Debra Racheter
Founder, Owner & Master Saddle Fitter
Debra Racheter founded Crest Ridge Saddlery out of a deeply personal understanding of what it means when a saddle doesn't fit. For 17 years, she operated a horseman's resort and trail guide service in North Central Arkansas, where she witnessed firsthand the discomfort and problems caused by ill-fitting saddles — and the struggles riders faced trying to find quality saddles that worked for both horse and rider.
That experience set her on a path. Since 1998, Debra has been professionally fitting horses, which led her naturally into designing and manufacturing saddles. She became a Master Saddle Fitter with a specialty in gaited horses and mules — an area where proper fit is especially critical and often overlooked.
Debra has been a sought-after presenter at major equine trade shows across the country, including Equine Affaire, Horse World Expo, Midwest Horse Fair, and the Minnesota Horse Expo. She has also appeared on RFD-TV's "All Around Performance Horse," where she demonstrated saddle fitting techniques to a national audience.
A pioneer in her field, Debra created one of the first online resources for measuring and fitting treed saddles, helping riders everywhere better understand the fitting process. Through Crest Ridge Saddlery, she brings a no-nonsense approach to excellence, blending meticulous attention to detail with a genuine concern for the comfort of both horse and rider.
Every Crest Ridge saddle is handcrafted by Amish master craftsmen — most of whom live right here in Lowry City, Missouri — and built to fit your horse from the ground up.
Sarah Racheter-Loftin
Co-Owner
Sarah Racheter-Loftin is a lifelong equestrian, wife, and mom of two boys. She grew up in the saddle and has never strayed far from it. In her 20s, she competed in endurance riding through the AERC, and today she's working her way back — currently competing in Limited Distance rides and spending as much time on the trail as possible.
Sarah joined Crest Ridge Saddlery full time after earning her Bachelor's degree in Transportation and Logistics, with a minor in Marketing, from the Sam Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas in 2006. Her background in logistics and marketing has been a natural fit for the business — helping streamline operations, grow the brand, and ensure every customer gets the right saddle, right to their door.
Whether she's helping a first-time buyer navigate the fitting process or coordinating a saddle shipment across the country, Sarah brings the same care and attention to detail that has defined Crest Ridge Saddlery from the beginning.