Horsemanship & Trail Saddles
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My horse canters with her neck raised and her ears back. What is going on?
Q: My horse canters on the same lead all the time. Why won’t he/she take the other lead?
Q: My horse is beginning to get white hairs under the saddle in certain points. Is he/she getting old?
Q: My horse’s back is sore. What is causing it?
Q: My horse doesn’t roll or lay down. Why is that?
Q: My saddle is so heavy for me to put on my horse. Are all western saddles this heavy?
Q: When I sat in the saddle at the store, it felt so comfortable and I love the color, but now that I ride in it I seem to be thrown forward. Am I a bad rider?
Q: My horse bucks and kicks out in the back end. Why?
Q: When I slide my hand under my saddle and pad, parts of the saddle are pushing down hard on my horse. How can I fix that?
Q: My knees and ankles hurt after I have ridden for a time. Why is that?
Q: What are important factors to look for in the right pad for my horse and saddle?
Q: Why would I want to glove leather line my fenders?
Q: What should I look for in a tree?
Q: Can you custom fit my horse? What does that involve?
Q: What is the price for a fitting?
Q: My saddle seems to be throwing me out of it. I feel like I’m downhill. Why is that?
Q: Can too much padding in the seat bounce me out of the saddle?
Answers
You spend time in looking for the right horse and the right trailer, but have you taken the time to search for the right saddle and other equipment?
When a horse wears a saddle that is either too small, too large or is fitted to far forward it can add pain and stress to areas of the horse that he/she needs to be able to move. If you have a problem/argument with your horse that you are having difficulty answering please do not try to sum it up as an argumentative or stubborn horse. Your horse is trying to tell you something and it’s up to you as the handler/owner to figure out what that something is. You may be able to “work through it” for a time, but after a while the problem will get worse and as we know horses are creatures of habit. The longer the problem exists the more apt the horse will be to anticipate the pain, whether it is still there or not. For instance, you’ve ridden for months in your saddle and for months there have been issues you have not been able to resolve. You rule out the physical problem (through your local vet and/or Equine Chiropractor) and you and your associate professional come to the realization it is the horse’s attire. You change the pad, the saddle and Walla the problem has decreased or is gone altogether. Sometimes a horse will anticipate the pain and is slow to release those muscles which he/she had been contracting before. It may take a little while for him/her to realize it doesn’t hurt anymore. Depends of course on the time spent with the horse and how you work with your horse. Oftentimes the problem dissipates immediately; it really depends on how easily your horse can relax in your presence, how much your horse trusts you. Are you your horse’s leader or is it the other way around? One who doesn’t have his questions answered timely will resort to becoming the leader himself.
Most of the saddles in the stores today are the “generic” saddles. They are NOT custom fit for our horses. What a lot of people don’t realize is it can resort to very dangerous behavior for the horse and this could put the rider in danger as well. What you may not realize is HOW important it really is that the saddle fits your horse.
As far as the riders’ knees and ankles hurting, usually this can be fixed by turning your stirrups. With my saddles we have a Hamley twist on the lower portion of the fender which turns the stirrups for you. Sometimes the stirrups are simply too short which could be why the riders’ knees would hurt. If you are trail riding you may lower the stirrups a hole or two versus doing arena riding or jumping.
The pad you choose is very important as well. It’s been termed as the “sock” for the horse, or undergarment. We all like to be comfortable. For horses the best wear is something that will protect their back from impact and help with the wicking ability of their sweat. I have a chosen a 90% virgin wool pad that has a 10% re-worked wool as well. There is NO synthetic material involved. They come in many colors and have been specially designed to fit my saddles.
A lot of western saddles are heavy. When I was looking for my new saddle I wanted something lighter, yet durable. I looked for something that didn’t have excess leather on it, which again would make it heavier. I wanted a rounded skirt for getting out of the way of my horses’ hips. I wanted something that would allow my horse to move freely both in the front and in the back. I looked for a comfortable seat and of course something that would look good. My horse was the test. If I took the saddle to my horse and it dipped down in the front (which would tend to throw the rider forward) or the canter wasn’t lighter it would not work.
Getting your horse fitted is very easy. We have several trees to try on. Contact me and set up an appointment. There are many times when we will have a saddle fitting afternoon and will fit a group. This may be helpful to you if you run a boarding facility or know a group who would be interested in learning about correct fit (the fee is waived for groups). If you would rather have a private consultation, that is available too. There is a $75.00 non-refundable fee for a fitting, which will also be applied toward the purchase of your new saddle. You can contact me through my website at www.kendafirkins.com or call me directly, 817-291-2829.
There are many options in which you can choose in designing your saddle: the color, tooling, concho’s, seat and buck ‘n rolls color, fenders, swells, and cantles. If you would like help in designing we are there to help with that as well.
We require $1000.00 down and the remainder is due when you receive your new saddle. We accept Visa, Mastercard, or money order as deposit and remaining balance. Because this is a custom fit saddle, every detail is closely monitored. Every saddle is reviewed and approved by our master saddle-maker, Mr. Jim Taylor. Saddles take approximately 8-12 weeks for completion. The base price is $2210.00. See detailed pricing information here. You will find my saddles to be up to date in design, comfortable for both horse and rider and you will receive one on one customer service with either me or one of my representatives. The trees have a lifetime warranty to the original owner and there is a five year guarantee on workmanship and materials through Jim Taylor Custom Saddlery Company.
How It Came to Be
Kenda wanted a saddle that was lighter in weight than what she had. She knew an ill-fitting saddle could create problems in an otherwise non-argumentative horse.
Upon searching for the right saddle a saddle was finally found that fit her specs. It was a saddle made by a very reputable saddlemaker. She had a few questions about the saddle, which led to a lengthy meeting, which led to a saddle fitting session for many of her clients.
The results were incredible. Our first lady put her saddle on her horse and proceeded to canter around the arena. The horse’s ears were pinned back and her tail was swishing violently. We immediately looked at where the rear of the saddle was putting immense pressure on her back. The next saddle was the Horsemanship and Trail saddle, the change was immediate and our first sale was made! A happy horse makes for a happy rider!
Who is Kenda?
Kenda has been riding horses all of her life. Kenda has 40 + years experience in and out of the show ring. Her mother has always trained and developed her horses as well. Kenda got her first job when she was in elementary school breaking a horse for a couple. She grew up showing quarter horses and attending many trail rides in the Mid-West.
Throughout the years Kenda’s passion has become to help educate horse owner’s and horse lover’s regarding reading their horses. She believes it takes a team to keep a healthy horse. She also believes you should never stop learning. Kenda has clientele she works with on a weekly basis and occasionally will take on a “project horse”. She works with a band of Quarter horses on a daily basis and travels to neighboring states to conduct demonstrations and clinics.
The Custom Fit Tree
We have many trees from which to choose. The older terminology refers to full quarter horse bars, ¾ bars, etc. In my fitting sessions we use different trees where the bars are at different angles, thus the language of full quarter horse bars, etc. is no longer used. The trees we use are wooden trees with a special fiberglass coating on the top. We lifetime guarantee our trees. Most importantly we will find the tree that fits your horse the best. We can adjust the bars to fit your horse. In other words if we have a tree that fits the best out of all but may need to tweak it here or there for the best fit that is what we will do. The tree is then made specially for your horse. One of my trees fits 85% of all horses, regardless of most breeds, however there are some that are harder to fit than others so we have to design those based on the best fitting tree available. Equally important, we will show you what does NOT fit your horse and why that is. A lot of saddles today fit on TOP of the horse, these are likely to roll or move on the horses’ backs especially in either speed events and/or trail riding. I like my saddles to fit like a glove. Take a close look at the photos below. This horse came to us as a 6 year old mare with saddle marks on both sides right behind the withers. The owner had a tree designed to fit HER back and those saddle marks are now no longer there. (Results will vary).
Sandy's Saddle Marks - Before
Sandy's Saddle Marks - After
Powder River Rigging
This rigging is a one piece rigging that ties both the front and rear rigging together. This allows equal distribution of the weight down the horse’s back. Because of this design of rigging you will not need to tighten the girth as much. In addition, this design lessens the need for a rear cinch, although we recommend a rear cinch if riding unpredictable horses or are doing much mountainous riding.
The Options
Color
There are three leather colors to choose from: gold, chestnut, or chocolate. Once you have selected the base color, you may further determine the shade of the leather using oil. You may choose no oil, one shade darker, or two shades darker.
Tooling
Tooling on every saddle is custom designed. All tooling is done by our Master Tooler completely by hand. No two saddles are ever alike. We have many tooling patterns you can choose from or if you have your own design ideas we welcome that as well. Click here to see examples of tooling patterns.
Seat Leather
Every seat is custom designed for each rider’s body style. Your options are: Ostrich, Sting Ray, Top-grain (smooth Leather), Suede Leather (included in the base price) or Hard-seat Style.
Glove Leather Lined Seats and Fenders
Glove leather lined fenders are more than just for looks. Research has shown us that the original leather used for most fenders is usually somewhat thick and stiff. Our saddlemaker has experimented with thinner leathers, different oiling procedures, and various other methods to soften fenders for more rider comfort and better “feel” of the horse when riding the saddle. Thinner leather tends to stretch, rollup, and have a short life span. Too much oil results in oil stains and leather deterioration. The end process found that what solves the problem is to thin-down fenders with a special machine designed to ‘level’ fender leather thickness to our specifications… and then attach with a special flexible glue a heavy, soft glove leather lining. The results are outstanding. Fenders are softer, don’t stretch, and can be oiled in the usual way to match the rest of the saddle without overdoing it. The total results are closer contact, better ‘feel’, and greater rider comfort with no stretching. Click here to see examples.
Stirrups
a) Aluminum (included in the base price)
b) Leather covered and tooledClick here to see examples of available stirrups.
Conchos
Click here to see your concho options. The sterling silver conchos are included in the base price. If you prefer the look of the Black Iron conchos please review the options.
Breast Collars, Rear Cinches and Headstalls
Breast collars, rear cinches and headstalls are available to match the design of your custom made saddle. Please click here to see photos of breast collars and headstalls.
Here is my story on the "Kenda Firkins Horsemanship & Trail saddle":
Several days ago Kenda was here and brought two saddles and two mares to ride. I was riding my horses and she suggested I ride one of her Horsemanship & Trail saddles. I had ridden in it before and loved the way I fit into it and horses seemed to like it also. I feel like I'm sitting more "in" this saddle and not on top of it like in my other saddles. With me riding young horses through the woods, sitting down in the saddle is much safer.
THIS TIME I talked her into letting me keep the saddle for a month and I could give it a good tryout.
Three of my horses, a fox trotter, and two qtr. horses have always given me a bit of discussion on saddling and riding for the first 15 min. of riding. I do my groundwork every time before I ride as well. Two of them have been a bit explosive when saddling and all three did not want to stand for saddling. I don`t tie my horses for that. A while back in my riding days in Tx. I was at a ride and tied a horse to the trailer to saddle. He reared up and fell backwards as I saddled him and scuffed up my saddle. He was not hurt but it scared me and I have learned it is best to let them move a bit if they need to when saddling. But NOT all over the place. He was a youngster too and I felt he may have learned a bad habit of pulling back so I never tie to saddle anymore and it goes much better. I love the way the saddle fits all three of my horses and they seem quite satisfied with it. One of my quarter horse mares is quite rounded and the saddle I previously used on her would roll slightly, not so with the Horsemanship & Trail saddle. I am MORE THAN SATISFIED and do NOT want to take it back to Kenda. I always felt I had to have a cushy seat pad on my saddle to be comfortable but not for this one. I feel quite secure and very comfortable in it. Besides all this I love the riggin` on it and it looks quite nice too. It is a very well made saddle and I cannot say enough about the saddle. All my other saddles are quite expensive so it is not that I have saddles that were cheap so cannot blame poorly made saddles on my problems that I have had. My horses are a great testament to this saddle as well as myself. I would reccomend this saddle to anyone.
I enjoy taking my horse on long trail rides and this requires the right equipment, not just for my horse but for my comfort as well. Finding that right saddle is tough, there are lots of options from used tack shops, catalogs, and even ebay. I decided to purchase a saddle that I knew would fit my horse, give me a comfortable ride, and stand up to the wear and tear, so to speak. Kenda Firkins is offering just that, customized saddles. My saddle is made for my horse and me, offering a comforable ride that I was looking for. It's style is unique and has earned many compliments for its quality. This is one less thing I have to worry about when on the trail.
My name is Phyllis and my horse Wendy is a 12 year old Missouri Fox Trotter. I got her 3 years ago from Kenda's mom, Dixie.
After buying Wendy, I did what all new horse owners do, I ran out and bought a new saddle that I liked and that fit me. I had been taking lessons from Kenda for about 6 months and was anxious to ride my new horse in my new saddle.
One problem, every time I saddled Wendy, got on and asked her to go, she would kick out. When she finally agreed to go she would kick out every time I asked for a change of gait.
Since Kenda had known Wendy since she was a 2 year old, she knew that this was not normal behavior for her. Kenda took Wendy and me to several local veterinarians who gave us several different diagnosis. Everything from EPM to ovarian problems, arthritis to foot problems. She still kicked out when I rode her.
Kenda invited her saddle maker, Jim Taylor, to the barn where I board to show and demonstrate his saddle trees and Kenda's Horsemanship & Trail Saddles. Of course I was interested in what he had to say since nothing else was working. I saddled Wendy with her old saddle, got on and asked for a walk and of course she kicked out. I got off and re -saddled her with a Kenda Firkins Horsemanship & Trail Saddle. The key is the tree, it was shaped to fit my horse, whereas my older saddle, the back was digging into her just above her kidney's and making her very uncomfortable. Kenda says to check your horse out physically first, then check your tack.
I wouldn't have believed it if it hadn't happened to me, but when I got on and asked Wendy to walk, she did so without kicking, not even a tail swish. It was amazing. I walked, did the Fox Trot and cantered in front of about 12 other participants, the transformation was incredible.
Needless to say, I ordered a custom fit Kenda Firkins Horsemanship and Trail Saddle. Two years later and many trail rides later, Wendy and I still love our saddle.
We met Kenda in the spring of 2006 when we began looking for a horse for my daughter. We were looking for a very specific type of horse-- one that was calm enough for a young girl right then, but would be athletic enough to grow with her for years to come. Kenda was very patient while we looked at numerous horses without finding the one. Kenda would accompany us to look at horses if we asked her to. All this time we took lessons from Kenda, learning more about horsemanship, training and caring for horses. In 2008, Kenda finally did find the right horse-- a beautiful bay roan that is gentle, intelligent, and athletic. As my daughter continued to improve her horsemanship she needed a better saddle, we talked to Kenda and decided to order one of her custom designed saddles. We were able to get a saddle that was well designed, beautiful, well built and functional. We have every expectation that the saddle will last for many years. Thank you Kenda for all the help and guidance you have given us for the last three years.
Overview
The base price of the saddles starts at $2210.00. This price includes:
See detailed pricing information here.
- 2” Plain Aluminum, or, Wood Laminated Stirrups
- Hamley Twist on Stirrup Leathers
- Sterling silver plated conchos
- 3 sets of 24” Latigo Saddle Strings
- Glove-leather lined Fenders
- Standard Rear Cinch to match saddle
- #1 Quality Domestic Leather in Chocolate, Gold, or Chestnut colors
- Bucking Rolls to match seat color
- Embossed Decoration Stainless Steel Rigging Hardware
- Padded seat with Suede Leather
- Artificial (80-10) Wool Skirt Liner
Every saddle is truly a work of master craftsmanship. Each saddle is exclusive to each customer and his/her horse.
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