"But it was a very expensive saddle!"

Rowreach

Rowreach

Adjusting my sails
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13 May 2007
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So said my latest client this afternoon when I told him his saddle doesn't fit, has made his horse's back sore, and is probably the reason it reared up and went over backwards with him last week after he had had a long flatwork lesson with another trainer:(

But never mind, if it cost a lot of money then it must be alright:rolleyes:

I also told him to ditch the polypad and that his bit was too big - and he's booked to come back next week:D lol
 
perhaps he was scared not to make a booking, and hes sat at home now, rocking backwards and forwards and planning never to ride a horse again;)
 
Look on the bright side - on my yard apparantly I am considered too 'posh' and a bit wierd as I had my saddle adjusted to fit by a saddle fitter....
 
I did try to be tactful, honest:o

He's a very sweet novicey rider, who has been sold a large posh 4yo by a local dealer (horse had been trialled by an event rider and "failed":(). When I asked him if he had had the saddle fitted, he told me that it was fitted by the person who sold him the saddle (the dealer's wife) and that it was the best one she had, and she told him the fit was as good as he would get on that horse:confused:

Now the horse has lovely conformation and a good (although now sore) back, and would be relatively easy to fit atm. She hadn't mentioned that the horse would be changing shape and that (even if the saddle did fit now) it would need changing or adjusting in the not too distant future:(

I feel really really sorry for people like this man - he is trying to do his best, doesn't know a lot, and gets fleeced by people like that:(


But I am now worried that he is having a really rotten evening cos I've told him too much in one go:D:rolleyes:
 
Aaaa Tell me about it! I was asked to go assess a 'problem' horse for sale the other day, when i said i thought some of the problem may well be down to saddle fit i was told 'but thats the one she came with'
 
Rowreach said:
I feel really really sorry for people like this man - he is trying to do his best, doesn't know a lot, and gets fleeced by people like that:(
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I know what you mean. Some people do try hard to do the right thing but along comes a gobby/pushy 'advisor' with totally sh!t advice and ends up costing them a fortune. At least hes got you to help him now!
 
Damn! You mean that if I pay more, much and heaps more, then I'm not guaranteed to get the absolute bestest fit ever???

Blast. Will have to cancel plans to go and sell body on street corner (well, I wanted a new saddle :)).
 
teddyt said:
I know what you mean. Some people do try hard to do the right thing but along comes a gobby/pushy 'advisor' with totally sh!t advice and ends up costing them a fortune. At least hes got you to help him now!
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Sorry that made me laugh :D could be read 2 ways!

lol the best of it is that a friend of his bought him 5 lessons with me for his birthday, but at this rate his "free" lessons are going to cost him a fortune!:D
 
MrsMozart said:
Damn! You mean that if I pay more, much and heaps more, then I'm not guaranteed to get the absolute bestest fit ever???

Blast. Will have to cancel plans to go and sell body on street corner (well, I wanted a new saddle :)).
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Mrs M come and see me and I guarantee I will spend your money for you:D There is a very convenient street corner (with lamp) just down the road ...:o:D
 
Just think how much you will save him in the long run though, vet bills, time off work because of injuries etc etc :D
Edited to add, If I was relying on earning on the street corner, my poor girl would possibly wear a cow halter and nothing else! :D :D :D
 
Lol, that corner sounds good hun :D

If I hadn't already been one of the numpts that bought the most expensive saddle that the saddler was waving around, which turned out to be the most uncomfortable thing ever, then I'd still have some money to come and give to you :D :D :D
 
Urm..... i know loads of folks like this - unfortunatly - one whom even said "but its brand new - i only used it twice with on my previous horse!!!!" - aghghghghhghhghgh
 
Rowreach

If I can find it, there's a jolly good saddle fitter's website and they explain everything. You could show him that, to prove it's a science and not a con - if he ever turns up!
 
Rowreach, well done for being so honest, firstly. I agree, there are lots of people out there like that, but tbh i think most of them DO want what's best for the horse and themself (and if horse flipped with him last week, he must realise something is seriously wrong, and want to put it right before getting hurt, no?) and they're usually very relieved to find someone straightforward and honest, who is out for THEM and their horse, not just to make money from them, if that makes sense. i really hope he listens, and gets a saddler out to check it. Not impressed by "dealer's wife sold him best saddle she had" story at all...
At the very least i'd get him to put a prolite under it, unless it is horribly tight already. Prolite won't do any harm unless saddle is too tight, and might well do a lot of good, at least for the meantime...
 
Kerilli, the saddle is too tight with nothing underneath it:( The horse is sore either side of the withers and has a big tree point torque on the RHS due to the way he is carrying it (ie bent to the left). This is making the rider sit twisted and the horse has a pressure lump on the LHS corresponding with where the rider's left thigh is in his twisted position. I would rather the saddle never went back on him at all:(

Thanks for the support - I have a reputation for being um honest (not everyone likes that;)). I have a livery who has just bought a new horse and she was frantic that I would find something wrong with him - so far the only think I don't like is that he is black with 4 socks:rolleyes::D

Brighteyes, don't worry I know where he lives so if necessary I can start leaflet dropping through his doorway and pin things to his stable doors - he won't be able to avoid me:D Thanks for the link:)
 
First lesson I ever had on my first horse (we had been happy hackers up to that point)was in a group session, first thing the instructor said to me was 'your saddle doesn't fit and your stirrups are uneven' - I was mortified but so grateful. She took me under her wing and helped me so much :)

In fact I think I trust instructors more about saddle fit than qualified saddle fitters sometimes..
 
Evenning folks.

The only flexi curve I could find is 30cms, is this long enough to take a template?

It is still in its packaging and I would prefer to return it if not long enough (don't think they would take it back if hairy/grubby. Hence why I haven't tried it yet.
 
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