Does anyone else struggle to find a good saddle fitter?

[alfirules]

Hi,

I am convinced Marco's saddle doesn't fit well as it feels tight on his back and is low on his withers and always slips back.

He has had the saddler that sold me the saddle out to check it and he reckons it still fits well.

I have had another saddle fitter sell me another saddle previously, which at the time she led me to believe it was a perfect fit, and as i wasn't very knowledgeable about fitting saddles, i trusted her qualifications and professionalism. My horse started to get a sore back with white patches and he hated me tacking him up, she checked it again and assured me it still fitted.
I was then told by others such as back person and qualified instructor that the saddle fitted very badly!

So, i don't know who to trust now.

They are all registered with the society of master saddlers, so you would think they were good!

Maybe its cos i can only afford a second hand saddle and they just sell what they have as the closest fit?

Anyone recommend a good saddler that will travel to gloucestershire?

 

[miss_c]

Whereabouts in Gloucestershire are you? I use a saddler who I find to be absolutely fantastic, and he has a great reputation as far as I am aware.

 

[dwi]

We've had lots of saddle fitters on our yard, they all tell you that the last saddler sold you one that didn't fit. Not sure I trust any of them completely, seems like they just want to sell you one of their saddles, never mind whether they have one in their van that is suitable.

 

[Donkeymad]

I'm lucky, as I really do have the most fantastic saddle fitter. He will not fob you off with whatever he has. If he doesn't have something that fits, he will say so. To date, after many years and working in a tack shop, I have never heard anything bad about him. Rare person I think

 

[qwertyuiop]

I have been very lucky, but my friend has had a nightmare. Her 1st fitter was "traditional" - i.e. make the saddle fit the horse, even if that meant reflocking every 6 weeks. The 2nd saddler has sold her a pad with adjustable blocks in it so that minor fit changes can be made instantly.

 

[MrsMozart]

I've had three or four (I've lost track) and none of them were any good

, but now I have Bridlepath International (try them, they might come out your way

). They are brill!

. They carry new and second hand saddles, bring out a selection to try, spend loads of time checking fit and watching one ride in the saddles, answer all my (numpty!) questions, have a sense of humour, and don't charge the earth

. They could have sold me yet another expensive saddle, but didn't - just sold me the saddle that fitted my horse and me and was suited to her being young and still growing and muscling up

My previous back person recommended them, and I've recommended to others

.

Sorry, going on! But, like you I tried Master Saddlers - kept saying saddle fitted, horse kept turning her bum on me when she saw it

Changed saddle and horse stopped trying to hide when she saw it coming

. That saddle wasn't great for me though

. BI sold me a saddle that cost quarter of the price and which fitted horse and me.

Right, will stop woffling and go to bed

.

 

[VictoriaEDT]

Im v lucky, I have a great one! Nathaniel Underwood

 

[rocketdog69]

Hi, I live in South Wiltshire. One of my bestest buddies is a Master Saddler but she doesnt sell any make/brand/style of saddles at all but she can make them and any other item of tack from scratch. I always think that if you find someone like like they are most likely to be honest and truthful and not just out to make themselves money by flogging you a saddle that doesnt fit!

 

[alfie1995]

I have always had my saddles fitted by Master Saddler Maurice Emtage (a former President of the Society of Master Saddlers) at Colne Saddlery just outside Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. He has new, and a wide variety of second hand ones, Im not sure wherre in Gloucestershire you are, but he does travel and may be worth contacting?