 1.5″ narrower by using different size fitting cushions and positioning them up or down on the bars.