My inspiration
Hello! My name is Maija Stakena,
I am a young entrepreneur who bought two wild horses and tamed them. Later, I faced a problem - do I really have to buy a saddle worth two thousand euros for a 200 euro horse to get a quality product?
(My horses are priceless to me, but you get the idea :))
And the answer was:
yes… and no!
Yes-
because the saddle is the foundation of riding. But the industry is opaque and there are no clear quality standards. Cheap saddles are often made from poor materials, and most riders don’t have access to education about fit and construction!
So the common belief becomes: buy something expensive or pretty... and hope for the best?
At one point, I gave up and chose treeless saddle simply because I couldn’t find anything better. Eventually, I started feeling sorry for my horses. They deserved proper pressure distribution, not a compromise!
No-
because I decided to take reins into my own hands. If finding a good saddle is hard and expensive, I’ll make it clear and accessible without burning a hole in your wallet!
I spent months studying scientific literature about saddle construction, took paid courses and joined seminars, and then realized I needed proper certification. That’s how I ended up at Saddlefit 4 Life Academy, where I’m training as a certified equine ergonomist (a stylish way of saying saddle fitter :) Yeey!
Manufacturing my own saddle
I'm working on designing my ideal saddle that ensures comfort for both the horse and the rider, but it's still a work in progress!
I offer saddle fitting
I provide saddle fitting services to help people determine whether the saddles they have purchased are suitable for them and their horses.
I provide training in equine psychology:
to help you reach that perfect connection-understanding your horse as a true partner. If you'd like my assistance, click below:
SOCIAL MEDIA
I've always dreamed of building a community of horse enthusiasts and nature lovers who cherish and respect their horses. This passion drives me to create content about my horses and plan events with them. Ultimately, I aspire to relocate to a vast, picturesque estate and set up a mini-zoo with eco-tourism!