Welcome to my website. Let me tell you about myself.

My Services

Bob Cooper Equine Services offers three distinct but intertwined services:  English tack and saddle repair; independent professional saddle fitting evaluations and saddle flocking services; and new English saddle sales from a few select manufacturers.

My Background

I have been involved in the horse world for over 25 years. For most of that time my wife and I have owned many horses which include Dressage horses, eventers and Jumpers. I do ride, albeit not especially well. I have personally mucked more stalls than I could ever count, provided superior husband/groom duty at shows and pulled trailers for thousands of miles.

I have been an active USEF Licensed ‘R’ Dressage/Dressage Sport Horse Technical Delegate since 1989, and an active USEF Licensed ‘r’ Eventing Technical Delegate since1995. I attend an average of 15 USEF/USDF/USAE recognized competitions each year around the nation as a competition official.

In 1997, I started an English Tack Repair business out of my home in Plano, Texas. I added saddle repair in 2001. As there are no schools to teach this trade, I managed to be trained and mentored by two gifted English Master Saddlers living here in the USA. My repairs are done by hand and literally replicate the same techniques, craftsmanship and materials as the original items. No shortcuts are ever taken.

In 2002, I became a certified Saddle Fitter under the Master Saddlers Association (MSA) program.  This certification followed a 7 month course involving first 1 full week of classroom and hands-on study of equine physiology, equine biomechanics, gait analysis, the relationship of the saddle and the rider, and generic English saddle construction.  The MSA incorporated the same 10-point saddle fitting criteria as the British Society of Master Saddler’s Qualified Saddle Fitters certification.

The goal is to provide an independent, professional and verifiable appraisal of the fit of any specific saddle to a specific horse. That evaluation must include the ability to detail and demonstrate to the horse owner/rider/trainer how or why a saddle is not functionally correct for a specific purpose or horse. When appropriate, the saddle fitter must also be able to adjust the fit of saddles to improve the fit to the horse as well as to the human rider.

Following 6 months of practical field experience, the candidate returns for 4 days of follow-up instruction. This course culminates in a full day of written, oral and practical examinations. Not all who are tested pass and attain certification. Currently I am one of 33 MSA Certified Saddle fitters in North America.

Lastly, I provide services related to the purchase of new English saddlery. This takes two forms:

• advise individual client looking for new or used saddles as to the specifics on saddle tree sizes, seat sizes, saddle types and any special features needed for a specific horse or client need. I will recommend specific brand names if requested. 
• represent several world-class established manufacturers of English Dressage and jumping saddles hand-made in England. I work on-site with clients and their horses using demo saddles to determine exactly what is needed for a specific application. I then facilitate the purchase of a new saddle as an authorized sales agent for that factory. In that process I personally guarantee that the saddle meets all factory specifications and, most importantly, is correctly fitted to the horse and rider. I, of course, provide all needed fitting and maintenance follow-up for the life of the saddle.

Although I am located in the Dallas, Texas area, I do travel extensively as needed to client locations for saddle fitting and saddle sales.  Saddle and tack repairs can be shipped to me. I am literally as close as your local UPS shipper. I routinely help clients with saddle purchase selection via telephone or e-mail.

How may I help you?