Can anyone recommend a good saddle fitter in the East Kent area??

[kittykatcat]

Hi, has anyone had a good saddle fitter in the East Kent area?? Looking for a black GP/VSD saddle new or second hand. Just wondered if anyone had had any good/bad experiences with saddle fitters in Kent, and whether you can recommend one to me?? Thanks!

 

[squirtlysmum]

Wealden Saddlery will travel out and can be found in the phone book or there is Clive Bending from Maidstone who will also travel but you will need a long time to be with him as he takes forever but I've heard good reports. PM me if you want his number.

 

[cyearsley]

I have to be honest, I have only been able to find one saddler in the whole Kent area that I trust and his name is Peter Husband. He is a Master Saddler himself and doesn't just fit and reflock but makes all his own saddles and bridles, made to measure. I have had a bridle off him and it was lovely and he has made me reins, stirrup leathers etc etc and am saving to have a saddle made in the next year. He doesn't sell new saddles or resell secondhand ones only makes to order so has no axe to grind and you don't get the hard sell or the old "think you need a new saddle" line...... He comes out and measures your horse and discusses you requirements, measures you etc and then its tailor made to measure. Through friends and also through personal experience have found no one else in Kent I would go with and I ended up with Olney coming down from up North (sadly now they are part of Derby House). Would recommend Penfolds Saddlery down in Sussex though may be a bit of a trek?

I think Peter would travel to most areas of Kent to fit for a made to measure saddle but not just for a fitting or reflock though he does obviously do this locally. He is based in Ryarsh, near West Malling. If you're interested in having a bespoke saddle made, PM me and will send you his number. Good luck and let me know if you find a good un!

 

[Lillo]

I've also used Peter Husband, he's one of the few saddle fitters who are not out to rip you off. He's very geniune.

 

[Dovorian]

Charlie from Kent LEarher lives in East Kent, she's very good and comes out quickly. Onsite fitting and flock adjustment a month ago was £40 I think

 

[clairencappelli]

Another clive bending vote here, i wouldnt use anyone else now, hes takes a while but makes sure you and your horse are happy.

 

[discopete]

Hand in the air for John from Wealden Saddlery, he'll come out with a car load of choice (far more than I'd expected to be presented with) and insists on ensuring both horse and rider are comfortable. He came back a second time to see how we were getting on and made some adjustments where the flock had settled.