Saddle Ordering & Demo Policy

At Hug Your Horse, I want clients to have as much information and support as possible when choosing a saddle. Leather tree saddles offer many options for both horse and rider, and model, seat, panel configuration, rider preference, and individual horse anatomy can all influence the final selection.

Because our brands have different demo and ordering programs, please review the information below before placing an order.

HH Saddles & Demo Program

All HH saddle models are available to demo before placing a custom order.

One of the benefits of the HH program is that HH provides its retailers with access to demo saddles for each model. This gives riders the opportunity to experience the overall fit, feel, balance, flexibility, and functionality of an HH saddle before committing to having their saddle made.

Individual demo sizes and configurations may rotate between riders, so please contact me for current availability.

A demo can help us evaluate:

• Horse and rider fit

• Seat size and rider positioning

• Panel length and configuration

• Balance and stability

• Flap and support preferences

• Padding and shimming needs

• Overall riding feel and functionality

A demo saddle may not have the exact specifications that will ultimately be selected for you and your horse. Its purpose is to help us evaluate the saddle design and determine the specifications that should be incorporated into your individual order.

HH Custom Orders Are Final Sale

Once you have completed the fitting and demo process and choose to place an HH order, your saddle will be made according to the specifications selected for you and your horse.

Because an HH saddle is made to order specifically for the customer, completed custom HH saddle orders are final sale and are not returnable or refundable.

The opportunity to demo the HH model beforehand is intended to give you the ability to evaluate the saddle before making that final commitment.

If HH fails to manufacture the saddle according to the specifications documented on your order, please contact Hug Your Horse immediately. We will work with HH to correct the order through the appropriate repair, correction, replacement, or other applicable remedy.

Normal handmade variations in leather, measurements, appearance, or construction that do not materially change the ordered specifications, fit, or function of the saddle are not considered an incorrectly produced saddle.

HH Demo Deposit

A $500 conditional deposit is required for demo saddles, along with a $100 trial fee.

The $500 deposit does not represent the retail or replacement value of the saddle. Demo saddles are significantly more valuable than the amount collected as a deposit.

I intentionally keep the deposit at a more attainable amount so riders have a realistic opportunity to experience these saddles without being required to temporarily pay the full value of the saddle simply to participate in a trial.

If you purchase a saddle through Hug Your Horse, the $100 trial fee is waived and your deposit, minus applicable shipping costs, is credited toward your purchase.

Please see our complete Saddle Demo / Trial Policy for trial periods, shipping, refunds, cleaning requirements, damage, and other demo terms.

Hidalgo Saddles

Hug Your Horse can also assist clients interested in purchasing Hidalgo leather tree saddles.

Demo availability for Hidalgo through Hug Your Horse is more limited due to the large number of models, sizes, and configurations available. Unlike the HH program, I do not have retailer access to a demo saddle for each Hidalgo model. Maintaining and individually importing an extensive demo inventory would add significant international shipping and import costs.

Because of this, Hidalgo saddles are not currently available through the Hug Your Horse demo program.

I am still happy to assist with model selection, sizing, measurements, panel options, rider considerations, and fitting recommendations before an order is placed. We can use photos, measurements, horse and rider information, and other fitting details to make the most informed selection possible.

Prefer to Demo a Hidalgo First?

If trying a Hidalgo saddle before purchasing is important to you, you are absolutely welcome to contact Hidalgo directly in Germany to inquire about their current demo or trial options and purchase directly through them.

If you choose to work directly with Hidalgo, you may also work with Hidalgo for their fitting guidance.

If you would prefer independent fitting assistance from me while obtaining the saddle directly through Hidalgo, you are welcome to hire Hug Your Horse for remote saddle fitting services. I can assist with evaluating the saddle on your horse, balance, positioning, padding, shimming, and other fitting considerations.

This gives you the freedom to choose the purchasing and fitting arrangement that makes you most comfortable.

Please understand that when a saddle is ordered directly from Hidalgo rather than purchased through Hug Your Horse, Hidalgo's own demo, purchase, payment, shipping, return, warranty, and fitting policies will apply to that transaction.

Hidalgo Orders Placed Through Hug Your Horse

Hug Your Horse may be able to order a Hidalgo saddle that is already completed and available from Hidalgo inventory, sometimes referred to as an in-stock or off-the-shelf saddle, or assist you with ordering a saddle in your chosen specifications.

However, I will not order an in-stock, off-the-shelf, special-order, or custom Hidalgo saddle on a speculative or returnable basis.

Before I place a Hidalgo order on your behalf, you must understand and agree that the saddle is being purchased as a FINAL SALE.

This applies even when the saddle is already completed and available from Hidalgo inventory rather than being custom manufactured specifically for you.

Once Hug Your Horse places the order on your behalf, the saddle cannot be returned, refunded, or exchanged simply because it does not ultimately suit the horse or rider, the rider changes their mind, or a different model or configuration is later preferred.

This policy is necessary because I do not have access to a complete Hidalgo retailer demo inventory and cannot reasonably absorb the international ordering, shipping, import, and resale risk associated with bringing saddles in from Europe on a trial basis.

This does not affect applicable manufacturer warranty coverage for a qualifying manufacturing defect or an order that was not produced or supplied according to the documented order specifications.

Please be certain that you are comfortable proceeding with a final-sale purchase before asking Hug Your Horse to order a Hidalgo saddle on your behalf.

Payment & Order Terms

All saddle orders must be paid in full prior to manufacturing or shipping, unless other payment arrangements have been specifically agreed upon.

Credit card processing fees of 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction are non-refundable and apply to all sales paid by credit card.

Custom, bespoke, made-to-order, and special-order saddles are final sale.

We do not provide refunds due to a change of mind or because of a subsequent change in the horse's circumstances, including illness or lameness.

Purchasing a Demo or Ex-Demo Saddle

If you are currently trialing an HH demo saddle and decide that you would like to keep it, please contact Hug Your Horse to see if it is possible.

Once a demo saddle has been purchased, the sale is final and the saddle cannot be returned or refunded.

Saddles specifically listed for sale as demo, ex-demo, trial, used, or discounted demo inventory are also final sale when purchased directly through the online store unless otherwise stated in the individual listing.

Shipping

Shipping and delivery times are estimates. Although every effort is made to provide accurate timelines, manufacturing, international transportation, customs, carrier delays, weather, and other circumstances outside of our control can affect delivery.

Hug Your Horse cannot guarantee delivery by a specific date, and refunds will not be granted solely because of manufacturing or shipping delays.

Customers are responsible for applicable shipping charges unless otherwise stated.

Saddles In Stock

Some used saddles may be physically in stock with Hug Your Horse in Illinois and available for immediate delivery, provided they are not currently being used as a demo or trial saddle.

Manufacturer inventory may also occasionally include completed saddles that can be obtained sooner than a new made-to-order saddle.

Please understand that manufacturer inventory is not the same as Hug Your Horse demo inventory. In particular, a completed Hidalgo saddle available from the manufacturer is still subject to the Hidalgo final-sale policy above if Hug Your Horse orders it on your behalf.

Inventory changes frequently, so availability should always be confirmed before purchase.

Made-to-Order & Custom Saddles

If your selected saddle is not currently available from existing inventory, it may need to be manufactured specifically for your order.

Current Estimated Production Times

Current production times are approximately:

• HH Saddles: 6–8 weeks

• Hidalgo Saddles: 12–24 weeks, give or take

These are estimated production times and are not guaranteed delivery dates. Production schedules can change based on model, customization, manufacturer workload, materials, time of year, and other circumstances.

Shipping time is additional and may vary, particularly for international shipments.

Many saddles arrive within or even sooner than the estimated timeframe; however, unforeseen production, customs, international transportation, or carrier delays can occur. These circumstances are outside of the direct control of Hug Your Horse, and your patience is greatly appreciated.

If timing is especially important to you, please ask about the current estimated production schedule before placing your order.

Defects, Manufacturing Issues & Leather Tree Warranty

Both HH and Hidalgo saddles are backed by manufacturer support for qualifying defects and manufacturing issues.

One-Year Leather Tree Warranty

The leather tree itself is covered by a one-year manufacturer warranty for qualifying manufacturing defects.

Because a leather tree is designed to flex, move, and break in differently from a conventional rigid saddle tree, normal settling, flexing, molding, or other expected changes associated with normal use are not automatically considered defects.

If you believe there is a structural problem with the leather tree during the warranty period, please contact Hug Your Horse so the issue can be documented and reviewed with the manufacturer.

Manufacturing Issues

Final sale means that a saddle cannot be returned simply because of a change of mind, rider preference, fit preference, change in the horse's circumstances, or other non-defect reason. Final-sale status does not remove applicable manufacturer coverage when a saddle has a legitimate manufacturing defect or was not produced according to the documented order specifications.

We make every effort to ensure saddles are delivered as ordered and free from manufacturing defects. If you believe there is a problem with your HH or Hidalgo saddle:

• Please notify Hug Your Horse within 7 days of receiving the saddle if the issue is apparent upon delivery.

• If you believe the saddle has a manufacturing defect or was produced incorrectly, do not ride in the saddle until you have contacted us.

• Hug Your Horse will work with the applicable manufacturer to review the issue and determine the appropriate resolution.

• Depending on the circumstances and applicable manufacturer warranty, a resolution may include correction, repair, replacement, or another appropriate remedy.

• Warranty-related repairs or corrections must be coordinated through Hug Your Horse unless otherwise authorized.

• If the saddle was delivered with specifications that materially differ from those documented on your order, please contact Hug Your Horse promptly so the order can be reviewed.

Final-sale terms do not eliminate applicable manufacturer warranty coverage for qualifying manufacturing defects or an order that was not produced according to the documented specifications.

Normal wear, accidental damage, misuse, improper care, changes in horse or rider fit, and normal handmade or natural-leather characteristics are not considered manufacturing defects.

Handmade Leather Tree Saddles

Please remember that a leather tree saddle is a handmade product rather than a mass-produced item.

Because of this, slight variations may occur in areas such as:

• Seat measurements

• Leather appearance and texture

• Flap measurements

• Stitching

• Pommel and cantle appearance

• Other handmade details

Minor handmade variations that do not affect the fit, function, or usability of the saddle are not considered manufacturing defects.

Leather tree saddles are also constructed differently from conventional rigid-tree saddles. Components are designed to provide varying degrees of flexibility and movement under the rider and with the horse.

Natural Leather Characteristics

Leather is a natural material and may display variations such as scars, wrinkles, veins, grain differences, or slight color variations.

These characteristics are a natural part of genuine leather and are not considered defects.

Minor cosmetic marks that may reasonably occur during international transportation and handling are also not necessarily considered manufacturing defects.

Saddle Fitting Support

Hug Your Horse provides remote fitting and adjustment assistance for saddles purchased directly through us before purchase and for up to one year after purchase at no additional charge.

This may include assistance with:

• Initial saddle evaluation

• Balance

• Panel positioning

• Shimming

• Padding

• Horse and rider considerations

• Adjustments as the saddle begins to settle and break in

If you purchase a saddle directly from another manufacturer or retailer, including Hidalgo, you may still hire Hug Your Horse separately for remote fitting assistance.

When appropriate, you may also choose to schedule another independent professional saddle fitter. Independent fitters establish their own fitting fees, travel charges, policies, and recommendations.

If you work directly with another retailer, manufacturer, or independent saddle fitter to purchase, view, or test their inventory, you are considered their customer for that transaction and their individual fees, policies, trial terms, warranties, and return policies will apply.

Before You Order

Please reach out before ordering if you have questions about saddle model, sizing, panels, rider fit, or other available options.

My goal is to help you make an informed saddle selection based on both horse and rider and to provide fitting support throughout the process.

By placing an order with Hug Your Horse, the client acknowledges that they have reviewed and accepted the applicable ordering, final-sale, payment, shipping, and warranty terms outlined above.