Grrrr. What happens now??? Lesson learnt!

Peanot

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If a reputable saddle maker said this to you, would you trust him with your pride & joy?
"I will make you a saddle to fit your horse, if we have to alter it a dozen times or change the panels, I'll get it to fit him, I won't just walk away. If it doesn't work, I'll take the saddle back and give you your money back"
Well I did trust this person. But now after several refits and time off, not to mention chiro/massager treatments etc, I have now got a saddle that I need to sell. It will fit someone's horse a treat, but unfortunately not mine. 😔
After about 4 re-fits, he made it quite clear that he had lost interest in the saddle by not answering texts, calls etc then telling me I'd have to wait 3-4 weeks before he could come out. He sent his apprentice out to measure up, and when I had it back it was still too narrow and pinching. So I took videos, photos, and templates, took them over to him and was told to pick it up in 1 hour, which I did and he had only widened it at the front. I had someone out to check saddle and they confirmed that it just didn't fit! It moved when I rode in it and has caused rub circles under the panels.
In the meantime my horse had turned into one of those leaping in the air then bronking Spanish horses, leading to my confidence taking a knock as I hit the deck hard.
After having enough, I asked him to take the saddle back. He did agree to this, but only willing to give me 55% of what I originally paid for it! I was hoping for a bit more than that. So I suggested that he try for one last time, and change the panels to wool flock, at my expense. I was told that he'd get back to me on Monday. Last Monday. I've heard nothing more.
So as you can imagine, I'm really down as need to sell this one, and I need to find another. I feel the last 5 months has been wasted, and I've put my horse thru pain as I trusted a 'professional'.
Any advice? He's not registered with SMS so can't do anything there.
So maybe this is just a warning to others, be careful. 😔
 

PorkChop

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Oh no, what a complete and utter pain in the bum, I feel for you.

I would push for more than 55%, I think you are being extremely fair and patient. Maybe a wee letter from your solicitor or a call to trading standards might buck his ideas up, but I know that ultimately all you want is a saddle that fits your horse :(
 

Cortez

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55%? Why not 100% + the cost of physio, etc? Is your horse Spanish? In which case I suggest to talk to someone who knows and understands these horses and their requirements - there are some brands of saddle that fit these horses better than others.
 

Tiddlypom

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Isn't he registered at all with the SMS, either as a fitter or a saddler? If not, is he a member of any other trade association that you could take your grievance to?

Does his business have a Facebook page where you can post? Other people seem to get good results doing this.

Good luck. There have been so many posts lately about poorly fitted saddles :( .
 

Peanot

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55%? Why not 100% + the cost of physio, etc? Is your horse Spanish? In which case I suggest to talk to someone who knows and understands these horses and their requirements - there are some brands of saddle that fit these horses better than others.


I feel a bit of a nuisance tbh even tho it's him who keeps getting fit wrong. My horse isn't Spanish, he started doing this leapt things like Spanish do. He's a holsteiner. Thanks for your reply
 

Peanot

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Isn't he registered at all with the SMS, either as a fitter or a saddler? If not, is he a member of any other trade association that you could take your grievance to?

Does his business have a Facebook page where you can post? Other people seem to get good results doing this.

Good luck. There have been so many posts lately about poorly fitted saddles :( .

Not registered at all. But has a good reputation for fitting bespoke specialist saddles. I read all about him beforehand and the positives outweighed the negatives but he's not done my horse any favours. Yes he has got a FB page.
Thanks for your reply
 

pip6

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I saw a registered saddler do something similar to a vey close friend. Saddle (made to measure apparently) pinched to the extent pony started falling over when walking downhill, found out it was digging in behind shoulders. Finally changed saddler, one who did job well, was honest & said that style of saddle would never fit pony, so she was left taking hefty loss selling it second hand.

Another good friend I crew for in endurance had registered saddler fit a saddle. For a year she kept calling him out as was having back issues (fortune paid in chiro fees), and every time she did an endurance ride she fell off. After some months her changed it to another style, taking 'old' one back with at 40% less than she paid for it, same problems with 'new' one. Ended up changing to new dressage saddle fitted by another saddler, stopped falling off, back issues resolved. Was left with the second saddle to sell again at huge loss.

Like all industries, are some very good saddlers, and some that just want to make a sale whatever.
 
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