Having a saddle made especially for my horse + small update

Sirreal

Sirreal

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Some of you may remember I posted last month about my mare who naps quite badly. I'd had her saddle checked and I was told it was fine. So it was a bit of a nasty shock when I booked a lesson on her, and was told it was a very bad fit! I obviously feel terrible about continuing to ride her in this saddle, so she's had the last few weeks off while I've looked for one.

Saddle fitter came yesterday and to cut a long story short, nothing fits her! She has shoulder blades that are set quite far back apparently - the saddle pinching her here is what could have been causing her to nap.

So anyway, what I'd really like is to get a saddle made especially for her. I'd like a close contact one ideally. Can anyone recommend someone who could do this? I'm in Shropshire.

Thanks in advance :)
 
Here's a completely unrelated picture of her because I don't think I've posted one yet! Her name is Lily and she is 6.


image_zps4177b0ce.jpg
 
There is a lovely chap called Rob Deavall who has the The English Riding Saddle company based out of Ironbridge. There is a web site you can look up and it will give you some ideas of his work, I have only heard good things from people with his saddles.
Just to add he has nothing to do with me but I am hoping to get one of his saddles as soon as I can afford it.
 
i was told a few months ago by a saddle fitter...
if a saddle fitter says there is nothing to fit your horse it is because they do not have a wide enough range of the different saddle brands and types... he basically told me to not use the saddle fitter i had been using and find another who would find a saddle to fit, he rest assured me that there is a saddle out there for every horse it is just finding it thats the problem. so keep searching and phoning different fitters :)
 
I generally recommend against buying a M2M saddle - if you can find someone who has saddles more likely to fit your shape of horse then you can buy from stock, and you are protected by Distance Selling rules which means you have a legal 7 day trial.

In four years I have only had made one truly M2M saddle, and a few that have had minor tweaks to a standard design.
 
I had the opposite. When it came to fitting my ID x TB gelding a couple of years ago, my saddler, Ellie Martin advised me that her saddles would not fit him properly (M2M) due to the tree shape. She told me an Albion K2 would and sorted that out for me. The tree in the K2 is a lot further back that the flaps would make you believe and it meant my horses shoulder was not impeded at all. I still hanker after another one of Ellies M2M and will be saving for a new jump saddle later this year! (new horse)
 
depending on how far back her shoulders are Prestige D1 dressage saddle is very expensive but is designed for that sort of shape otherwise you could try Black Country as they do made to measure or possibly a WOW with a curved girth
 
Where in Shropshire? I am indulging in a Schleese saddle (look them up on Youtube, there are videos of how they fit both horse and rider) but they are expensive. I am hoping to have on of their new VSD saddles, Laura came and did the consultation several weeks ago, and has told me they will probably have a prototype for me to trial in January. If you aren't too far away (and have a FAIRLY large budget lol) you are welcome to come and see her fitting it sometime in January.
I have 2 friends who have bought saddles made for them by Schleese and they state their horses have never gone so well. My horse is difficult to fit - wide barrel and big shoulders, so most saddles impede his shoulder movement. Message me if you want to come and see how it works - NE of the county.
 
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