International Academy of Saddle Fitters

09/09/2026

JOIN US FOR A 2 DAY IN-PERSON WORKSHOP ON BITTING, BEHAVIOUR & BIOMECHANICS

Time & Location
16 Nov 2026 – 17 Nov 2026, 09:00 - 18:00

Millie McBride Dressage, RFCQ+VW, Studham, Dunstable LU6 2NG, UK

BOOK HERE: https://www.iasf-members.com/event-details/bitting-behaviour-and-biomechanics

Understanding the horse begins with listening to what they're telling us.

Join renowned Equine Behaviourist & Bitting Specialist Olivia Turner and Equine Physiotherapist and Trauma-Informed Horse Trainer Yasmin Stuart for a unique two-day clinic exploring the relationship between tack, biomechanics, behaviour and horse welfare.

Designed primarily for equine professionals—including saddlery fitters, coaches, therapists, farriers and other practitioners—but open to anyone with a keen interest in improving horse welfare, this immersive event combines classroom learning with extensive practical sessions involving a variety of horses.

Throughout the two days, you'll learn how to assess the horse as an individual before tack is introduced, understand how the fit and design of bits, bridles and other tack can influence comfort, movement and behaviour and develop the skills to recognise when a horse may be communicating pain, discomfort or confusion.

By observing horses both on the ground and under saddle, you'll gain valuable insight into body language, posture, movement patterns and ridden behaviour, helping you build a more complete picture of the horse's physical and emotional wellbeing.

During the clinic you'll explore:

Assessing the healthy horse's posture, conformation and movement before tack is fitted.

Evaluating how the fit and function of different bits influence ridden posture and movement.

Recognising behavioural indicators during handling and tacking up.

Interpreting equine body language and understanding what horses may be communicating.

Dynamic assessment of horses in motion, both with and without a rider.

Recognising musculoskeletal, biomechanical and potential lameness-related issues.

Understanding ridden behaviour and how tack choices—including bitted and bitless options—can influence performance, comfort and welfare.

Assessing the horse-and-rider partnership, including rider influence on movement and behaviour with practical strategies to improve outcomes.

Whether you're looking to enhance your professional skillset, broaden your understanding of equine behaviour, or improve the service you provide to clients, this clinic will equip you with practical knowledge that can be applied immediately.

By bringing together behaviour, biomechanics, physiotherapy and tack assessment, Bitting, Behaviour & Biomechanics offers a truly holistic approach to understanding the horse—placing welfare, comfort and communication at the heart of every assessment.

Yasmin Stuart Equine Physio Olivia Turner Animal Behaviour Consultant & Equine Bitting Specialist

The International Academy of Saddle Fitters (IASF) is a UK based organisation providing high quality saddle fitting courses.

IASF hold regular courses and workshops for horse-owners, equine professionals and existing saddle fitters.

02/09/2026

Ready to elevate your knowledge, master traditional craft and transform your understanding of equine biomechanics?

The International Academy of Saddle Fitters is hosting an exclusive lineup of hands-on educational events this autumn, designed for professionals, fitters and dedicated equestrians who want to deepen their practical skills.

Here is what is coming up:

Saddlery Benchwork: Introduction to Leather Skills

📍 Knightsbridge, London | 📅 Saturday, 19th September 2026

Master traditional leatherworking techniques in an intimate 1:4 tutor ratio setting. Learn leather selection, cutting, edge finishing, and hand-stitching—and walk away with your own handcrafted leather belt.

Bitting, Behaviour & Biomechanics Workshop

📍 Millie McBride Dressage, Dunstable | 📅 16th & 17th November 2026

Join experts Olivia Turner and Yasmin Stuart for an intensive 2-day in-person workshop connecting bit fit, horse movement and behavioral responses.

Equine Anatomy Masterclass (In-Person Dissection)

📍 Dodderhill Equestrian Center, Droitwich Spa | 📅 Friday, 20th November 2026

Led by leading veterinary professionals, this full-day dissection event offers an unparalleled look into skeletal structure, soft tissue, and real-world saddle interaction.

Spaces for each event are strictly limited to ensure tailored instruction and maximum hands-on time.

Reserve your spot or explore full course details at https://www.iasf-members.com/event-list

02/09/2026

An excellent article in this Summers edition of Horse & Country Magazine for anyone considering a career in the equestrian sector

https://www.flipsnack.com/leisuremagazines/your-horse-country-magazine-summer-2026-issue-49?p=30
Your Horse & Country Magazine

20/08/2026

Day 3 in Norway and what a fantastic way to wrap up our trip! 🇳🇴🐴

​Today was packed with incredible horses—primarily a selection of lovely dressage horses and some truly fascinating fitting challenges..

We worked through a variety of European-style saddles, navigating common fitting dilemmas:

​Saddles that the rider loved, but were not fitting the horse
​Saddles that fit the horse nicely, but were not fitting the rider

A few saddles had great potential but need to be sent away for adjustments. Others will need to be rehomed and replaced.

Sheepskin pads were popular and when fitted correctly and appropriately can have benefits especially when using low profile, foam panels.

​It was an engaging, educational, and deeply rewarding final day assessing how to find that perfect, harmonious balance for both horse and rider.

​Huge thank you to everyone who hosted us and shared their horses with us during this trip. Norway, you’ve been incredible! ✈️✨

19/08/2026

Day two of our Norwegian saddle fitting adventure with the International Academy of Saddle Fitters is in the books!

Today's focus shifted to a stunning group of Warmbloods, PRE and tall sport horses. Moving away from the ponies and smaller horses we worked with yesterday gave us a completely different set of fitting puzzles to solve.

​From a sizing perspective, fitting larger horses can feel a bit more straightforward. Their longer backs give us more room to comfortably team adult riders with larger saddles—a luxury you rarely get when trying to balance an adult rider on a short-backed pony!

​However, today brought its own unique test: every single horse we evaluated was outfitted in a foam-panel European saddle. While foam can offer a close, responsive interface, these saddles sometimes lack the quick adjustability of traditional wool-flocked, adjustable-gullet models.

To achieve the perfect balance, we had to get creative with precise shimming solutions and we are now on the hunt for a few ideal replacement saddles for some top-tier dressage and eventing/showjumping horses.

​It was another fantastic and insightful day of spreading saddle fitting education internationally with the IASF. Stay tuned for more updates from Norway! 🇳🇴🐴

18/08/2026

Norway Saddle Fitting Day 1 and what a day it's been! We've had saddles slipping, seen (and removed) a few cruppers, asymmetry, interesting saddle/panel choices, unbalanced saddles and some questionable saddle safety checks.

Today we met lots of Ponies including a few iconic Norwegian Fjords, some Nordic, Icelandic, Welsh, Irish and Foresters.

Lots of work to be done here as we spread saddle fitting education to horse owners Internationally.

Another busy day awaits us tomorrow when we will be seeing some Warmblood and sports horses. We'll keep you posted 🐴

18/08/2026

Our website is having a make over! You may have noticed that www.saddle-academy.com is down, please don't panic. The site is having an overhaul and will be back up and running shortly. Please bear with us while these upgrades take place. We promise it will be worth the wait.

Discover the International Academy of Saddle Fitters, specialising in industry-leading saddle fitting courses. Find out more about them at the IASF.