Glad i got saddle checked

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Kelly1982

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My horse had her saddle checked 6 months ago but recently i noticed it was sitting quite close to her withers and she was going a bit bald underneath the back of the saddle.

A few people on here told me it was nothing to worry about as that happens quite a lot this time of year due to moulting coats etc which the saddler confirmed but i called him out to be on the safe side anyway.

Well . . . .in 6 months she has gone down TWO gullet sizes and the saddler said he was shocked she hasn't had me off as the saddle was moving so much!!!! He adjusted it and it immediatly felt so much better and i didn't realise how much i had been tipping forward.

Anyway so pleased i went with my gut instinct, it just goes to show how much horses change shape and what a close eye you have to keep on these things.
 
Isn't it just? You never really think how much they alter as you see them daily.

Good for you for trusting your instincts.
 
Good job you had it checked then. It is a really good idea to get saddle checked at least once a year. I had saddle fitted 2 years ago and it fit lovely. But then having a different trainer changed her shape as we were working better. I had another saddle fitted about 6 months ago, just about ready to have it checked.
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She is only 4yo so i knew she would change shape so thats another reason i didn't wanna leave it for a year but didn't think she would change that much and even the saddler was shocked!!
 
I had mine re-stuffed last week and it has made such a difference. I'm now a believer that if you have it checked and altered regularly then the chances of having to buy a new saddle will be greatly reduced.
 
Yes my saddler was saying once you find a tree that suits, as long as you get it regularly flocked, it will fit for life. He says Bates are no more adjustable and the gullet makes up for the lack of scope for adjustment in the cair. Relieving to hear when have a 5 yr old, but he has assured me I will have no probs with my saddles not fitting my boy as he grows because the trees will always be correct for his shape, its just the flocking may have to be adjusted to support the muscles. So the more modern "overstuffed" saddles are actually a blessing for buying a saddle as an "investment" for one particular horse.

He also won't sell a second hand saddle without fully reflocking it, as otherwise you "inherit" previous horses muscle faults.....
 
That makes so much sense and is one of the reasons I am wary of buying 2nd hand saddles. No horse is exactly the same on either side of the withers and a saddle moulds to their shape. Therefore when you put it on another horse the fit is all wrong. It would be like you wearing someone elses shoes!
 
Exactly, ebay is great, but only if you have a fantastic saddler behind you!! I have just brought a second hand saddle, but for G it is like a new one as it was COMPLETELY restuffed. So i get the price and broken in leather benefit, and G gets a beautifully fitting saddle
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