Do you use a saddle fitter or fit your own?

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flump

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Another post got me wondering as I have never ever had a saddle fitter out for numerous horses and ponies I have had!
 
Have a great saddler who is able to alter saddles I already have, or make new according to the horse and my needs. He also sources second hand saddles and reflocks/does repairs. He can usually alter a saddle on the yard when the horse changes shape due to the season or fitness levels.

He's invaluable.
 
Saddle fitter no question - they're the experts, and so much can go wrong with saddlery and cause a world of problems. Expensive, but not as expensive as some problems ill fitting tack can cause. Would love to learn more about saddle fitting, but would always use a qualified fitter/saddler xx
 
I often find a good second hand saddle that fits well then get my very good fitter to do any tweaks that may be needed.
It works well and have I fitted many this way including several that came here with very badly fitting, professionally fitted saddles, that caused sore backs and in at least three cases almost written off ponies with behavioural issues.
 
Used one once and despite trying loads of saddles she didn't have one for the TB we had at the time, she told me what to get and I found it on Ebay.
Another Ebay saddle has been brilliant, right type for the ponies I've had and its done them all :)
If I had an odd shaped pony and felt the need again I would but so far only used the once.
Have had ponies 30 years so trust my own judgement
 
Saddle fitter at least every six months, more for some horses watches me ride each horse in both it's saddles .
 
Do it myself. Too many saddlers tell people it fits when it doesn't, either one you've got (if they think you won't buy new, because a reflocking fee is better than nothing) or a new one (if they sense money). My horse changes shape with the seasons, I don't want flocking taken in and out of the saddle every few months, its easier to use pads when the saddle is too wide and adjust it myself. I know when my horse is working well and when the saddle needs adjusting. I'd only bother with a saddler for a horse who maintained a consistent weight or a top level competition horse where you need peak performance. And I'd only use a saddler who bothers to inspect the back, see the horse move untacked and ridden in all paces, and really do a proper job. A friend spent a thousand pounds on a saddle that was just put on the horse, then walked and trotted 5min on tarmac. Fair enough, if that's what you want. It's not for me though. I can achieve that level of fit myself.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
Do it myself. Too many saddlers tell people it fits when it doesn't, either one you've got (if they think you won't buy new, because a reflocking fee is better than nothing) or a new one (if they sense money). My horse changes shape with the seasons, I don't want flocking taken in and out of the saddle every few months, its easier to use pads when the saddle is too wide and adjust it myself. I know when my horse is working well and when the saddle needs adjusting. I'd only bother with a saddler for a horse who maintained a consistent weight or a top level competition horse where you need peak performance. And I'd only use a saddler who bothers to inspect the back, see the horse move untacked and ridden in all paces, and really do a proper job. A friend spent a thousand pounds on a saddle that was just put on the horse, then walked and trotted 5min on tarmac. Fair enough, if that's what you want. It's not for me though. I can achieve that level of fit myself.
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Agree with this, fitting really isn't rocket science! Even the last one I had made, I chose the saddle I wanted, (Ideal 1350) sent a template and photos to my chosen saddler, he flocked the saddle up and I fitted it, fab job. I prefer to fit wide and use shims anyway. ;)
 
I would always use a fitter. I'm no expert. They should be. But that assumes they are a good one ofc so that's perhaps more of an issue !
 
I would prefer to have a proper saddler out than a saddle fitter. I know if the saddle fits or not but if it doesn't I need a saddler to do any alteration needed.
 
Ive fitted two myself with no issues,had a third fitted, who confirmed the first two fitted fine. The hird one was mtm so needed a saddler/fitter.
Get it wrong though and it can be costly in a few ways
 
Properly trained saddle fitter every single time.Had EXPERT non trained saddle fitter in past with disastrous consequences.One BHS pupil told me smugly that they were trained to fit saddles.You should have have seen her sitting on the cantle of her saddle!!!! Not everyone who sells saddles though is a trained fitter.
 
I use a saddler. I value the judgment and experience of someone who spends their time fitting saddles day in and day out. You do have to find an experienced and good saddler, but I am very happy with mine.

While I have a reasonable amount of experience with horses in some ways, I don't have years of experience of fitting saddles day in and day out and don't have hands on access to a range of different saddles which a saddler has.
 
The majority of the time I've done it myself. When I started riding everyone did, so it was a skill most horse owners learnt. Whenever I've had a saddler double check they've been happy, & used them for adjustments & repairs.
I've also seen so called professionals get it wrong, & know of one who is happy to mislead people to get a sale. However I am in touch at the moment with a very good one in my 6month long search for a 14/14.5" xw decent second hand one for daughters pony who is impossible to fit with anything I think is any benefit to daughters position.
 
Ill just be doing my own from now on. Going to go on a course at the end of the year. I know what to look for with saddle fit etc but will be more to make sure im checking everything and also have the quals to prove it.

Will jsut be doing my own and my stable friend's horses not going to do it for a living or nowt.
 
I would only use an independent fitter, not a shop employed one. Our local tack shop sent out their fitter to a friends horse. She managed to fit a too tight adjustable saddle and the horse reared and ran backwards the first time the owner got on! Fitter was only interested in selling. Or the fitter that fitted a lopsided horse without asking whether the horse had had its back checked, merely arranged for the flocking to be increased on one side.

Over the years I believe I have learned as much as most fitters and would second the comment about fitting slightly wider and shimming up. I have seen some truly awful fitting saddles, but have had to bite my tongue when informed that "the tack shop fitter had fitted it".
 
I've had experience of good and bad saddlers/saddle fitters (unfortunately). Now I've found one I trust and have faith in, I loathe the day she retires... mind you I feel the same about my boy's dentist as well, maybe I have attachment issues.
 
I always use a fitter. I know the basics of saddle fitting but I have a good saddle fitter with years of experience + pressure pad testing.

I've seen some awful damage done by self fitted saddles by people too ignorant to take the advice of those more knowledgeable than them.

Yes some fitters aren't great but there are good ones and if you also work with a physio you can keep a good eye on how well your saddle is fitting.
 
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