Equine Fitters Council and Directory

Setting Standards for Equine Fitting

Currently there is no statutory requirement that a person fitting a saddle, bit, bridle or harness meets standards of training, conduct or professional development. To align equine fitting with similar professions and raise the profile of practitioners, the Equine Fitters Council now serves as the governing body, born from several years of deliberation involving stakeholders from equine fitting, equine welfare, education and equestrian trade bodies. The EFC is independent and not-for-profit, approving the policy and administrative structure of the Directory, setting minimum standards for training and education, and controlling admission and removal of practitioners. Full details are at equinefittersdirectory.org.

The online Directory was formally launched to riders and horse owners at a star-studded event at Saddler's Hall in February 2025, which also celebrated the achievements of Equine Fitters who had completed their vocational qualification. Presenting alongside William Fox-Pitt MBE were training providers Catherine Baker for the Society of Master Saddlers, Dr Gerry van Oossanen for MSFC, Lisa Fay for the International Academy of Saddle Fitting and Geraldine Vandevenne for IF3E.

Wide Support and Press Coverage

William Fox Pitt MBE, the most successful three-day event rider of all time, and Natasha Baker OBE, six times Gold Paralympic Dressage winner, both lent their support to the Directory. The evening was covered by Horse & Hound, Horse & Country TV, Your Horse, ETN and Hartpury University, and filmed by Sizzle Productions.