Anyone done DIY saddle fitting with a Thorowgood saddle?

[Caol Ila]

For the last few years, I've had a Thorowgood high wither GP saddle and I find that the saddle fitter has to visit about twice a year to adjust the it due to the horse changing shape. I know how a saddle should fit, so I know when it's not right and duly make the appointment. Unfortunately the saddler, while very good at her job, seems to be overstretched. It takes weeks for her admin person to answer texts or voicemails, while the amount of time it takes to get an appointment is increasing. The saddle needs some work done now, and the soonest they can book the horse into their schedule is March. I'm not happy riding in a saddle that isn't quite right for the next six weeks.

I looked into getting the flocking and tools online, and it would cost about 100 quid. Making minor adjustments to these saddles doesn't seem like rocket science, and quite frankly, would save money and more importantly, the stress and hassle of waiting weeks for it to be dealt with.

 

[DD]

if you know what you are doing then go for it.

 

[Damnation]

Be careful, you could cause more damage than it is worth e.g the saddle could end up bridging.

I'm always happy to adjust my own gullets but I wouldn't touch the flocking, and I do know a thing or two about how a saddle should fit having had prior god awful saddle fitters and living on an Island where good saddlers are few and far between.

 

[Caol Ila]

Waiting until March to have it dealt with is ridiculous. That's why I'm looking for alternatives.

 

[xgemmax]

I would change the gullet myself but anything to do with adjusting flocking I would not do.

 

[Wheels]

Aren't there any other saddle fitters?

You could go on a flocking course - they are about £400 to £600 depending on who you go to but most are designed for saddle fitters or saddle makers or trainees thereof. I would caveat that by saying just because someone knows how to flock that does not make them a saddle fitter so lots can still go wrong if the flock is put in the wrong places.

Flocking well is not as easy as buying the tools and having a go for the craic, it takes knowledge, practice and technique otherwise you may damage the saddle and the horse.

I would book the appointment with the fitter - change the headplate if necessary but leave the flocking to the experts

 

[cobgoblin]

Id change the gullet or use shims but it's easy to make flocking lumpy.

 

[EventingMum]

Try another saddler? I think I know who you are talking about and she is losing business because of this from what I've heard. She has had one of my son's saddles for nearly two months although she originally said it would be back in 2 weeks. What about Donald McLellan at Millbrae Saddlery?