Can't believe the cost

[samp]

I have enquired as to getting my 2 saddles checked - 1 is a wintec pro dressage the other an Albion K2 jumping with Flair.

One company charges £10 call out - reasonable
£40 per saddle just to see you ride in it then if any changes are needed you are not charged the £40 but £60 + depending on what needs doing. I worked out if both saddles need worj this is gonna cost like £130 +

Phoned another company and they charge £35 for call out, then £35 to assess and make changes to my flair and then £25 to assess and make changes to wintec including new gullet if needed. This sounds more reasonable but still expensive.

I have gone for the latter, I remember when I used to pay £20 with flocking

 

[Kelly1982]

I have put a post up in the lounge about this yesterday.

I have someone coming who is charging me £45 for the call out and then another £20 at least if any adjustments need to be made.

I used to pay £30 call out and adjustments were free unless they needed to be taken away.

It needs to be done though and the guy has got a good rep so i have bitten the bullet.

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
I have put a post up in the lounge about this yesterday.

I have someone coming who is charging me £45 for the call out and then another £20 at least if any adjustments need to be made.

I used to pay £30 call out and adjustments were free unless they needed to be taken away.

It needs to be done though and the guy has got a good rep so i have bitten the bullet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Who is coming out to you Kelly ?

 

[TGM]

That seems a lot - when I had someone out to check and reflock my saddle last year the total cost came to £40.

 

[flyingfeet]

To be fair you'd expect to pay £60 for a call out to a boiler.
You expect your saddle fitter to be just as qualified

Equally with both the chance of getting ripped off is still there.

When you used to pay £20 for flocking, you probably took the saddle to the saddler and they made it smooth, but not necessarily fit the horse.

Frankly there is no way I'd get in the car waste time travelling for less that £50.

 

[Kelly1982]

I dont know his full name, its Michael something or other.

I usually have John as you know but he doesn't deal with synthetics so went with Michael on a few good recommendations.

Need to save up to buy a new saddle from John me thinks

 

[Rambo]

If the Wintec is doing the job, and fits, i wouldn't waste your money tbh

Save your money for the lorry

Do you wear a pad or numnah usually ? If so, i would question the need to have any flocking done anyway

I take it you have the interchangeable gullet system ?

 

[Kelly1982]

Well that is very true, and i do really like the Wintec if i am honest.

I use a numnah at the mo, the reason i called him is cause it has been 6 months since her last check anyway but also i have noticed she is starting to go slightly bald under the flocked area (sorry cant rememebr the correct name) so it must be rubbing or moing in some way. Either that or i have just put on a hell of a lot of weight LOL

 

[flyingfeet]

A lot of horses go bald this time of year - their hair is shedding and the saddle pulls the hair out

It isn't anything to worry about, unless the hair areas burnt or curly & rubbed.

 

[samp]

All very true, I want the wintec checked as this is the saddle that I have problems getting Lottie to canter in and also the saddle that she went over on the road in

 

[Kelly1982]

No its not burnt or curly or anything just starting to go slightly bald but she is due to have it checked anyway.

It also sits quite low at the front but it is a close contact so is probably fine but as she is young i would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
No its not burnt or curly or anything just starting to go slightly bald but she is due to have it checked anyway.

It also sits quite low at the front but it is a close contact so is probably fine but as she is young i would rather be safe than sorry.

[/ QUOTE ]

It might just need a different gullet

You were having problems with her holding condition weren't you ? Might just be that she's dropped a gullet size

If there is rubbing of any sort (hair loss etc...) and you're not entirely comfortable, then you are right to get someone out to check it. With a numnah though you are effectively removing the need to change the flocking

 

[Janette]

When I rode in a Wintec, Star would get a bald patch on her back at this time of year - well coat changing time anyway...... I used to put a sheepkin numnah on and things improved as the new coat cmae through.

On the subject of saddle checks, I have to say (runs and hides...) mine are free. I bought a new saddle and the saddle fits are part of the service.

 

[cyearsley]

Hi, have a fantastic master saddler in Kent called P Husband. He will come out and check your saddle and adjust flocking on site for about £35, a complete reflock is about £60 and that includes the first visit, the return visit to return the saddle and a follow up visit incase the flocking drops after initial use. Admittedly I am only 15 mins from his workshop but think that is a great price and he is superb. He only makes saddles and other leather work to order so doesn't give you the hard sell for a new saddle like a lot of other saddlers I have encountered....he gives you an honest opinion and is such a nice man.
Do agree with earlier comments about the cost of a boiler engineer though as think that that would pay more for this service if needed as experience and knowledge are defo worth paying for.
If you're in Kent or nearby, he may be worth a call, have used hium for 4 years now and would highly recommend him. Hope this helps.

 

[Santa_Claus]

have an excellent saddler (master saddler) who won't try and sell you a new saddle unless absolutely required (unlike many other saddlers I know ) Also he tends to see several on yard at once and last time charged me only £10 to check saddle which was to see it on horse in stable evaulate fit, feel for need of reflocking and then watching me ride briefly in it. His reflock prices are apparently very reasonable as well though not got him to reflock anything for me yet but others on the yard have. Think it depends on the saddler really. I was thoroughly peeved at previous one who I bought saddle off who charged me £40 each to 'fit' two saddles.

His definition of 'fit' was look VERY briefly at fit in stable ask me to ride for two minutes max go off change gullet (took all of 5 mins in total for both) come back stivk back on horse place hand under saddle whilst me on board to check tighteness and say thats fine. Whole thing took 10mins total and was at the saddlers premises (they have a large arena on site) and they charged me £80 total. I was seething as thats eqivilent to £480 an hour

needless to say last time I used that saddler.

 

[showjump2003]

Just had the saddler out to mine. Took them up to her place last weekend (an hour and a half away), she checked two saddles for me...and between us we decided I needed new ones for both. She didn't talk me it to it, I though so before I went. She chanrged me nothing for it.... and she has just come out to my house with another to try and again, charged nothing. In fairness though I have just ordered two made to measure saddles o that might be why she didnt charge lol.