We have been using the saddle for about a month now and the change in Blue is amazing!  He is no longer a resistant, high-headed horse with a hollow back.  Instead, he is moving with a relaxed head and neck , and has much smoother gaits and transitions.  I am sure that if Blue could talk he would say THANK YOU DEBRA! 

In retrospect I should have called you sooner since you  fit my small haflinger mare, Piper, with your ovation saddle 2 years ago.  I have received many compliments on the saddle and how well it fits both me and Piper.  I am sure we will have our Crestridge saddles for many years to come but if we ever need another saddle you will be our first call. Best, Kathleen (June 2010) 

Here's Holly wearing her Crest Ridge tack, and gaiting nicely. She is going so well now and I am thrilled to bits. Love the saddle and bridle. Doesn't Holly look beautiful! Jenny (June 2010)

My Kentucky Mountain mare is now six.  I started riding her as a three-year-old using a Bighorn Gaited Flex-tree saddle. This saddle fitted her nicely to begin with and was really comfortable for me, and we were soon out on the trail and gaiting well. But as time passed Holly stopped doing the four-beat lateral gait in favor of a pace, and she argued with me more and more, especially when I insisted she gait. She frightened me a few times by spooking, shying or spinning and I began to wonder if I was too old, at sixty, to continue with such a young horse. I was close to giving up. Then the hair over Holly’s loins started wearing away. That’s when I realized that saddle fit was at least part of the problem. Holly had grown from a slender three year-old to a broader five year-old. And I failed to notice. By this time Holly’s right hip was noticeably lower than the left.

A friend recommended I contact Debra at Crest Ridge. Debra didn’t try to sell me a saddle…she said that my first priority should be to get an equine chiropractor to address the hip alignment. I did this and confirmed that Holly’s spine was badly out of alignment in several places. No wonder she was crabby and wouldn’t gait well. She couldn’t!

Eventually, after many emails and phone calls, photographs and measurements I placed my order with Debra for an Extra-wide Ovation with matching headstall, split reins and one-inch felt saddle pad. The waiting was the hardest part! But it was worth it. The quality of the Crest Ridge workmanship is second to none, absolutely beautiful and far superior to the Bighorn. The Ovation is shorter in length than the Bighorn, too, and therefore a much better fit for the Mountain horses who tend to have short backs. Also the Ovation is lighter in weight than the Bighorn and easier for me to lift. Yet there is nothing flimsy about either saddle or bridle. There is substance to both. I’m sure they will outlast me and my horse!

Because Holly had completely lost the gait she required some professional retraining, as well as chiropractic adjustments, but she is now gaiting beautifully and is everything I always wanted in a horse. She is an alpha mare but yields herself to my aids without the attitude and arguments she previously displayed. She is obviously comfortable now so has no need to complain. She also looks lovely in her new tack and we get many complements on the trail. I am a very happy Crest Ridge customer.

Thank you Crest Ridge for making such a high quality saddle for the gaited horse and for taking the time to ensure that both horse and rider are satisfied.

Jenny Bowen, Stouffville, Ontario

Wendy Keinman of Australia has purchased two Crest Ridge saddles.  She asked us to share this picture of her horse, Lugi, wearing his new Sinclair saddle.

I just finished our afternoon trail ride. You can not tell in the pic because you can't see the saddle BUT...... my butt cheeks are smiling. That is one comfortable saddle and was well worth the wait. It fits him VERY good. Fits me better!!!! Just love it. Thanks for all your time and work on making sure it would fit the right way. Do not know of any other place that would take the time or effort you did to make it RIGHT. The breast collar was wonderful. It did not rub him at all. I now have to go to your web site and get a cross fire cinch and order Bill a black breast collar. He was sure jealous of mine. (hehe)  May have to call you on the order.... not sure. If so I will Monday am sometime.  Thanks again for a fantastic saddle.  Roxanne (April 2010)

I just recently received my Crest Ridge Guffey saddle for my shorter Rocky Mountain mare. I LOVE this saddle. It is not only gorgeous, it fits, and is comfy for me as well. Finding the right saddle is such a headache but Deb at (CR) made it a breeze, with some photos, wither tracings and one phone call I had the saddle ordered. It was right on schedule. Deb answered each and every question I asked, in a timely manner (which I appreciated). I can honestly recommend Crest Ridge for your next saddle purchase. Kathy Brost West Bend, WI  (February 2010)

Kathy Brost with Rocky Mountain horse Satin and her new Guffey Elite saddle.

In 2005 I contacted Debra to see about getting a saddle for my hard to fit, small but wide shouldered gaited appaloosa mare.  After taking her measurements and sending Debra her pictures, I ordered a Sonata SR05 saddle.  The customer service she provided was awesome - I probably wasn't the easiest person to work with as I had never been through the process of getting a properly fitted saddle.  Also, it took me a few rides to get used to riding in a centered position, but after that I wondered how I ever rode any other way.  The saddle has been durable, comfortable and very secure through all kinds of riding, terrain and weather for the past 5 years. 

When I got a chance to purchase a used Crest Ridge Guffey Elite, I jumped at the chance!  And what a wonderful, extremely comfortable, secure and beautiful saddle it is.  It fits me and my mare like a glove.  Crest Ridge saddles are a great buy and hold up extremely well under all riding conditions.  I want to thank Debra for her exemplary customer service and fine product.  I will enjoy my Crest Ridge for many, many years to come!  Rita Christman (February 2010)

    Rita & Frosty

Debra,  The Women & Horse Expo would like to thank you for your donation of the saddle for the winner of the Women & Horses Versatility Challenge 2009. We appreciate your support of the event.  Look for the photograph  of the saddle presentation to be posted soon as the website is updated. Again thank you for your support of the event. Thank you, Women & Horses Expo Staff

Good Afternoon:  The saddle arrived late today and wow!  It is so beautiful! I can't wait to try it out and on her! What a beauty, I feel so lucky just can't wait to go on a ride! I have all the directions to check the fit and will let you know as soon as I get it on her. My husband is trying to confiscate it for himself now... Thanks for everything! Cindi Irvine (September 02, 2009)

Debra, Thanks so much for the timely response to my questions. Again Crest Ridge proves to be my choice in all saddlery supplies. Your personal response goes to show the importance of customer service to your company. I am placing my order this morning for your saddle pad. Again thanks for answering my questions. Sincerely, Don and Judy Ostrander (July 20, 2009 )

Dear Deb, Our saddle just arrived! It is a real beauty and its aroma is excellent! I placed it on a saddle  stand to try the fit...oh so comfortable...just like Cheryl's felt when I was riding Ramblin Rocket for the first time. Currently, it is raining outside, so our first ride will take place later. I'm sure that it will be just great and continue on through our years of partnership! Thank you for the beautiful saddle.  Sincerely, Michelle & Ramblin Rocket Summerville, SC

Debra,  I am so excited about this saddle I am not sure where to start to thank you. I bought this from you back in November but wasn’t able to test ride in it until recently thanks to my mare injuring herself.

What a great fit! My little 14.3hh Moriesian has a draft size back and after working with you sending pictures and measurements back and forth we finally decided to go with your draft tree. Great choice, since she’s been out of work with the injury so she’s chunked up a bit and the saddle fits beautifully now with just a wool blanket. There’s plenty of potential to use a saddle pad when she starts to get back into shape.

Even with a plain wool blanket the saddle fits well, doesn’t pinch or ride high and has nice even weight distribution. The best part is it doesn’t roll on her mutton withered table top back!!!! I couldn’t believe it, I don’t even need to do a V-cinch, just regular cinching and I don’t get a roll. I don’t end up having to cinch it up tight either which my mare is very thankful for. I haven’t had issues with it sliding forward yet since we’re not doing heavy work but incase it does you have a great crupper attachment! It will probably come in handy when we start hill work or long rides.

The saddle is great for me too! I’m 6’2” and there are more than enough adjustments for my long legs with loads of room to spare in each direction. The seat is very secure and puts me in the correct “dressage” position instead of the chair seat I usually get with saddles. I really enjoy the hybrid between leather and synthetic materials. Leather in all the places you want it yet synthetic to help keep the weight down. Brilliant!

What a great saddle and thank you so much for your time to make sure I got one that fit just right. I am so thrilled with it I show everyone that comes over and am proud to tell them where I got it. Great job! Lindsay  Avon, NY

Hi Debra, I made it to Mike and Vicki’s last weekend to try the saddle and pad I bought from you on my horse. It is awesome!!!! My horse responded a lot better than she has been and I was a lot more comfortable on her back. Vickie and Mike checked the fit for me and said it was good. Thank you so much for taking the time to make sure I had the right equipment that matched my horse! I will tell anyone who asks me about saddles that they need to look at your products. My saddle and pad are great and I would not hesitate to buy more items from you as the need arises. Thank you again, Robert Rose, MS