Choose your model, tree width, seat size, flap length, and leather type. Each saddle is hand-built to your specs. Need help? Our certified saddle fitters will guide you to the perfect match.
End Your Horse’s Back Pain with the Right Saddle Fit
County Saddlery – The “Best for Backs” Custom Saddle Solution
Does your horse show signs of back pain or resistance under saddle? County Saddlery’s custom-fit, handcrafted English saddles are designed to eliminate back pain and unlock your horse’s best performance. We combine traditional saddle-making with modern saddle fitting expertise – earning us the nickname “Best for Backs.”
The County Difference: Handcrafted for Comfort & Adjustability
Each County saddle is handmade in England using time-honored craftsmanship and the finest materials. We start with a laminated beechwood spring tree and pure wool flocking in the panels
Unlike foam panels or plastic trees found in many modern saddles, our natural materials conform to your horse’s back and can be adjusted over time . As your horse changes with training, age or condition, a County saddle can be refitted by our trained saddlers for continued perfect fit . This full adjustability, combined with premium leather and meticulous construction, means superior comfort for your horse and a level of quality that sets County apart. We even make our own saddle trees – one of the few companies in the world to do so – allowing us to ensure optimal design and durability in every saddle .
What does this mean for you and your horse? A saddle that truly fits, delivering pain-free performance and lasting value. County Saddlery resists cheap trends that compromise horses’ well-being: “Off the rack and on the back” one-size-fits-all is unrealistic – pads don’t solve the problems . With County, you invest in traditional quality that delivers modern results where it counts: your horse’s soundness and your riding performance.
Benefits: Pain-Free Performance, Custom Fit & More
Pain-Free Performance
Ride with the confidence that your horse is moving without discomfort or resistance. A correctly fitted County saddle can relieve pressure and pain that cause behavioral issues (bucking, rushing fences, swapping leads). As founder Gene Freeze says, “The horse deserves not to work in discomfort or pain… it’s about results in soundness, performance and the partnership between horse and rider.” With freedom from back pain, your horse can perform at its best – leading to improved gaits, better jumps, and a happier attitude.
Custom Adjustability
Every County saddle offers full adjustability to match your horse’s unique shape now and as they develop. We fit tree widths from Narrow to XX-Wide (and custom options) and use wool-flocked panels that can be re-flocked or shimmed by our saddle fitters. Horses’ backs change with training, age, and weight fluctuations, so our saddles are built to accommodate those changes. A quick annual check and minor flocking adjustments by a County rep can keep the saddle fitting like new – a far better solution than static foam panels or risky adjustable-tree gadgets that can weaken the saddle. The result is a consistent, comfortable fit through all stages of your horse’s life.
Improved Rider Balance
Experience a more secure, effective seat. County’s saddle designs help you sit in balance with a close contact feel, which means a quieter leg, better posture, and increased stability over fences. Many riders report that County saddles are the “most well balanced and well fit” saddles they’ve ridden, allowing them to be more effective in the saddle. With options like different seat depths and flap positions, you’ll find a saddle that supports your position without forcing it. The payoff: you stay centered, and your horse moves more freely underneath you, enhancing that horse-rider harmony.
Long-Term Value
Invest in a saddle that lasts. County saddles are built with premium leather and stout craftsmanship to hold up to daily riding. The laminated wood tree comes with a lifetime warranty, and the high-quality wool flocking and leather can be maintained or refreshed as needed over the years. This means your County saddle can serve you and even multiple horses for decades. Many riders find that a County saddle, with its timeless design and adjustability, outlives cheaper saddles and retains value. In fact, because our saddles can be custom-fitted and repaired as needed, they often save you money long-term – no constant saddle swapping as your horse changes shape. It’s a piece of tack you can count on for the long haul.
Trusted by Top Riders & Veterinarians
When a saddle can make this much difference, the experts notice. Top riders and equine veterinarians recommend County Saddlery for its results in improving horse comfort and performance. County has over 40 years of experience and saddles in more than 30 countries , and our client list reads like a who’s-who of equestrian sport. Olympians and world champions across dressage, jumping, and eventing choose County for their horses.
“I never realized how much of a difference a saddle could make until I rode in my first County Innovation. Now, all my Grand Prix horses are in County’s and my husband, veterinarian Steve Engle, can’t believe the difference in our horses’ backs and attitudes!” – Margie Goldstein Engle, Olympic show jumper .
Veterinarians have witnessed dramatic transformations in horses fitted with County saddles. Dr. Steven Engle, DVM, former U.S. team vet, has seen horses “transform from un-rideable to adding years and earnings to their competition careers” after switching to a County saddle
In one case, a Grand Prix jumper with severe back pain went on to compete in seven World Cup events pain-free once Gene Freeze created a custom County saddle for him . This kind of success story is why experts often say County is the “soundness solution” for many horses. Our saddles are not a quick fix gimmick – they’re a proven, vet-endorsed approach to resolving back pain and improving performance.
County’s reputation for excellence is also backed by leadership in the industry. Gene Freeze (County’s owner and master saddle designer) has trained many of the world’s saddle fitters and even educated veterinarians on saddle fitting . When you choose County, you’re not just buying a saddle – you’re joining a community of horsepeople, trainers, and vets who put the horse’s well-being first. We pride ourselves on working as a team with your trainer or vet to ensure the best outcome for the horse .
Ready to feel the difference? ? Schedule Your Saddle Fitting and see why riders from backyard amateurs to Olympic medalists trust County Saddlery.
Custom Saddles for Every Discipline
Whether you ride dressage, jumpers, hunters, or eventers, County has a saddle model perfectly suited to your needs. Every saddle is crafted for both horse comfort and rider performance.
Dressage Saddles
Designed for a deep seat and effortless sitting trot. Models like the Perfection, Fusion, and Connection offer balance and freedom of movement. Feel secure and help your horse move more expressively.
Jumping & Hunter Saddles
Experience balance and freedom over fences with models like the Innovation™ and Stabilizer™. Designed to reduce twisting and improve back comfort, these saddles are favored by top-level riders.
Eventing Saddles
Built for security and comfort across all phases. The Conquest model gives confidence in gallops, jumps, and dressage. Balanced support with a close-contact feel makes it the go-to for eventers.
🛠️ Truly Custom Fit for You
Flexible Financing – Own Your Dream Saddle for $122/Month
Worried that a custom English saddle is out of reach? We believe every horse deserves the best saddle, so we offer flexible financing to make it affordable. With our payment options, you can get a brand-new County saddle for as low as $122 per month f* That means you don’t have to compromise your horse’s comfort due to budget.
Start riding in your perfect saddle now and pay it off over time – no hefty upfront burden. Many riders find that the improved performance and freedom from vet or therapy bills make a quality saddle worth every penny. Your horse’s health and your enjoyment are priceless, and we’ll work with you to find a payment plan (via approved credit) that fits your budget.
Contact your local County rep for financing details and terms. $122/month is an example based on typical purchase price and available financing offers.
Flexible Financing – Own Your Dream Saddle for $122/Month
When you invest in a County saddle, we invest in you. We stand behind our workmanship 100%. Every new County saddle comes with a comprehensive warranty for your peace of mind: a lifetime warranty on the tree, and a multi-year guarantee on materials and craftsmanship.
(Yes, we’re that confident in our British-made trees and leather!) If any defect in materials or workmanship arises, we’ll make it right – repair or replace as needed per our warranty policy. (See our full warranty details for specifics.)
We also offer a saddle fit guarantee: our reps are dedicated to finding the right fit, and if for some reason a County saddle cannot improve your horse’s comfort, we’ll tell you honestly. Our fitting philosophy is simple: “If we can’t improve the performance, there’s no reason to change.”
In practice, that means we only sell you a saddle if we and you are convinced it’s the perfect solution for your horse. No guesswork, no risk of ending up with the wrong saddle – we make sure it’s right before you commit. And once you do, our aftercare (annual fit checks, flocking adjustments, etc.)
With County, you can order with confidence. Our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction is our highest priority – from the master saddler building your saddle to the representative servicing it, we’ve got your back (and your horse’s back!).
Frequently Asked Questions
How adjustable are County saddles if my horse changes?
County saddles are designed to be extremely adjustable through professional saddle fitting. We offer a wide range of tree sizes (N, M, W, XW, XXW, etc.) to fit your horse’s build from the start. More importantly, the wool-flocked panels can be adjusted or refilled over time to accommodate your horse’s muscle development or body changes.
We recommend having your saddle’s fit checked once or twice a year by a County representative or qualified saddle fitter. They can make minor flocking adjustments on the spot (an easy, inexpensive tweak) to keep the fit perfect as your horse gains topline or loses weight.
This means you won’t need to buy a new saddle every time your horse changes shape. (We do not rely on gimmicky adjustable pommel mechanisms that can weaken the tree – instead, we build the saddle right for your horse and fine-tune it with flocking.)
The result is a custom fit that can evolve with your horse, ensuring continuous comfort.
What is the saddle fitting process like?
Scheduling a fitting is easy – simply contact us to find your local County rep and set an appointment.
In the consultation, our certified saddle fitter will come to your barn (or meet you at a convenient location) to evaluate your horse in person. They’ll examine your horse’s back shape, posture, and any problem areas, and discuss your riding goals and challenges.
Then, you’ll get to try a variety of County demo saddles on your horse. We often encourage riders to ride with their current saddle and then in a County saddle back-to-back, even without extra pads, so you can see and feel the difference in your horse’s movement.
Our rep will assess how the saddle sits on your horse (both statically and in motion) and how you feel in it as the rider.
Once you’ve found a model and configuration that makes you and your horse say “yes!”, we take detailed measurements to custom build your saddle to those specs. The fitting appointment typically takes 1–2 hours.
There’s no hard sell – our goal is to find a solution for you. If a County saddle doesn’t demonstrably improve your horse’s comfort or performance, we won’t recommend you change to one. But with our track record, riders usually notice an improvement immediately!
After ordering, your saddle is handmade to order. Upon delivery, the rep will typically do a final fitting check to ensure everything is perfect.
Can I trial a County saddle before committing?
Absolutely. We firmly believe you and your horse should experience the difference a County saddle makes before you make a purchase.
During the initial fitting, you’ll be riding in our demo saddles – essentially a supervised trial. You can walk, trot, canter, and even jump or do movements in the demo to really test it out.
Many riders feel the positive change in their horse in that first ride – freer movement, no more pinned ears or hollow back, better jump technique, etc.
If you need additional time, ask your County rep about short-term trials or test rides; we often can leave a demo saddle with you for a few days or arrange a follow-up session, depending on availability.
We also offer a 30-day fit guarantee after purchase – if the saddle isn’t working for your horse as expected, we’ll address it, whether by adjusting the fit or exploring another model.
In summary: yes, you can try before you buy, and we encourage it! We know once you feel a County, you’ll understand why it’s “Best for Backs.”
Due to high demand and the custom nature of our work, availability is limited – we craft a limited number of saddles each month. Don’t miss your chance to improve your horse’s comfort. Schedule your fitting now to get on our build calendar!
County Saddlery, Inc.
Best for Backs” since 1981
© 2025 County Saddlery.
All rights reserved.