Cotswold Saddlery- Cirencester

[Dizzle]

Has anyone used them to fit a saddle?

I want to get them out next month but I'd like to hear reviews please, good or bad... it's rather a lot of money to part with!

 

[Grey_Arab]

They fitted my boy's saddle, they where very good and professional, saddle fits a treat and is really comfy. They are very honest, won't try and sell you things that you don't need!

 

[Aniseed]

I haven't used Cotswold saddlery so can't really help but one of the best people in the area is Lawrence from Stroud saddlery. However there is about a 3 month wait to see him. I have just used Colne Saddlery and they were very good.

 

[Dizzle]

Currently saddle-less so don’t fancy waiting three months! Plus Cotswold fit the make of saddle that I want (and I know fits the beastie).

 

[Dizzle]

Just thought I would bump this thread up.

Having used Cotswold Saddlery I now bitterly regret it, she has no idea how to fit a saddle and the only training she has undertaken is a two day introductory course, she's not registered with SMS and has resigned from BETA. Sadly I checked this information out too late

 

[avthechav]

Sorry to hear this Dizzle, just out of interest- why did it take you so long to post ur update?x

 

[Dizzle]

It’s a long story. First saddle fitted to horse in April 2010, horse’s behaviour starts to border on dangerous, call saddle fitter back in June as I think the saddle is too narrow at the front and the bad behaviour is caused by his shoulder blades hitting saddle, to move saddle out of the way of the shoulder blades looks ridiculous and is far too far back. Saddler takes saddle back and fits a different saddle to horse. Horse’s behaviour is a little better although still not back to pre-April standards. Battle on with calmers and schooling. (Bear in mind no lights in winter so horse only ridden once a week), June 2011 get a 2nd opinion from a new Physio, she’s concerned about saddle fit. Get saddler back out who charges me £180 for a full reflock. October 2011 notice concerning sweat marks at the back of saddle, call saddler back out who suggests the saddle needs a front lift, pay £50 for this to be done (she just charged me materials not for work). Ride in the saddle three times and decide that I’m still not happy with the way the saddle is fitting at the back. Speak to saddler via phone and email who advises various things such as the horse has put on weight, lost weight, my stirrups are too short, I’m putting the saddle in the wrong place, eventually says that I may need a different saddle. At which point I get very cross, if the saddle doesn’t fit my horse why has she spent over a year and nearly £200 trying to fit it to my saddle. She also describes my horse as ‘difficult to fit because of his shape’, which is utter cr@p! Yes he is a tb and he has withers but by no means are they shark fin! Also concerned when she tells me that she too has a tb and ‘big dips behind the withers are perfectly normal’. So I called out another saddler to look at the saddle. Firstly the shape of the tree is too narrow for my horse, therefore it’s unlikely to have ever fitter or to ever fit my horse. Secondly the reflocking is patchy on one side and you can feel a gap in the flocking. Thirdly the saddle has been flocked unlevel, one side is larger than the other. Sadly the larger side is on the side of the horse with more muscle, there is less flocking on the side with wastage (only slight difference) but it’s enough to tip me off to the side which explains why we have lost the ability to canter left over the last six months.

Yes I should have checked out her qualifications beforehand but her shop isn’t local to me and her website is rubbish, I’m gutted that I was so naive as to think that because she has been in business for over 20 years she knew what she was doing.

I’ve also spoken to a friend who was bitten by this saddler over 13 years ago and who’s current horse has scarring from one of her saddles. I also have another friend who’s horse turned into a bucking nightmare after a visit from this saddler.

 

[moandben]

It’s a long story. First saddle fitted to horse in April 2010, horse’s behaviour starts to border on dangerous, call saddle fitter back in June as I think the saddle is too narrow at the front and the bad behaviour is caused by his shoulder blades hitting saddle, to move saddle out of the way of the shoulder blades looks ridiculous and is far too far back. Saddler takes saddle back and fits a different saddle to horse. Horse’s behaviour is a little better although still not back to pre-April standards. Battle on with calmers and schooling. (Bear in mind no lights in winter so horse only ridden once a week), June 2011 get a 2nd opinion from a new Physio, she’s concerned about saddle fit. Get saddler back out who charges me £180 for a full reflock. October 2011 notice concerning sweat marks at the back of saddle, call saddler back out who suggests the saddle needs a front lift, pay £50 for this to be done (she just charged me materials not for work). Ride in the saddle three times and decide that I’m still not happy with the way the saddle is fitting at the back. Speak to saddler via phone and email who advises various things such as the horse has put on weight, lost weight, my stirrups are too short, I’m putting the saddle in the wrong place, eventually says that I may need a different saddle. At which point I get very cross, if the saddle doesn’t fit my horse why has she spent over a year and nearly £200 trying to fit it to my saddle. She also describes my horse as ‘difficult to fit because of his shape’, which is utter cr@p! Yes he is a tb and he has withers but by no means are they shark fin! Also concerned when she tells me that she too has a tb and ‘big dips behind the withers are perfectly normal’. So I called out another saddler to look at the saddle. Firstly the shape of the tree is too narrow for my horse, therefore it’s unlikely to have ever fitter or to ever fit my horse. Secondly the reflocking is patchy on one side and you can feel a gap in the flocking. Thirdly the saddle has been flocked unlevel, one side is larger than the other. Sadly the larger side is on the side of the horse with more muscle, there is less flocking on the side with wastage (only slight difference) but it’s enough to tip me off to the side which explains why we have lost the ability to canter left over the last six months.

Yes I should have checked out her qualifications beforehand but her shop isn’t local to me and her website is rubbish, I’m gutted that I was so naive as to think that because she has been in business for over 20 years she knew what she was doing.

I’ve also spoken to a friend who was bitten by this saddler over 13 years ago and who’s current horse has scarring from one of her saddles. I also have another friend who’s horse turned into a bucking nightmare after a visit from this saddler.[/QUOTE


So sad, There is plenty of horses she has done this to, it all sounds the same. DO NOT USE, I was lucky i got all my money back but my horse is still wonky after two years !!!