Becoming a Saddler fitter (?)

[toppedoff]

Not sure if there are saddle fitters here but I have met alot of different people from all sorts of stuff so wondering if there may be any saddle fitters who could help me.

I'm interested in looking at becoming a saddle fitter, already looked at the master Saddler course and it has just gone over my head I am super confused. On the site it says it takes 3 years then below on the introductory course it says you'll receive a L3 in saddlery making and then can qualify after 5 days (??) Unless the website layout isn't clear but I am just not good at anything I guess. Closest thing I have came to wanting to do next and the site isn't clear to me at all

Thank you sorry

 

[Caol Ila]

I looked into it briefly. As in, five minutes on Google. Very briefly. My understanding - and I could be wrong - is that you need a 3-year apprenticeship after the course. God knows how you find that. I know the ones around here rarely take apprentices.

 

[toppedoff]

I looked into it briefly. As in, five minutes on Google. Very briefly. My understanding - and I could be wrong - is that you need a 3-year apprenticeship after the course. God knows how you find that. I know the ones around here rarely take apprentices.

Ahh just my luck I'll find something else, it does seem like you really need to network yourself in before even going into it. Thank you so much!

 

[Sossigpoker]

My excellent saddle fitter just trained with a very well known saddle fitter and saddle maker. I don't really rate the SMS or other qualification, I've seen a few qualified fitters who were just awful. So I use a person who isn't SMS qualified but by far the best fitter I've had

 

[toppedoff]

My excellent saddle fitter just trained with a very well known saddle fitter and saddle maker. I don't really rate the SMS or other qualification, I've seen a few qualified fitters who were just awful. So I use a person who isn't SMS qualified but by far the best fitter I've had

Ah interesting, I always thought you had to be qualified or go down that route

 

[ponynutz]

Would an apprenticeship with a company be easier to find? Albion I know for example employ saddle fitters. I'd suggest waiting this thread out and see what people say or try and network yourself, talk to your saddler or ask to speak to your riding schools if you don't have your own. If you can network it opens up the possibility for future apprenticeships or at least just good contacts.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

A lady I know did a short course and now has her own business.

 

[sbloom]

Firstly, this job is WAY harder than it looks, it's mentally and physically challenging and you need an unbelievably thick skin - ever seen how no saddle fitter gets away without being trashed by SOMEONE. What looks like a saddle fit problem is so often a horse or rider problem but many people want a "magic saddle" that never goes wrong in any way shape or form while taking no real part in the process of keeping the saddle working.

Now I've laid out the downside (and LOADS of fitters leave the industry after a few years, and especially the younger ones, being older does help you take deal with the above) it can be a great job - if you can work in a modern way, holistically, learn as much as you can about posture, biomechanics, all aspects of equine management and quite a lot about human physiology and biomechanics then you really can make a big difference.

I'm not qualified and choose not to be as I would have to change the way I fit to pass the exams, including fitting that way for my own customers as you need several case studies. I have been trained by two saddle brand owners who are well known/regarded in the industry but not affiliated to any of the organisations that offer "qualifications". Please note none of them are actually qualifications - they are in fact ALL accreditations in the methodoloy of that organisation. Some puport to be applicable to all saddle brands, train you to assess and adjust all brands, and at least one should absolutely NOT be applied to saddles not made the way as those the training is based on, so it's a funny industry. There is a drive to bring fitters, saddle, bit, bridle, under a new umbrella, but it was supposed to start early April and although I signed up to the mailing list I've heard nothing.

SMS is the fitters route, not the saddler route, places are restricted as everyone has to at least have a mentor for the training period - it's not actually an apprenticeship after the qualification/training, it's all part and parcel. I know one person waited months and months to be allocated a mentor to then be able to book her courses. https://www.mastersaddlers.co.uk/training/fitting-how-to-train/sf-pathway/

Be VERY wary of short courses. There is one brand that "accredits" you to fit their saddles in one weekend during which you will neither see a horse nor try fitting a saddle to one as it's all workshop based. Scary.

What is it about saddle fitting that appeals? What's your "horsey philosophy" or approach overall? If you have a thick enough skin, and are happy wearing at least 10 hats in your job (from marketing/social media to accounts, transport planning, customer service, customs/VAT etc) then answering these questions might help you decide which sort of organisation/person you might want to work through, how you'd want to work with customers and therefore which methodologies/approaches might suit.

 

[toppedoff]

Firstly, this job is WAY harder than it looks, it's mentally and physically challenging and you need an unbelievably thick skin - ever seen how no saddle fitter gets away without being trashed by SOMEONE. What looks like a saddle fit problem is so often a horse or rider problem but many people want a "magic saddle" that never goes wrong in any way shape or form while taking no real part in the process of keeping the saddle working.

Now I've laid out the downside (and LOADS of fitters leave the industry after a few years, and especially the younger ones, being older does help you take deal with the above) it can be a great job - if you can work in a modern way, holistically, learn as much as you can about posture, biomechanics, all aspects of equine management and quite a lot about human physiology and biomechanics then you really can make a big difference.

I'm not qualified and choose not to be as I would have to change the way I fit to pass the exams, including fitting that way for my own customers as you need several case studies. I have been trained by two saddle brand owners who are well known/regarded in the industry but not affiliated to any of the organisations that offer "qualifications". Please note none of them are actually qualifications - they are in fact ALL accreditations in the methodoloy of that organisation. Some puport to be applicable to all saddle brands, train you to assess and adjust all brands, and at least one should absolutely NOT be applied to saddles not made the way as those the training is based on, so it's a funny industry. There is a drive to bring fitters, saddle, bit, bridle, under a new umbrella, but it was supposed to start early April and although I signed up to the mailing list I've heard nothing.

SMS is the fitters route, not the saddler route, places are restricted as everyone has to at least have a mentor for the training period - it's not actually an apprenticeship after the qualification/training, it's all part and parcel. I know one person waited months and months to be allocated a mentor to then be able to book her courses. https://www.mastersaddlers.co.uk/training/fitting-how-to-train/sf-pathway/

Be VERY wary of short courses. There is one brand that "accredits" you to fit their saddles in one weekend during which you will neither see a horse nor try fitting a saddle to one as it's all workshop based. Scary.

What is it about saddle fitting that appeals? What's your "horsey philosophy" or approach overall? If you have a thick enough skin, and are happy wearing at least 10 hats in your job (from marketing/social media to accounts, transport planning, customer service, customs/VAT etc) then answering these questions might help you decide which sort of organisation/person you might want to work through, how you'd want to work with customers and therefore which methodologies/approaches might suit.

Thank you so much, that is really insightful. I will definitely need to look into it more as I am still not sure but this has had a little peak of interest. I suppose as of right now, I can't answer those questions either, I do need to investigate it further. Thank you!!!