About Amanda

Amanda is a lifelong equestrian with over 35 years in the equine industry. She became involved in horses around age 8, riding a family friend’s backyard pony. She quickly found a passion for competition and spent the majority of her youth riding and showing up and down the east coast, eventually riding professionally for much of her young adulthood. She currently continues her career with horses as a long tenured equine vet tech. Equine veterinary medicine has given her a solid foundation in anatomy and a strong grasp on how ill fitting equipment can not only affect a horse’s comfort, but then also the horse’s soundness and performance.

Saddle fitting came naturally to Amanda. Even at a young age in the era when saddles were purchased for the rider and a saddle “fit every horse you put it on” she knew that the white spots and bald patches that her newly purchased large pony arrived with on his withers were not normal. She tried to figure out ways to alleviate pressure on his withers and ensure he was comfortable while causing no more damage. She could easily notice when a friend’s saddle sat low in the pommel or cantle, and knew what they could do to make the saddle sit level which helped the rider achieve an easier, more natural balanced position. She also quickly observed that bridles were not one size fits all and thought out ways to “customize” bridles with interchangeable pieces to make a more correct fit. So while not “saddle fitting” in the modern sense, she has always had an eye and an interest in correcting ill fitting saddles and equipment for the horse and the rider. In addition to fitting, she makes hand stitched fully custom bridlework at her home shop in Harrisburg, PA. 

Amanda spent time in Wellington, Florida with some of the larger international brands, and attended a self certified school for an intro course before deciding to track the course for Society of Master Saddlers Certification. She has Master Saddler and Master Saddle Fitter mentors from Scotland, Wales, and England, and has taken many bridlework and saddlery courses, as well as saddle, bridle, bit fitting and equine massage therapy courses. Amanda is a trainee saddle fitter through the Society of Master Saddlers, and continues her mentorship under SMS Master Saddle Fitters and hopes to achieve the title of Qualified and eventually Master Saddler in the near future.

While Amanda is a trainee saddle fitter through the Society of Master Saddlers she maintains independent saddle fitter status. Oftentimes “saddle fitters” are brand reps and their intention when pulling into your driveway is to make the sale. Amanda will never push you into a purchase, but instead focuses on finding exactly what is right for you and your horse while maintaining your strict budget in a judgement free manner. 

Amanda has a strong passion for bench work and knows firsthand the awful experience of taking a piece of fine equipment to a harness shop to be repaired and having it come back with an obvious and coarse repair. That started her journey in repair work 25 years ago. She has extremely strict standards when it comes to making her repairs as inconspicuous as possible, and closely matches hide, thread and hardware so that the integrity, quality and pride in your fine piece of bridlework is maintained. Her training under SMS mentors has ensured your repairs will also be safe by strictly following the standards set forth by the Society of Master Saddlers. She currently runs her own busy repair shop, makes custom bridles, and does contract repair work for some of the most prestigious shops on the east coast.

Whether you hire Amanda to be your saddle or bridle fitter, to repair a piece of your fine equipment, or make you a custom bridle, you can rest assured that she will treat your equipment and horse as if they were her own. After all, that is exactly what guided her into the business!