Mebane Equine Bodyworks

Mebane Equine Bodyworks Tara C Mebane, CSF, EM/MT, EEMFR

Equine biomechanics, bodywork, saddle fitting, and education rooted in observation, feel, and practical application.

For riders seeking a deeper understanding of the horse. Mebane Saddlery is the home of Independent Certified Saddle Fitter Tara C Mebane. Tara has over 250 hours of study in English Saddle Fitting and Flocking from one of the most comprehensive courses of study available. Taught by Mike Scott, a Society of Master Saddlers certified saddle fitter, who is also a human and equine massage therapist with over 25 years of experience, anatomy, and an understanding of how the horse moves, were major points of emphasis in the program. Continuing education is important, so Tara apprentices as schedule permits under Mike himself, other graduates of Mike's certification program, saddle companies, and other equine professionals (vets, chiropractors, etc). Tara is also a rider and trainer herself, and understands the need for appropriately fitting tack for both the horse and rider.

One thing I really want to make clear about Performance Plans—especially for those of you who have worked with me for a ...
09/21/2026

One thing I really want to make clear about Performance Plans—especially for those of you who have worked with me for a long time—is that the appointment itself has changed.

This isn’t just a new way of packaging the same appointments I’ve always offered.

A Core Session isn’t defined by an isolated service. We start with your horse: what has changed, what you’re noticing or feeling, how they’re moving and performing, and what needs our attention that day.

Hands-on bodywork remains part of every Core Session because it’s one of my primary assessment tools. From there, what we do is shaped by what we find. We may work on saddle fit, movement, rider biomechanics, equipment, or several pieces together. Those are all tools I can draw from—not isolated services defining the appointment.

And because I’m following your horse over time, we aren’t starting over at every visit. Each Core Session builds on what we’ve already learned, so we can follow what’s changing and adjust our priorities as your horse evolves.

That’s really the heart of Performance Plans: a deeper investment from both of us, and an appointment built around the horse in front of me—not around an isolated service selected before I arrive.

09/20/2026

Sound up 🤦🏼‍♀️

09/20/2026

If you’re looking for another classical riding source, here you go. So many of you have commented to me how relaxed my horses look under saddle—this is why.

09/18/2026

Using ground poles to encourage your horse to articulate the larger joints and engage the core during your warm-up.

This photo highlights one of the challenges I see in the saddle and saddle fitting industry right now: fitting the shape...
09/18/2026

This photo highlights one of the challenges I see in the saddle and saddle fitting industry right now: fitting the shape in front of us without always asking why that shape exists.

A tracing can accurately represent a horse’s body on a given day—but if that shape is being influenced by postural or movement dysfunction, fitting the saddle to that shape alone can potentially help maintain the very pattern we should be trying to change.

Sometimes the appropriate next step is referral to another professional for further evaluation. Other times, it means fitting the horse while recognizing that the current shape may be temporary and following the horse closely as their body changes. Saddle fitting shouldn’t happen in isolation from what the rest of the horse is telling us.

Fortunately, this saddle has an adjustable gullet rather than being a fixed-tree custom order, which gives us options. Time will tell whether it can accommodate this horse through the changes ahead. We may need to use a different saddle temporarily while we address the underlying dysfunction, then circle back to this one once the horse has developed more of their functional shape.

This is one of many reasons my business model is transitioning to Foundation Sessions and Performance Plans. I don’t want to simply fit a saddle to the horse I see today. I want to understand why the horse looks and moves the way they do, how the pieces are interacting, and what needs to happen next.

The more horses and owners I can help move out of dysfunctional patterns, the more solid the foundation becomes—not only for my work, but for the veterinarians, farriers, trainers and other professionals supporting that horse.

Foundation vs. Core vs. Support: what do these sessions mean?The Foundation Session is the starting point. It’s where we...
09/16/2026

Foundation vs. Core vs. Support: what do these sessions mean?

The Foundation Session is the starting point. It’s where we figure out where you and your horse are now — what your “foundation” actually looks like.

These sessions are intentionally thorough and unhurried. We look at your horse’s posture and body, your tack and equipment, how you and your horse move together under saddle, nutrition, history, current concerns and goals — we go through it all. From there, we identify priorities and develop a plan for moving forward.

Core Sessions are the primary appointments within your Performance Plan. They’re scheduled for the year when you enroll, reserving space on my calendar and creating the consistency needed to actually follow your horse over time. I’ll touch base before each appointment to make sure the scheduled day still works and confirm our start time.

Core Sessions give us time to reassess, track progress, address concerns, and determine what your horse needs that day. Rather than treating saddle fit, bodywork, movement or other pieces as separate appointments, we look at what’s happening with the whole horse and go where the session needs to go.

Support Sessions are the more focused appointments in between. They can be scheduled as needed, as my calendar permits, when something comes up or your horse could simply benefit from a little extra support.

That might mean an additional bodywork session before a championship, checking saddle fit after your horse gains or loses weight quickly, addressing a new concern, or meeting with you and a saddle representative while you test ride new saddles. They’re intentionally flexible because horses don’t always follow the schedule we put on the calendar.

A number of Support Sessions are included with the Plus and Elite Performance Plans, and additional Support Sessions can be purchased as needed.

Foundation establishes where we’re starting.
Core Sessions provide the continuity.
Support Sessions give us flexibility in between.

That’s really the idea behind the Performance Plans: consistent care without forcing every horse into the same schedule or the same set of services. The plan gives us structure, while the individual sessions can evolve with your horse.

Learn more about Performance Plans and what’s included on my website.

www.mebaneequinebodyworks.com/services

Performance Plans are officially here.Over the past several months, I’ve been restructuring the way I work with horses a...
09/08/2026

Performance Plans are officially here.

Over the past several months, I’ve been restructuring the way I work with horses and their owners—moving away from individual services and toward a model that better reflects how I actually approach each horse.

Because meaningful change rarely comes from looking at one piece in isolation. And it rarely happens in a single appointment.

Performance Plans provide consistent, individualized support throughout the year, allowing us to build on progress, respond as your horse changes, and address small concerns before they become bigger ones.

Three annual options are now available:

Essentials — Quarterly
Plus — Every 8 Weeks
Elite — Monthly

Every plan includes movement and functional assessment, individualized hands-on bodywork, saddle and equipment evaluation, adjustments and flocking, and ongoing recommendations—with additional support built into Plus and Elite.

Whether your goal is proactive prevention, consistent maintenance, or closer management of a performance horse or more complex needs, there’s a plan designed to meet you and your horse where you are.

Performance Plans are now available for enrollment.

Visit https://www.mebaneequinebodyworks.com/performance-plans to explore the plans and learn more.

Just a reminder that you need to get on my calendar now if you want your horses seen before championships! I’m filling ...
09/01/2026

Just a reminder that you need to get on my calendar now if you want your horses seen before championships! I’m filling up fast for C finals at the end of the month, followed closely by Regionals the week after.

Speaking of which, I’m strongly considering going up to Regionals for at least a day—-I know I’ve got friends and clients competing, plus I haven’t been to the horse center since it’s been renovated and would love to see it, so if you’re going, let me know so I can see what day works best and we can get some extra bodywork in.

08/29/2026

Getting balance at the trot

Now that Glimmer is consistently keeping her core engaged and her back up at the walk, her trot work is so much better. She doesn’t have the strength to hold it for long, so I’m setting her up for success by only asking her to trot uphill at this time, going downhill is still a challenge for her to straight and keep her weight distributed evenly over each limb, so we keep it in short sets. You can see how each transition got softer and more elevated through her back.

We’re rolling into championships season so start thinking about how you want to book appointments around your show sched...
08/25/2026

We’re rolling into championships season so start thinking about how you want to book appointments around your show schedule. I know C finals is end of Sept which will be here before you know it, so let’s make sure we have you ready!

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Hurdle Mills, NC

Telephone

336-264-6660

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