Adjusting a Kieffer Saddle

CeeBee

CeeBee

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Can anyone give me advice on this? I purchased a brand new Kieffer saddle just before Christmas. My new horse has bucked a few times and to ensure it is not my saddle, asked a saddle fitter to come and check it. He told me that my saddle is much too narrow and sits too high at the back, which of course could be the problem. He has suggested I buy a brand new Ideal saddle.
However, my saddle is a Kieffer Bonn and I understand it is adjustable. Can anyone tell me just how adjustable they are? I am starting to think I am just being ripped off!
 
I have a kieffer aachen that has the heat adjustable tree i bought mine in a medium as horse is between a medium and a medium wide and they stretched it so it is pretty much a perfect fit. I dont think they are all adjustable and i am not sure exactly how much they can be changed. Where are you based? I had milners adjust mine ( not all saddlers have the machine) might be worth giving them a call even if you are not local as they should be able to tell you a bit more information. Here is the address and phone number....
Unit 4 Rural Industrial Estate
Station Road
Melton Mowbray
Leicestershire
LE14 2RE

Tel: 01664-454839
edited as also found a weblink ... http://www.smilnerandson.com/saddlery.html
 
Hi, I am in Bedfordshire, so not a million miles away. I will give them a ring, thank you. Mine is a Kieffer Bonn and it is definitely adjustable.
 
Spoke to a very helpful lady at Kieffer in Corby. Her unbiased opinion is that I should have some flocking taken out of the panels underneath and also send it off to have the tree widened. Also, saddle fitter at my local tack shop is going to come and have a look at the saddle on my horse. She doesn't sell saddles herself, so again, her opinion will be unbiased.
Now I am in such a dilemma, as the original saddle fitter came last Wednesday and was going to order my new saddle straight away. I have not parted with any money, but guess we have a 'gentlemans agreement'. What would others do in my situation?
 
Ring saddler and tell them that you are not having the new saddle. His advice seems contradictory - if it were too narrow, it would be lower in the back unless it was cinched tight and therefore pinching in front and sort of hovering off the back. Adjusting the flocking isnt going to solve that. Even adjusting the flocking isnt going to turn a medium tree into a medium wide tree!

Kieffer trees are adjustable about 1 size through heating the tree and stretching it. You can take a template of your horse's back, together with photos and send it to the factory and they will adjust it for you. Otherwise find a saddler who has the machine - Frogpool in Kent do.

Can you not speak to the original fitter?
 
I'm afraid I didn't have it fitted to my horse (stupid, I know), I fell in love with it and thought it seemed ok. And typing this, how naive that sounds!
My horse is only 5 and has a lot of growing still to do, so his back end is kind of high at the moment, which necessitates the reduction in flocking (so I'm told!).
 
I think you have an issue with the width of the tree and the panels. I know how awkward 5 yr olds are, mine was a little horror to fit and would change shape on a continual basis (he did grow 2 inches though, and had to level up so it wasnt really that bad).

I would definitely get another saddler out - someone on here can probably recommend one for you in Bedfordshire, to see if they can do anything with your saddle. If not, they may be able to part x it for something that does fit.
 
If anyone can recommend somebody, I would really appreciate it. The only 2 saddle fitters I know will only sell new saddles and won't part x.
And as for 1st saddle fitter, do you think there will be a problem if I phone him and tell him I don't want it any more? Am I not now obliged to buy?
 
Not many saddlers will put in an order without a deposit - as all of mine are made to measure, I definitely dont as it would be very difficult for me to be able to sell the saddle again to someone who was the same height and needed the same type of panels, girth straps, stirrup bar placement, colour, material etc.

Ring him ASAP to make sure though.

Start a new thread requesting recommendations for saddle fitters in Beds and I am sure you will get a few names. Good luck.
 
Just to update you, I had another qualified saddle fitter come and look at my horse and saddle and they said that my saddle is a good fit and no need at all to replace at all!!
 
kieffer saddles are adjustable in two ways. if you speak with the saddler/retailer where you got yours from you will be able to ascertain whether or not they have the machine to do it. they are fairly adjustable
 
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