News

We are once again open for custom Imus 4-Beat Saddle and Imus 4-Beat Elite Saddle orders! Phoenix Rising Saddles and Giddy Up Saddle Shop have partnered to provide you with the best sales and customer service experience you've come to know and expect from us!  Please note, we are restocking most of our inventory, so you may order to reserve your products' shipment when we get them back in stock. We use only local saddle makers, tack and leather makers, bits, and our saddle pads and cinches! We don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk, and take pride...

We have a limited quantity of both our 2nd Generation Imus Bits in stock! Order yours now and have it in 3-5 days! I am excited to announce a partnership with Giddy-up Saddle Shop in Masaryktown, Florida. Located about an hour inland from Tampa, Giddy-up Saddle Shop has been a staple in their horse community for years, and they have also been the only other retailer of the Imus 4-Beat Saddle for the past three years. We are ironing out the details, and will fully re-open with our complete line of Imus saddles, bits, and our other popular tack, with...

I’ve been working with our bit maker to fulfill our back orders as quickly as possible. I’m very sorry our back order is extending longer than we anticipated. Due to various reasons outside our control, our bits had a hiccup in production, but we are back on it and have been assured we will receive our bits by the end of March. If you would prefer to cancel, please email back with your request to cancel and I will cancel and refund you promptly.  Otherwise, we’ll keep your order and reserve your bit from our shipment this month. Our bits...

I have decided to make the difficult decision to pause our current retail operations. (Note: we will fulfill any open orders that are on a short back order and open saddle orders.) This decision did not come lightly, and I assure you I looked at every angle possible to maintain our status quo. However, the amount of time and energy and mental-load it takes to keep up with inventory, bookkeeping, website updates, numbers-crunching, customer service, processing and shipping orders, etc. for the retail side requires much more bandwidth than I am capable of handling. This, combined with the instability of...

Hi Everyone, I want to first say a quick update on orders. If you are waiting onan order status update, we are shipping out all open orders today and tomorrow, aside from a handful of custom items or back-ordered bits, who are aware of their statuses. Check your email from an earlier link we sent with your tracking info. General Update I am currently updating the website to reflect our new pricing, which was overdue since I hadn't raised prices in several years. Unfortunately, I kept holding out for prices to stabilize or go down and they are continuing to...

We will reopen on January 2nd for new customer service hours.  Please stay tuned for an online customer service form, as well as a saddle fitting consultation appointment calendar as well.  Those with custom saddles on order, they are all in production, and we will provide everyone with a specific ETA first of the year.  Price Increases: We've held our prices the same for several years, yet costs everywhere are going up significantly. We are significantly increasing our prices to help even things out, beginning the first of the year. Anyone with any open order for a saddle or a product...

12/2/24 Update: We were expecting to be back to regular hours by today, but due to living along Lake Erie, just south of Buffalo, NY, we’ve been battling back-to-back lake effect snow storms and have been delayed. We are mid-move of relocating our office, so are running a little behind. In-stock saddles will update tonight, and we are aiming to resume new regular customer service hours next Tuesday, December 10th. Open orders will be shipped Tuesday, 12/3! PLEASE SEE OUR INTERIM PRODUCT RETURN INFORMATION HERE PLEASE SEE OUR PRIOR STORE ANNOUNCEMENT IN OUR BLOG POST HERE IF YOU HAVE AN URGENT...

RETURNS/I GOT MY PRODUCT AND HAVE QUESTSIONS: While we are somewhat offline, you may choose to return a product, or may have questions before you can try it! You may choose to hold on to your item, and we will hold your trial until we are able to reach out to answer your questions and/or troubleshoot. Or you may choose to return your order, or parts of it, for a full refund, less original shipping paid. (Instructions below) Saddle customers (currently on trial, and those who purchase stock saddles, we will provide pre- and post-sale support, on a limited basis...

Please be patient with us, as we are working on transitioning our business model to allow us to be able to continue to bring valued customer service and sales knowledge in a timely fashion, which has been our hallmark for over 11 years. Our business is unique in that it requires a lot of one-on-one with our customers, due to the nature of fitting both living, breathing, moving animals, and their humans, upon whom they ride! This takes staff with a vast array of knowledge and experience in many areas to do this right. To grow our audience and mission,...

We just updated our in-stock Imus 4-Beat Saddle list! Lots of options to choose from, and ready to ship to you today! Check them out before they go! All come with our expert fitting advice and flexible 14 day trials! GO TO STOCK SADDLE LISTINGS!  

Hi there! I just Wanted to let you know my gorgeous new saddle (pad and girth) all arrived and WOW what an amazing difference! It's a miracle. It fits my horse perfectly and me too. I feel So much more comfortable and confident and so does my Fiona! I've had a rough go finding the right saddle for her and her demeanor on the two rides in her 4 Beat has been calm and relaxed and not edgy and erratic like before. Thank you thank you thank you! I'm a believer!  Attached is a pic in her finery!  Gretchen and...

Does your horse tend to rush? Always feel like you're checking (fighting) your horse to relax and slow down? Here's a video that just might help give a couple solid tips to help! 

Ever wonder what gait your horse is performing, or able to perform? This video shows the gait spectrum in regular timing, and slo-mo, with a simple explanation of each. Learn about the pace, step-pace, foxtrot, running walk, and more! https://gaitedhorsesaddles.com/pages/the-gaited-horse-gait-spectrum-video-of-horse-gaits

While we do not have a brick-and-mortar store, our showroom in Lakewood, NY is open M-F by appointment. We can go through the unique features of our products and answer any questions you may have. We also offer in-person saddle fittings with your horse(s) and have a barn with an indoor arena, and boarding available. Western New York is an amazing place to ride and visit, so we have people travel from all over for fittings and stay in the area a few days! Reach out to us for more info! CONTACT US

To determine if your saddle is comfortable for your horse when he is being ridden, saddle up as usual.  While mounted, have someone from the ground slip the flat of their hand under the front edge of your saddle, just over or in front of the withers.  If the gullet of the saddle is too narrow, your helper will be unable to get their hand inserted here.  If they can place their hand under the gullet, it may feel tight while the horse is standing still.  This is because the horse’s shoulder rotates slightly outward at the top when at...

The most common problem I discover when dealing with gaited horses is their lack of forward impulsion. This isn’t a horse problem so much as it is a challenge to the rider. If you want your horse to gait well, then the second thing you absolutely must do is teach it to actively move forward in a correct 4-beat walk with energy generated from the haunches. I say this is the ‘second’ thing because. . .as most of you surely know by now. . .the first most important thing is to make sure your gaited horse’s saddle, pad and bit are well...

For years there has been debate in the gaited horse world regarding the right way to train and ride a gaited horse. In one camp are trainers who insist that gaited horses can’t be trained to gait in a collected frame. These people believe the horse will lose its gait if it is not permitted to go with either an introverted/hollow–or at best, level–topline. In the other camp are a few who believe that gaited horses not only can, but should, be taught how to travel in a well-balanced, collected frame. We take the second view. Collection involves riding with impulsion from the...

Is choosing the right bit for your horse a mystery? You're not alone! Many of us were never really taught the basic mechanics of horse bits. What happens when you take on the reins? Often what happens in their mouth, head, poll and the chain reaction goes unseen, or misunderstood. If you're interested in finding out how the mechanics of several of the most common bits work, or don't work check out this video by Brenda Imus. How to determine if your bit is causing your horse pain or discomfort is also covered in this video along with breaking down,...

Martha, from MD emailed and we are sharing with permission: Attached are 2 pictures. My granddaughter riding our new TWH with the new, beautiful 4beat saddle and one with her and her twin brother who is riding our 20 yr old TWH with the 8-9 year old 4beat saddle. I had to take the pics so you can see my 18 yr old TWH with his 13 yr old 4beat saddle. The best saddles ever!  Thanks so much for adding the have a heart pad. It makes the saddle fit very well. Martha 

This group of beautiful ladies and their horses all proudly ride in their Imus 4-Beat Saddles. To find out about all the excellent comfort features of our saddles click the link below. Learn all about our flexible tree with unique forward placement, Supracor padding built underneath the saddle, 3-point rigging, and more. All our saddles come with expert fitting support both pre and post-sale and our flexible 14 day trial. Everything we offer is hand-crafted in the USA! 

A+BBB and 5 Star Google Rated, Phoenix Rising Saddles has proven you can trust us with your horse's comfort. We're a small business making a big difference for so many horses and their riders. By working directly with our local and all-American manufacturers to produce unique and comfortable tack, we've helped many solve common fitting, bitting, and comfort issues while under saddle. Everything we offer is designed for comfort for horses and riders and is backed with our money back guarantee!

Okie Rider from Oklahoma "Been riding with the second generation Imus Comfort Gait Bit for a couple of weeks. Then I experimented, went back to a old snaffle bit. Snaffle bit was a constant fight, head shaking, stiffness in the body. Bridled with Imus comfort gait bit again. Seen a big improvement! A relaxed mouth and body, no more head shaking, Reining much better. Also, I bought a bridle, and reins with the bit. They were high quality leather.Will be buying again for my second horse." Matt S. 5/8/2020 Read the rest of the 2nd Generation Imus Comfort Gait Bit...

With the popularity of smooth gaited horse breeds continually increasing, many have decided to make the switch to a gaited horse. Then comes the big question of what kind to get? This article lists a run-down of general gaited horse breeds characteristics and their strengths, which can help you evaluate which might be a great fit for you! READ NOW!

The Imus 4-Beat and Legacy saddles are designed so the front edges of the bars of the tree come up and cup around the shoulder, with only light contact. This places the rider directly behind the withers, where we sit when riding bareback. The point directly behind the withers is the strongest point of the horse's back and has the least amount of movement. The Imus 4-Beat and Legacy saddles are designed to mimic this position. CLICK to learn more!

Have you ever gone to, say, a wedding and worn shoes that look great but are uncomfortable? As you dance the night away, you begin to not only feel the discomfort in your feet and maybe legs from the shoes, but an overall fatigue that you feel is more than usual. It's the shoes girls and boys! Now, imagine running a race in those shoes with someone on your back. The same thing happens for horses when they are ridden in a saddle that is pinching, causing pressure points, and/or lacking the flexibility to allow their muscles to move in...

Shop now for great deals on your gaited horse saddles, bits and other tack! Phoenix Rising Saddles' Bargain Bin has your favorite products on sale! SHOP NOW

Our 2nd Generation Imus Comfort Gait Bit and Training and Transition Snaffle were lab-tested by the University of Michigan Ecology Center to test for lead and other heavy metals. Our 2nd Generation Bits tested 100% free from lead and other heavy metals! We sent them along with a couple *cheaper counterfeit versions and a common snaffle and tom bit we purchased from other companies.The 2nd Generation Imus bits were the only ones that tested negative for any harmful metals! *The counterfeits have nothing to do with Phoenix Rising Saddles and you can read more about that here. 

My name is Mary K. -I LOVE your site!! My husband & I have had TWH for 30 years now. MOST of the training I did myself because I didn't want my horse abused by other trainers  (our first stallion was abused in the "performance" methods. I quickly removed him but not before damage had been done. I learned a lot over time and was lucky enough to have Roy Larson as my teacher (he trained many Olympic riders and steeds). We won most everything we entered which includes many regional championships, state championships (etc.) so I assume that means...

I am writing to you from Alabama (the hinter land of the gaited horse)! I noticed on your site (GREAT SITE BY THE WAY) that you mentioned the use of a new terminology to describe the "rack." Would this be the "single foot?" I figured that one out a while ago. A good racking horse will single foot at a certain speed. My mare sure does and she is so smooth she appears to float! Lucy, AKA Linda R.   Hello Alabama! Yes, the rack is also called the single-foot, when it's performed in such a way that there's lots...

Q. I have a 2yr old Missouri Fox trotter and trying to fit her with the correct bit. It's been a challenge to keep her in settled into her gait for a smooth ride. Help!! TJ A.  Hi TJ, At 2 years old, I wouldn’t worry too much about gait work. At this point, light riding to allow her to get used to balancing a rider under saddle and developing a solid foundation of the basics should be the focus. We generally don’t advocate placing too much emphasis on smoothing out the gait until they’ve had a full season or two...

Phoenix Rising Saddles Leather Belt Collection Get one to match your Imus 4-Beat Saddle, or just because! Hand-crafted by our saddle makers in Colorado Full Grain Leather for only $50! Lots of color, tooling and buckle options SHOP YOURS NOW

Many of us are taught to use a certain bit for their horse, with very few understanding the mechanics of the bit. What exactly happens in your horse's mouth when you take on the reins? This video provides insight to how many commonly used bits work (or don't work!) in a very simple and easy-to-understand way. Brenda Imus explains snaffle bits, tom thumb bits, Argentine snaffles. Studying this video will assist you in learning how to evaluate horse bits for gentleness and effectiveness, and be able to answer the question posited above!

One of the most common questions I hear from gaited horse owners is whether it is all right to canter, or to trot, their gaited horse. Or, can gaited horses canter? In regard to both questions, the answer is, "that depends."  Someone who rides a laterally oriented horse may do well to encourage the horse to canter, as it will teach it how to break up that addictive, lazy habit of pacing or step pacing, and teach it the basics of working off the haunches and rounding up through the back. The stronger and better conditioned the horse, the less likely...

I frequently remind people that a gaited horse’s saddle gait is more dependent upon conformation than upon registration. This is equally true of any kind of inherent trait or characteristic. We cannot deny, though, that breeding for a particular type of horse over time does result in overall physical and temperamental differences among various breeds. This may cause one breed of horse to be more or less suited to a particular use than another. Here is a brief overview of some of the characteristics intrinsic to the various gaited breeds. Please keep in mind that these are generalities only. Any...

This article by Jamie Evan was originally published in the May 2014 issue of Horse & Rider Magazine I have so many memories of horseback riding with my mom. There was the time she and I were almost stampeded by a pastureful of bulls, when I was about 10 years old. A single, low strand of electric fence was all that separated us from them, yet my mother remained so calm I never realized the danger we were in. “Let’s just get by them,” she urged, and we kept riding quietly on. Another time, when my mom’s horse suddenly refused to...

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ON AMAZON The gaited horse—bred and trained to perform smooth-to-ride, ground-covering alternative gaits (not the trot/jog or canter/lope) that can often be sustained long distances and sometimes at astounding speeds—has steadily gained mainstream popularity as a pleasure or trail mount, in addition to its traditional status as a top-notch show-ring competitor. While generations of careful breeding have instilled a natural ability to "gait" in certain breeds, the "smooth saddle gaits" are not necessarily automatic. This means that riders, whether exploring the back country or vying for a championship ribbon, need to train their gaited horse to...

Although it's been a milder winter for many of us, we are now approaching the deep freeze of winter.  Growing up, our barn and tack room were not heated, so we would warm up our horses' bits in our hands before bitting up. I recently learned this isn't necessarily a common practice. Having a heated tack room, or keeping your bits in the house, would negate the need to do this. For many, the tacks stays in the cold barn and that's perfectly fine. If you're in a cooler climate and your bit feels cold to the touch, try warming up...

Because of our name, Phoenix Rising Saddles, we're sometimes mistaken for being located in Phoenix, AZ. While it's a beautiful city, we're located in beautiful southwestern NY, minutes from the PA border and in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. I'll explain our name choice. (credit See U in History Youtube) In Greek mythology a phoenix is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or born again. Associated with the sun, the phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor. If you haven't read our About Us page, I'll briefly run down our history for you. I am Brenda Imus's daughter, Jamie....

Q. My rescue Tennessee Walking Horse mare is 23 years old. I am thinking about purchasing one of your 2nd Generation Imus Bits because they are pinchless and have plenty of tongue relief. Should I go with your 2nd Generation Imus Comfort Gait Bit or 2nd Generation Imus Training Transition Bit? Thank you, Sky A. As for your approach with your mare, she is blessed to have someone like you come in and take care to do what’s best for her. It sounds like you are doing exactly the right thing.  An old trick my mom taught me is add a little...

Ode the Faithful Trail Dog In barns and fields and pastures lay The ever-present dog upon they hay Dirt and grass and trails ahead Bounds the faithful dog   Put a bell upon her collar We know she’s coming, no need to holler Danger ahead! She’ll alert the steed Protecting her horses and humans indeed   A snake taking a bake? He’ll let you know. A bear in the bush or a brand new doe? He scents a big bird? Signal the herd Ever on alert, the faithful trail dog   Tongue hanging, tummy growling She signals it’s resting time...

Rosie Rosenthal is the proud mom of Marybells. Rosie and Marybells are members of their mounted drill team, The Spirit of Long Island. Marybells is a Tennessee Walking Horse, which lends another degree of difficulty when a gaited horse is asked to move in coordination with non-gaited horses. This speaks to the versatility of gaited horses. Keep up the excellent work you two! Hopefully we'll be able to see you live in action one day :) PS--Marybell is able to move with complete freedom of movement and comfort in her Imus 4-Beat Saddle!

A half halt is (in brief), when you use your seat, legs and hands to begin to ask for a halt, but then push the horse on while keeping a firm rein, before it actually loses momentum. Firm rein does not mean 'yank and pull.' Half halts help to round the horse up into a more collected frame, and keep its hind end engaged for greater impulsion. It prepares a horse to make a transition (from walk to gait, for example), and can enable the horse to balance well under the rider before going downhill. All in all, it's a...

I just received an abused 4 yr old Fox trotter. He belonged to Mexicans who "Gouchoed?" him. I'm not sure what they did to him, but he's an emotional wreck. He then moved on to a very inexperienced trainer who tried to tame him using Clinton Anderson and John Lyons round penning techniques. Though he was not abusive to the horse, he pushed it way beyond what the horse was emotional able to handle. He taught the horse to go to the corner, where this trainer would approach, touch, and try to desensitize the horse. I believe that this further...

Q. I was browsing through your wonderful site and noticed a comment regarding Foundation Bred Appaloosa's and their "Indian Shuffle." We just bought a 2 year old and wondered if you might be able to provide more of a description of this type of gait. Also, are Appaloosas, as a breed, considered a gaited breed? Thanks for your site and time. Frank  A. A true Indian Shuffle consists of the horse moving two lateral sets of legs nearly, but not quite, in unison. The hind leg sets down an instant before the fore leg. In other words, it is a...

Hi, My coming four-year-old TWH does the stepping pace when we gait fairly slowly. However, when asking for any speed, he breaks into a hard pace. I've had him for about a year and walk him about 98% of the time. I've started him slowly and have gradually asked for more reach and speed at the walk but as soon as he breaks into gait, its pace,pace,pace. His gait gets very rough when going downhill. That is his gait of choice in the pasture as well. He likes to travel with his head up high so I'm sure his back...

Q. I wonder if you might be able to help me with a question on a shoeing issue I have with my gaited Tennessee Walking Horse. Although I think things are getting a bit better, I sill have a problem with his rear feet "clicking" against his front shoes. This happens when he is in a flat foot walk, and I do not notice it when he is gaiting. His ride has improved tremendously since my farrier has been working on his feet, but he and I are both unsure about which direction we should go now. When we reset...

This was a previous gaited horse training question answered by Brenda Imus prior to her passing. We are so thankful for the ability to share her advice and wisdom regarding the humane training and riding practices for our gaited horses.  Jamie Q. I recently looked into taking my 3-yr old MFT filly to a trainer and he insists that the horse be trained in a canter to "round" out all her gaits. Is it appropriate to train the canter on a gaited horse? I hear so many pros and cons. Ellen G.   Dear Ellen, There are no hard and...

While it's true that gaited horses generally require a saddle that accommodates a greater range of motion, especially through the back, shoulders, and neck, this is an important consideration for all horses.  Gaited horses muscles move differently than those that are built to perform only the walk, trot, and canter. Most gaited horses are built to move each foot independently with even timing. This prevents concussion because there are always 3 feet on the ground when performing a 4-beat gait at speed. This is what makes gaited horses so smooth! This requires muscles that move in a wave-like motion from their...

A half halt is (in brief), when you use your seat, legs and hands to begin to ask for a halt, but then push the horse on while keeping a firm rein, before it actually loses momentum. Firm rein does not mean 'yank and pull.' Half halts help to round the horse up into a more collected frame, and keep its hind end engaged for greater impulsion. It prepares a horse to make a transition (from walk to gait, for example), and can enable the horse to balance well under the rider before going downhill. All in all, it's a...