Eeek! Sounds daft but im scared of ringing the saddle fitter!!

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hannabanana

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Okay so all my horsey life I was on a yard when no one got a saddle fitter out, they just chucked any old thing on apart from the YO but I thought that was because his horse had a 'special back'. So I thought this was fine putting any old saddle on as long as it didnt slip, and since having horses I have never got a saddler out. But as the small yard became bigger with more liveries, who get saddle fitters out I then found out that every horse should be checked every year to see if the saddle fitted. More horses were getting sore backs etc. (I feel really silly considering im 17 and not realising this!).

I dont feel like my saddle fits right, its a wintec, it may just be I need a different gullet, but I will wait and see, It sits to close to withers (I use prolite pad to lift it off a bit because he has high withers), its a little too wide, horse grunts when going down hill, and it feels like I am sitting lopsided, like the right side is higher than the left (I do need new stirrups though!). So I think its time I started getting a saddler!
I know who I want to get, I have been recommended him. I just need to call him!, Im pretty scared though (silly as it sounds..I am such a numpty!)! I am prepared to have to maybe whack out £400 for a saddle (part of it payed by parents :P, hate sponging!). But theres the thought of what happens if its fitted wrong and then I have to pay more for another saddler too come out etc! Not looking forward to that sort of shananagins. I have heard stories of people having to get numerous saddlers out! :(. Then there is how do I go about booking on the phone?? What should I expect and what do I say? I cant just say 'hi I need you!' I would sound desperate!:p. Plus I heard they have to come out 6 weeks later? Is this extra cost or what??

Help!! sorry for the longness!
 
Tbh in my experience with my wintec they really do not fit high withers!! Mine has had the gullet changed and reflocked as it was slipping to the left, it helped for about a week but was still not very generous over the wither area :( ... If its to wide the back of the saddle will move around quite a bit and create rub marks (well thats what happened with mine years ago) if that helps. So yea im saving for a new saddle woohoo :p ... im also like you, i hate ringing people :o lol but it has to be done :D
 
it sounds like you definately need a saddle fitter! Just phone and say you would like the saddle checked by the saddler, explain that the saddle is low on the wither and they will probably ask what saddle you are using and what height, shape and type of horse it is and what activities the horse is used for.

To me it sounds like you will need a different saddle, but most saddlers sell good quality second hand saddles, and all being well they should have one to suit. And as it's second hand you should be able to get one for around £400-500.

hope you get on alright, let us know.
 
NicoleS_007 said:
Tbh in my experience with my wintec they really do not fit high withers!! Mine has had the gullet changed and reflocked as it was slipping to the left, it helped for about a week but was still not very generous over the wither area :( ... If its to wide the back of the saddle will move around quite a bit and create rub marks (well thats what happened with mine years ago) if that helps. So yea im saving for a new saddle woohoo :p ... im also like you, i hate ringing people :o lol but it has to be done :D
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Ah poo! Well mine has the Cair system so I dont think it can be reflocked. Well when I take the saddle off he does have the sweat patch but the hair does look a little ruffled. Yes I have been saving, and Im hoping to part ex my old jumping saddle, sell the wintec and asked to borrow from parents...That is if a new saddle is required..which is likely.
 
hannabanana said:
Ah poo! Well mine has the Cair system so I dont think it can be reflocked. Well when I take the saddle off he does have the sweat patch but the hair does look a little ruffled. Yes I have been saving, and Im hoping to part ex my old jumping saddle, sell the wintec and asked to borrow from parents...That is if a new saddle is required..which is likely.
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Mine is cair so i thought it couldnt be flocked but apparently it can, mine is lol but still crappy
 
Cair can still be reflocked, my saddler explained to me that the air pockets are too firm in he Cair, and sit rounded on the horses back and not flat - he showed this to me and it mad sense, and now I don't have a Wintec.
 
Is their any advantage to the cair system? haha. I bought one thinking that it was a wonder saddle, but tbh its nothing special, the only thing thats good about it is it doesnt get knackered in rain, so I can ride in a drizzle. It doesnt really bother me, but I was slightly dissapointed despite others saying its wonderful. I think its one of those saddles thats good if you have a business of having a load of horses short term or if you break younguns' in, because the gullet can be changed to sort of fit horse.
 
i at the time thought the cair was a better option to flock but i think the panels are actually harder than a flocked one! But yes deffo good for riding in rain haha i got drenched in heavy rain today whilst riding :p was fun though!! They seen to fit cobby horses well though
 
I'm from near Newcastle, which saddle fitter are you intending to use?

You can have the Cair taken out and the saddle flocked. I have had it done for my Bates dressage saddle.
 
beatrice said:
I'm from near Newcastle, which saddle fitter are you intending to use?

You can have the Cair taken out and the saddle flocked. I have had it done for my Bates dressage saddle.
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Hugh graham. A few people I have talked to said hes good and he does part ex which I would prefer....(He already knows I plan to ring :eek:, news travels fast!) I looked at Andy Wheals (think it is), A lady at the yard im at had him, he was good the first time, but then her horses began gettin really uncomfortable (they had put weight on), despite him saying they were fine, they were apparently too narrow by another 2 saddlers.

I dont plan to call yet until Im back off short holiday at the end of next week.
 
Don't feel silly or embarassed! Just do as I do and phone and say 'help! I think I need you!' Saddlers are quite used to this! If he is any good he will be sympathetic and explain to you exactly why your saddle does/doesn't fit!
 
Good luck, I had been without a saddle for the past month my saddle didn't fit and was hurting his back, tried phoning a few different people to come out but unless i was going to buy a brand new saddle i had to go to them! This wasn't an option as i have no transport and Buzz is a horror to load. I ended up going to tack shop with old saddle, metal caot hanger molded into his shape and buying one that looked as though it would fit!
Thanksfully the one i got does fit as confirmed by back lady yesterday woo hoo but what a carry on was gutted that no one would come out to me :(
 
I haven't heard of Hugh and having looking on the sms website i cant find him on there which would suggest he is not qualified.

I use Andy and have done for a number of years now and can highly recommend him. He really is very very good at his job. He is a saddle fitter and master saddler so if your saddle needs adjustments he can do them onsite and fit it exactly to your horse.

As far as i am aware there are only 3 sms qualified saddle fitters that cover ther area. There are plenty of master saddlers but seemingly they aren't qualified fitters.
 
Please don't be scared to ring a saddler - we don't bite :D
But please do it sooner rather than later, you could be doing untold damage to your horses back, which is going to give you a heap of trouble and cost a hell of alot more to put right. Go with a saddler that has been recommended to you and if possible have someone else with you that is knowledgeable, this way you won't find it such a scarey experience. Personally wouldn't touch Wintecs with a barge pole, they never seem to fit properly. The reason a saddler will want to come out in about 6 weeks time (well a good one will) is because chances are you could be riding alot more in new saddle so horse will muscle up and change shape, saddle will start to 'mould' with your horse and may need a slight amount of flocking put in it to even up any uneven areas, most riders sit heavier to one side than another (everso slightly) so this will slightly change how the saddle is fitting/sitting. Its a bit like when you by a new pair of shoes, they change shape over time.
Have tried to explain without getting to technical, hope this helps.
 
charmeroo said:
Don't feel silly or embarassed! Just do as I do and phone and say 'help! I think I need you!' Saddlers are quite used to this! If he is any good he will be sympathetic and explain to you exactly why your saddle does/doesn't fit!
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Good Idea! put on the damsel in distress voice! I hate sounding like a plonker on the phone. You feel like such an idiot.

Buzz1 said:
Good luck, I had been without a saddle for the past month my saddle didn't fit and was hurting his back, tried phoning a few different people to come out but unless i was going to buy a brand new saddle i had to go to them! This wasn't an option as i have no transport and Buzz is a horror to load. I ended up going to tack shop with old saddle, metal caot hanger molded into his shape and buying one that looked as though it would fit!
Thanksfully the one i got does fit as confirmed by back lady yesterday woo hoo but what a carry on was gutted that no one would come out to me :(
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God Buzz, you poor thing!! At least the saddle you have now fits, saddles must be the most complicated thing on the planet!! Someone should invent a 'grow your own saddle'...pour the seeds on the horses back and ta da!! Perfect fitted saddle:rolleyes:

beatrice said:
I haven't heard of Hugh and having looking on the sms website i cant find him on there which would suggest he is not qualified.

I use Andy and have done for a number of years now and can highly recommend him. He really is very very good at his job. He is a saddle fitter and master saddler so if your saddle needs adjustments he can do them onsite and fit it exactly to your horse.

As far as i am aware there are only 3 sms qualified saddle fitters that cover ther area. There are plenty of master saddlers but seemingly they aren't qualified fitters.
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Hes pretty local to me, he is at the tack shop not far from me, he has repaired my old jumping saddle before, did a good job, but like I said hasnt fitted a saddle for me. Just lots of people recommending him, and have said that hes qualified. I have noticed doing tinternet research that Andy is quite popular by the looks of things :P. I have been told to stay clear of some fitters, I dont want to name and shame on here incase it isnt aloud or I have gotten it totally wrong :P.
 
Show Girl said:
Please don't be scared to ring a saddler - we don't bite :D
But please do it sooner rather than later, you could be doing untold damage to your horses back, which is going to give you a heap of trouble and cost a hell of alot more to put right. Go with a saddler that has been recommended to you and if possible have someone else with you that is knowledgeable, this way you won't find it such a scarey experience. Personally wouldn't touch Wintecs with a barge pole, they never seem to fit properly. The reason a saddler will want to come out in about 6 weeks time (well a good one will) is because chances are you could be riding alot more in new saddle so horse will muscle up and change shape, saddle will start to 'mould' with your horse and may need a slight amount of flocking put in it to even up any uneven areas, most riders sit heavier to one side than another (everso slightly) so this will slightly change how the saddle is fitting/sitting. Its a bit like when you by a new pair of shoes, they change shape over time.
Have tried to explain without getting to technical, hope this helps.
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that was a lovely explanation!! :D, I understand now. Well I am currently riding in this saddle (even though Im super paranoid) to keep him fit, I am riding in pro lite pads and thick saddle pads and trying not to do lots of work in it, there doesnt seem to be any immediate problems, but like you said it could be untold problems. I bought the wintec thinking it would be fabulous and it was synthetic; Im veggie so was trying to be eco/animal friendly, but, I do have to think about the LIVE animals welfare, and if its a leather saddle that fits then so be it.
 
hannabanana said:
that was a lovely explanation!! :D, I understand now. Well I am currently riding in this saddle (even though Im super paranoid) to keep him fit, I am riding in pro lite pads and thick saddle pads and trying not to do lots of work in it, there doesnt seem to be any immediate problems, but like you said it could be untold problems. I bought the wintec thinking it would be fabulous and it was synthetic; Im veggie so was trying to be eco/animal friendly, but, I do have to think about the LIVE animals welfare, and if its a leather saddle that fits then so be it.
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Glad to be of some help :D
It does sound that if you are having to put alot of 'padding' under your saddle it isn't really fitting to well. I would personally also look at getting your horse back checked out to, is there anyone who goes to your yard regularly? Its not just the back that can have damage by an ill fitting saddle, damage can occur in the neck, shoulders etc through tensing and trying to relieve any discomfort else where. To give you an example I have an old serious neck injury, if it starts to give me grief my left shoulder and arm will lock up, I get pins and needles in my hand, migraines and sometimes chestpains, I thought I had heart problems but it all stems from my neck when I feel discomfort there I tense up else where to try and relieve original pain. Same applies to a horse and they have the added bonus of us sitting on them !
I can quite understand the synthetic saddle being veggie, but I'm glad you are thinking of the horse. Make sure that you are also comfortable in the saddle, if you are not then believe me your riding will change, don't be afraid to tell saddler you views and thoughts, if necessary write any questions you have down, that way if you are feeling a bit flustered you can just read questions out :D
Good luck xxx
 
Thanks a bunch showgirl! Lots of useful tips! There isnt a back person who comes to the yard regulary, but one of the liveries gets back person out often as one of hers has back problems, I can always ask for numbers from her. I just feel terrible for leaving it this long. I didnt really realise what could be happening until I seen the problems one livery was having (same one with horse with back problems). Which really sucked considering she got the saddler and back person out often. Then my friend has had problems with her 5yo ISH, which shes had for a year. He went lame, she was the 'ignorant is bliss' type, she had an unreg farrier (even though I advised not too) who knackered his hooves. She then had a nerve specialist out who says horse has trapped nerves along shoulder and back (he flinched when grooming). So im guessing as well as **** hooves, she may be having ill fitting saddle problems (shes never got the saddler out before). Just goes to show there is no 'easy' option and best to get a professional.
 
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