Anyone know a saddler who nearly always gets it right

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Archie73

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Hello

As title really.

We are based in North Kent and there are a few of us who use different saddlers and we all have various issues ranging from unrelaible saddlers, to nice shiney new saddlers sold fitted with risers / thick numnahs (with no plans for large muscle buildups) to wrong gullet sizes being fitted etc etc.

I am not going to name names but I have come across about 5 saddlers and cannot put 100% faith in any now. Please feel free to PM as I dont want to cause any upsets.

I am on 3rd saddle for same horse with adjustable gullet and still not quite right, similar with friend too and I can t belive our yard has such a large collection of odd shaped horses.

Please can you all rack your brains and help.

My horse is as picture is size and shape counts towards your recommendations.

I have a nice new kent and masters with lots of gullets so far:)

Happy Sunny Friday peeps and thank you !!
 
I can only talk from personal experience but I rate Martin Wilkinson very highly. To me he takes the time and effort to get it right. Must admit not heard a bad thing about him and can only speak as I find.

Good luck
 
There are only 2 saddlers I trust!! One is too far away to use sadly and the other I work for!! It is an absolute nightmare, and there are too many 'not good enough' efforts being made by some saddlers.

Unfortunaly I'm miles from your area so can't recommend, but hope you have better luck soon.

It is most certainly no excuse, but some saddlers don't have the best people skills, so you do need to clearly state what you would like, what options you would consider and any allowances you'd make. eg, budget and type of saddle required, could you go over that budget if it means a better fitting saddle is accesable to you? If the saddler suggests tweaks to your current saddle then ensure you understand if that is a case of making the best of a bad job or if they feel they can make the current saddle fit well.

Sometimes a good re-flock can make the world of difference (a complete reflock though, not just shoving new flocking in ontop of bad!). One thing to bear in mind with alot of saddles is that synthetic flocking is common place (the K&M is sold with synthetic flocking) and can be rock hard. Also, since most saddlers employed in factories making and flocking saddles are paid by peice work, the saddle coming out of the factory may not have a top quality flocking job. It might be passable and for some horses they may well be comfy enough with it, but it is worth bearing in mind. Also, if you have brought a new saddle, expect to have it looked at again after a few months as the flocking will have settled and may require tweaking. The K&M also have 4 girth straps, using different ones to correct slight movement issues can make a big difference.

Above all remember that the horse is the expert though. If the saddle is assesed to fit well, but the horse doesn't like it - then listen to the horse! Don't buy a saddle if the fitter hasn't seen you ride in it either. Unless you want the saddle only to fit in halt, then make sure it is seen to fit in all paces.
 
Another vote for Martin Wilkinsons. No experience of Martin himself, it was Berry who came and fitted my horse with a saddle.
 
We use Liz Legget from Mill Saddlery, she was recomended to me when I was doing an NVQ at WHW (or ILPH as it was then) - I have every faith in her, she fitted a difficult mare we had at the time and whilst she was there I asked her to look at my old girls saddle. Even though it had been proclaimed fine by 2 other saddlers, straight away she pointed out what she thought was wrong, only a very subtle thing, without me even telling her what my minx used to do - new saddle - problem resolved. The only problem is she is in Suffolk, so doesnt come our way very often and is always very booked up.
 
I would recommend Tom Connolly and Russell Pettett who might cover your area? They don't sell saddles which is reassuring as in you don't get any hard sell, bias opinion. They can adjust what you have if they think it is suitable for your horse or recommend which saddle,size etc to get if yours doesn't/can't fit, and then come out and check it.

Had bad experience with Maratin wilkinson but have heard good things about Berry that use to work with him (but not uesd her myself)
 
And sadly I've heard less than good things about Berry...

I need to buy a saddle and stuck on a fitter to use! I know 2 fitters I would use (Tom being one) but neither carry the saddles I think I want and don't know how to go about trying one of those!
 
The problem with saddle fitters is that they have to fit on what they see on the day -so if they are ordering a new saddle for you, by the time it is delivered it is more than likely that your horse has changed shape, through lack of work, so either reduced muscle or put on weight.

The other issue is they have to fit to your pocket. I know of one person who has really slated a saddle fitter because she couldn't afford his recommendation, so he sold her a synthetic that he told her would "do the job but isn't really right".

Saying that, I will add I used to rate MW but believe that in recent years he is not a through as he used to be and personally wouldn't now pay for his time.
 
Yup, mine is brilliant and has excellent people skills! Ellie Martin. She is a, a master saddler b very patient..she is Surrey based.
 
I would vote for Martin at Penfolds in Cuckfield, W Susssex, but he is a bit far from you. A very good saddler. Keep asking around your area, Pony Club, maybe? They do exist.
 
I had my Wintec completely re flocked by Penny Dickson, the flocking was really lumpy but fantastic now, then Swift lost lots of weight she came back last week and changed the gullet and added some more flock to balance it up, I would definitely recommend her she took the time to get it right
 
Kay Humphries at Norton & Newby, based in Oxon but travels all over. In 10ish years of recommending her to clients, often with remedial fitting requirements, I can't think of anyone who has had to replace the saddle she has sold them (obviously they do get checked & adjusted from time to time).

She also works with Amanda Sutton who was the physio to the British 3DE team in the 1990s.
 
I can highly recommend Andrew Reilly, I think he's based in Kent but he does travel all over the South-East; PM me if you want his number (probably won't check the thread again).

Have also heard good reports about Ellie Martin who Luci07 recommends.
 
Andrew Reilly is very good and would also highly recommend the Balance Saddles.
Having a senior moment and can't remember the name of the lady who fitted my last one but there is a list soon their website.
 
Thanks everyone. I did post this at the end of march and gotartin from Penfolds. He is a nice guy and did order new gullets for my Kent and masters adjustable gullet and then came back and fitted it. What he was happy with I thought was tight so he showed me how to change my gullet myself and watches me put it up to the next size then help me fit it again with a half pad. I then took Archies (horse not mine) shoes off and did not use saddle for 8 weeks. Good news is it seems pretty good now but am only walking so can't tell plus the good movement could be down to no shoes:-@ still Martin took the time to help even when I disagreed slightly so he gets a vote. When I need next fitting I will look back here. Pointless post really but thanks to all.
 
Kay Humphries is the only saddler I trust. She is like God when it comes to fitting a saddle:)

I had a horrendous experience with Spragg Saddlery and so have lots of others if you search on here.
 
EllenJay said:
The problem with saddle fitters is that they have to fit on what they see on the day -so if they are ordering a new saddle for you, by the time it is delivered it is more than likely that your horse has changed shape, through lack of work, so either reduced muscle or put on weight.

.
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My horse changed shape he lost weight since the template then fitting [he needed too!!] ....my qualified saddle fitter said that it was not right so changed the saddle size.... he then got his partner saddle fitter to come out and check the new saddle just to doubley make sure as my boy was rather wide with no withers...fantastic service but they are in Leics so a bit far....
 
Sults said:
Had bad experience with Maratin wilkinson but have heard good things about Berry that use to work with him (but not uesd her myself)
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I have heard people say use Martin Wilkinson but don't use Martin; others equally vehemently say only use Martin.

That's the difficulty and why the op is asking the question, for every good experience you get a bad.
 
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