Gah! Saddles and saddle fitters!!

C

custardcream

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So my horse has a made-to-measure Ideal International Event VSD. Just over a year old, fitted by a very well-known saddler. When it was checked 4 months after being first fitted (as saddler could not come any earlier) it was thought to be too narrow and pinching. Was taken out 1/2 a fitting and some flocking was altered. We then got on fine although it still moved a bit. Horse had some time off recently so dropped a little muscle (although not much), saddle is moving a lot now and had another saddler (as I had moved quite a long way from original saddler in the intervening time) to check it today. I have now been told it is too wide and I will need a new saddle!
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The reason I went down the made-to-measure route is so that I wouldn't have to change saddles as the original fitter assured me that even if she changed shape we could alter the flocking to accommodate this. When the saddle was widened I was told that they could only take the tree out in width and not in and that the only other alternative was a new tree (cost £200). She has not dropped off massively and the saddle is not sitting on her withers, but it is rising at the back. She is back in work now and I hope to get her muscled up to her previous shape (when the saddle was altered).

So I have some choices:

1) Use a front riser until she is muscled up
2) Get original saddler out (at £60 callout + petrol) and try and get them to adjust it as current saddler to quote 'is not prepared to touch it'
3) Cut my losses and get a new saddle
4) Cut my losses and get a new horse......
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Any advice appreciated!
 
As far as I know, Ideal can take saddles in as well as out. I have sent saddles to them to be done both ways with no problems.

However, if you really think she will go back to her previous (wider) shape, it may be worth using the riser for a short time.
 
My saddler warned me against adjusting Ideal saddle trees. It can be done (and mine has been widened
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) but she suggested very strongly not to get it narrowed. She said they do it by clamping the saddle in a vice and basically adjusting it manually. She said this can lead to one side being brought in more than the other so you saddle ends up wonky. It also stresses the bolts in the tree frame and can lead to them fracturing.
My boy has lost weight and it was suggested to use a front riser pad until he fills out a bit more again. Hope this is helpful.
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Thanks for your replies. I think I will go down the riser first and see how we get on.

Wormhugs - thanks for this info, I am reluctant to have the tree altered any more as I know that it is not really meant to be an adjustable saddle and the tree may be weakened. Your comments are really helpful as I think our situation is the same. Off to get a front riser now!
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Glad to be of assistance
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The front riser I got seems to have done the trick, my boy is no longer cross when the saddle goes on. I got the saddle fitter out to check that everything was ok with the pad on, ie that the saddle was sitting well and not tipping me forward/back and that it fitted my ned ok. All passed with flying colours! Shouldnt need it anymore when he puts on a bit of beef
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Good luck with yours!
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