Best Saddler in Gloucestershire/Cotswolds?

Hiloire, Lindsey does my OHs eventers saddles, they've been perfect. There are some awful reviews of her on here, but equally some fab ones.

The reason im asking about her being registered is not because Im concerned about her fitting abilities, but because my horse is a WHW horse and they need a registered fitter as part of the agreement. Will be very annoyed if I cannot use her for Puz :(

There are equally poor reviews about all the other saddlers who are supposedly amazing on here.
 
Cedars, having read this thread I took it that this 'Lindsey' is who fitted Dizzle's saddle given that she had an old receipt ;) ... 2 day course etc. . .

Dizzle I would be fuming if someone has suggested they are more qualified than they are too :mad:, I do hope that you can get it resolved.
 
ah so I see (re old thread!) , well in that if she fitted dizzle's saddle and making her Dizzles saddler and on contacting SMS has only completed the 2 day course in 2003 then no she isn't registered as per post #27.
 
Lindsey Lewis of Cotswold saddlery is NOT a qualified saddle fitter.

I wouldn't let her fit a saddle to a rocking horse, if she has fitted your saddle well it's a fluke! I have a different horse since I stopped using her, he's so much more relaxed to ride and I wouldn't knowingly let anyone I know use Lindsey to fit a saddle.

I've found reports as long ago as 15 years of her selling ill fitting saddles and causing damage and scarring to horses backs.
 
Cedars said:
Wholeheartedly recommend lindsey in Cirencester.... Cotswold saddlery I think.

You've already spoken to the people I don't recommend..!
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Really? Your the ONLY person it seems i have ever known to have this opinion!

Sorry OP not read all the replies as was so surprised at this one! (good to hear someones happy though not slating you Cedars!) Have you thought of Kevin McCardle?
 
Another one to recommend Maurice at Colne. He is really really good and always felt that after he has left that you have a saddle that is perfect for you and your horse, not too expensive and as another poster said a huge range of second hand saddles.
 
The problem is that the title 'saddle fitter' isn't a protected term - anyone can use it. If she is making other claims that are incorrect then do contact trading standards, but I really don't think they can do anything about someone calling themselves a saddle fitter. As well as someone actually having done the training, you also have more come back if a saddle fitter you use is registered with the SMS. Worth considering when on the look out for someone to fit a saddle. If they aren't listed on the website then they aren't registered with them.
 
I use a SMS registered saddler now! :D

Surely though if you are claiming to be a 'saddle fitter' you should actually be able to fit a saddle?
 
Sadly not so, there are quite a few titles that aren't protected so it is well worth checking the credentials of anyone otherwise you never know what you are getting!!
 
Dizzle said:
I use a SMS registered saddler now! :D

Surely though if you are claiming to be a 'saddle fitter' you should actually be able to fit a saddle?
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Whether a fitter has an ability to fit a saddle is subjective - all fitters have our own approach and all customers have varying opinions on most fitters. And indeed I am a fitter, a professional fitter, but I am not SMS qualified. I am trained by an amazing fitter who is also not SMS.
 
sbloom said:
Whether a fitter has an ability to fit a saddle is subjective - all fitters have our own approach and all customers have varying opinions on most fitters. And indeed I am a fitter, a professional fitter, but I am not SMS qualified. I am trained by an amazing fitter who is also not SMS.
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The saddle fitter who shall not be mentioned is NOT SMS qualified and she fitted me with TWO saddles that damaged my horse, she has also done the same to two friends of mine, one friend I believe also knows of other people who have had issues. I have also spoken to a few other people that have had issues with her. It's not just a one off which is why I am being quite vocal on the subject.

IF she was unqualified and GOOD I would let people use her but she's NOT!
 
sbloom said:
Whether a fitter has an ability to fit a saddle is subjective - all fitters have our own approach and all customers have varying opinions on most fitters. And indeed I am a fitter, a professional fitter, but I am not SMS qualified. I am trained by an amazing fitter who is also not SMS.
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As above it's subjective.. You also have people telling you that they are very happy with Lindsey, including a BHS approved yard, and an event rider but you are choosing not to mention them. I think you need to let this drop now.
 
xxMozlarxx said:
As above it's subjective.. You also have people telling you that they are very happy with ****, including a BHS approved yard, and an event rider but you are choosing not to mention them. I think you need to let this drop now.
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Two people have told me they are happy. Plenty more have not.

I've taken the name out as we're not allowed to post it.

Why should I drop it? Unless **** has something to be afraid of?
 
You've plastered her name on most of your other posts!! I'm a third then who has used her and been very happy. I know of several other people who feel the same. She has fitted 2 saddles to my old pony who was difficult to fit. She knew her stuff, I wouldn't have entertained her if she didn't. I haven't used her for my subsequent horses but that's not because I have any concerns for her ability.
I am really sorry you have had problems with saddles for your horse but your issue is between you and her, deal with it privately and with dignity.
 
It's not a private matter! If she had of fitted TWO incorrect saddles to YOUR horse and caused him damage would you be fuming?

Three people have had a positive experience of her, she's been fitting saddles for 20 years.

I just want to make people stop and think before they use her, post your experiences of how wonderful you think she is by all means and people can make up their own minds...
 
Dizzle said:
It's not a private matter! If she had of fitted TWO incorrect saddles to YOUR horse and caused him damage would you be fuming?

Three people have had a positive experience of her, she's been fitting saddles for 20 years.

I just want to make people stop and think before they use her, post your experiences of how wonderful you think she is by all means and people can make up their own minds...
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It's not 3 people though is it, one of those is a yard? 1 of the
people who has responded was talking on behalf of someone else as well, so that's 2, and I know of other people who are happy with her. Everyone who uses this saddle fitter isn't going to respond or
even be on these sites. I never said she was wonderful, i just feel
this shouldnt be posted on here and FB as it has been. We don't
know your story or her side of things and she doesn't have the
opportunity to defend herself.
 
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I realise that the original post of this thread is rather old now but I thought I would suggest the saddle fitter we use. Since you are talking about Stroud and Cirencester you can't be far from us and we use Sharon Church from SC Saddlery Services. She is actually based in Bristol so wouldn't show up on a search of Gloucestershire but is quite happy to travel. She has new and used saddles and I believe will PX against a new saddle. She is very thorough and we have been more than happy with her advice and we know of others who are of a similar opinion.

http://www.scsaddleryservices.co.uk/contact/
 
Thanks for reminding me about this!

Lindsey isn't registered, but has bucket loads of experience and training. Because of this, WHW are happy for me to use Lindsey as my saddler.

Of course, as with ANY saddler, if I feel I'm not sure on the fit, or something doesn't look right, I will get Lindsey back out and if I'm still not happy, I would seek a second opinion. Just as I would with any other professional who sees my horse.

There seems to be one person who has a grudge against Lindsey, screaming it from the rooftops on every forum, webpage and facebook group. Thats fine, you're obviously entitled to say what you want, but I have found literally countless people who have had fabulous experiences with Lindsey.

Its also worth saying that (proportionally of course) many more people have had problems with Laurence at Stroud, the woman at Stroud, Colne Saddlery and more. I think negative reviews are part of working with animals - sometimes your horse changes, nobody is really sure who's fault it is that the saddle doesn't fit any more, and the best way to deal with it is to work it out politely and professionally. We've never found Lindsey to be difficult with money/refunds - when our horses saddle didn't fit quite right, she adjusted it totally free of charge as it was a brand new leather saddle and they do 'bed down'.

Anyway, this has turned into a "GO LINDSEY!" rant! The trick to all of this is using someone you trust (as best you can), keeping a VERY close eye on your horses back when its ridden and untacked - unusual hair loss, sweat patches, tenderness to touch? Taking photos of your saddle regularly is a good way to check for any changes or lumps and bumps that might have appeared. Then if you do have problems, speak to the saddler, if you're still not sure, get a second opinion.

x
 
Years back I got a tb straight out of training. Lindsay came out with a huge selection of second hand leather as I'd requested. Sadly none fitted but she sold me a synthetic which he quickly outgrew.
She came back and gave me an excellent deal on an upgrade and continued to check and adjust the saddle over the few years I had him. He was very sensitive and told me if his saddle fit needed tweaking. He was always happier after she had done it. This was proof enough for me she was doing a good job.
I have read bad things about pretty much every saddler in the area but my personal experience is that of the most thorough saddle check's I've had so far.
 
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