HELP!! Saddle Trouble and reccomendations of where to sell one! Please Read!!!

J

Javabb94

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 November 2010
Messages
2,611
Location
Up north
Visit site
Right so here we go,

yesterday i went to ride Java, and normally he will follow me round but once he saw his tack he wouldnt be caught! This is totally out of character and I knew then something was wrong..

eventually managed to catch him with feed as a bribe and I got on,

he was very slow which again isnt like him and wouldnt go off my leg, I eventually warmed up set up some jumps and he just wasnt himself i went to a jump and when i landed he span round and threw me off and ran bucking to mum,

this is not like him at all, he is the sweetest horse ever normally and never bucked any one off in his life.

Got the vet out and she went to touch his saddle area and shoulders and he just would not let her touch him, he was sooo nervous of her and very tensed up and she said it is most likely to be his saddle.

I feel awful that I have ridden him in something thats uncomfortable for him but my saddler fitted it and i feel embarrassed going back and saying it doesnt fit,

I have another very reputable saddle fitter coming out next week to fit a saddle and see if it is that causing the problem but I am stuck with my saddle which he cant px as he only deals in jeffries

So I now need somewhere to advertise mine...

Its a 2010 Pessoa Legacy XP3 17.5" in Havana
its rrp is £1650 and my mum and I cannot afford to lose so much money especially as we have just bought a new Ifor and I dont want to go back to my saddle fitter as she has always been so good to us, but if we take it back, she will probabaly fit another but I would rather get someone else to fit it!

Sorry for the long post but really really stuck with what to do !
 
Last edited:
It may not be the saddlers fault that the saddle doesn't fit. the horse may have changed shape or may have a problem elsewhere and be compensating causing tension in his back. How long have you had the saddle?
 
Saddles seem to make quite good money on Horsequest, especially the well known makes. I have bought from there but not sold.

Good luck getting your boy sorted out.
 
had the saddle since late october 2010

i just have some doubt in my mind as im not an expert on how to fit a saddle, but she put the saddle on his back and said it fits,

and normally i would expect them to measure up, watch me ride, how the horse moves.

He doesnt have any other problems, had vet out and she said he isnt lame, not got any sign of back problems, plus when he had his hips + poll done by the back man he fell asleep lol but he just tensed up and wouldnt let anyone touch him
 
Last edited:
appylass said:
Saddles seem to make quite good money on Horsequest, especially the well known makes. I have bought from there but not sold.

Good luck getting your boy sorted out.
Click to expand...

thanks i hadnt thought of there!!

I really hope i get him sorted, i feel awful if i have been putting him in pain but I wasnt to know :(
 
they are my local tack shop and i have known the saddle fitter since i was 8 (now 17) and she has fitted saddles before to our ponies/horses but I feel that the whole fitting process wasnt enough to establish what saddle he would need.
 
Your saddler that came out should have taken a template of your horses back at the time of fitting.

Also very surprised that the saddler did not see you on the horse in the saddle.

I would ask the saddler back and to recheck everything.

As you say the saddle was fitted in oct 2010 and you don't want to lose too much money so asking the saddler would be the best start.

Good luck
 
personally i think you should get an opinion from a master saddler, on the master saddler list. its so hard though as most want you to buy a saddle so will always have that at the back of their minds. if it hasn't fitted that well you'll prob need a physio or back person to take a look at him as well to ensure their is no damage. on the other hand if you've had no reaction before, it could be something else. difficult one, but start with the saddle!
 
also agree you should give the original saddler a chance to come out and check it first. i had my new saddle in Sep 10 and had the saddler back this morning and he had gone up two widths!!! (he's had a lazy winter so fat!!)
 
thanks for all the replies,

spoken to a few people who say that it may have been hurting for a while but has come to the point where it really hurts him and that is why it hasnt come up before,

When saddler originally came out I was told he couldnt have a jumping saddle as he has big shoulders and it would restrict movement and hurt him, so I got a GFS Pro VSD, but I just couldnt get away with it, i have very long legs and I didnt fit on it, and the seat was too deep for me to jump in, so She came and fitted some more which were all jumping saddles but I remember she said he couldnt have a jumping one which confused me
 
Don't panic :)

Ask the saddler to come out and check, even if the fit of the saddle is no longer good because your horse has changed shape it may well be able to be adjusted by the saddler. If it turns out that he does need a new saddle, then call some other saddlers and see if they will sell it for you - my saddler will not always buy a saddle, but she will take it in the van and see if someone wants to buy it from you if it is something saleable.

Another thing you might like to consider is getting a physio to come and look at Java - my horse behaved very similarly to yours and the saddler (Master Saddler, very good reputation) tried various things, including different saddles, and said she didn't believe the saddle was the problem and recommended a physio. The physio came out, examined my horse and said that the farrier had let his feet get into a terrible state, despite being seen regularly. They were very long in the toe and the heels were getting underrun and the effect this had on his posture was to make him bring his hind legs under himself and put a corresponding strain on his back, which made it very sore. He's had a bit of time off, but has been back in work for 6 weeks now with his 'new feet' and the back problems have vanished. He is also moving better and using himself more.

Saddles can cause problems, but there are other possible causes. A good physio will also be able to look at saddle fit and work with your saddler if that is the issue; conversely he or she will be able to advise you if the problem lies elsewhere. :)

ETA - I am not saying your horse has a problem with his feet, just giving an example of something seemingly non-back related that can cause a sore back :)
 
thanks,

i understand what you are saying,

we had the vet and she couldnt find anything physically wrong with him apart from the points where the saddle sits are very sore,

i did note a few weeks back tht the saddle was slipping a little bit, he hasnt changed shape much and the vet said he is in perfect condition, another reason we think it may be his saddle is becuse...

normally when someone comes out ie farrier,vet he doesnt mine infact he falls asleep and last week nearly fell over as he fell asleep getting his feet done! but he started snorting at the vet and spinning in circles whenever she put her hand towards as to touch his sore points, when the back man came out in october he didnt mind either but his baehaviour yesterday was extremely unusual
 
aaargh any other suggestions of where to sell it?

i only have two local tack shops within 25 miles


just need a website to put it on, My mum is worried about putting it on ebay but its the best place I can think of
 
Kirsty+Java said:
aaargh any other suggestions of where to sell it?

i only have two local tack shops within 25 miles


just need a website to put it on, My mum is worried about putting it on ebay but its the best place I can think of
Click to expand...

Where are these tack shops?!

I only know of one in Frizzington and I've never seen a saddle as expensive as yours in it.

I would try preloved, equineadverts... what about ebay? Just set a reserve.
 
Both are in Cumbria,

I think she is worried about people buying then not paying etc more than anything and dodgy buyers

I have looked at Horsequest and its £11 for 5 weeks online which isnt too bad

Im getting a saddler who I know is very reputable out next weekend hopefully and he only stocks jeffries im gutted as i love my pessoa I have only had it since Late November (i did say october earlier but i remember was fitted in the snow) and its soo comfortable but I would not put Java in pain from it
 
Sorry you are having all this hassle - saddle fitting is a real nightmare.

Just wanted to edit and quickly add that I bought an Amerigo saddle for my 3 year old as they can be adjusted as the horse changes shape, and have different tress for different back types. This was for dressage though. Sold the Amerigo privately to a friend very quickly and lost almost nothing on it - so maybe consider a saddler that either has many different types (including quality ones that can be adjusted) or try a few very specialist brands. It takes time but it is worth it.

When I left the UK I put my cheaper ones on e-bay. Hadn't used either of the saddles much (one was a WOW and one a wintec) - had lots of interest and got a good price for both. BUT Be careful with e-bay. I never used it much before and had to fight really hard to get my money from them. If it wasn't for the fact I am a lawyer and involved the FSA I think they would still be 'investigateing' the large amount of money (ie a few thousand pounds for 2 saddles, tack etc) that came into my account
 
Last edited:
HollyCatt - yes thats the trouble with ebay, plus there huuuge over priced charges!!!

I have been told its worth about 900-950 and i need all that to buy a new jeffries and ebay will take it down to atleast 850
 
Tricky as really you should be dealing with the person who sold the saddle to you in the first place. There may be something that can be done.

I sell mine through a tack shop/riding school/livery yard. They have a wide client base and I have always sold them easily. They do take a big commission but the saddle is sold and money is in my pocket. If the purchaser has a problem at a later date then the buck stops with them, not me. That is why I pay them the commission tbh. They have the hassle of selling it but they also have the people coming in and out to look.

I would not sell through ebay. Even with paypal it is now too insecure since they stopped feedback on buyers and there are too many scammers.

If I sold through the paper I would sell from a house as opposed to the yard as it is an open invitation to tack thieves to check out the tack room if you sell from the yard.
 
reason why i dont really want to go back to original saddler is because i wasnt happy with the way it was fitted and would like a second opinion off another saddler just to check it is the saddle first although sounds like it is

i have known saddler for years and she has always always been fab to us, but in the interests of Java would like a second opinion plus, she originally fitted us a different saddle but i didnt fit in it and if i go back this would be the third saddle for the same horse in 3 months and the 8 saddle to try!

im veering away from ebay now !
 
Kirsty+Java said:
thanks,

i understand what you are saying,

we had the vet and she couldnt find anything physically wrong with him apart from the points where the saddle sits are very sore,

i did note a few weeks back tht the saddle was slipping a little bit, he hasnt changed shape much and the vet said he is in perfect condition, another reason we think it may be his saddle is becuse...

normally when someone comes out ie farrier,vet he doesnt mine infact he falls asleep and last week nearly fell over as he fell asleep getting his feet done! but he started snorting at the vet and spinning in circles whenever she put her hand towards as to touch his sore points, when the back man came out in october he didnt mind either but his baehaviour yesterday was extremely unusual
Click to expand...

This is exactly what mine was like, was really worried about him at the time because it was so out of character and he was so sore :(

Really recommend having a physio look at him before you write off your saddle - my vet will freely admit that vets are not much good with soft tissue problems.
 
Kay Hastilow is up there somewhere! She is in Scotland but may travel down to your area. If there is any chance of getting her to come out, that is who I would use to fit a saddle. She was very good and fair when she was down here.
 
You could try http://www.saddlesdirect.co.uk/. Ebay isnt too bad for saddles. Also put adds up in the tack shops and say that they could try before they buy, makes people feel a little better, you could either be paid in full first or you take the saddle to they to try.

Make sure the new person that is coming out is a master saddler, all qualified people are registered on here http://www.mastersaddlers.co.uk/. Maybe also ask on here about that saddler, are they any good or not.

Stress the the person that is coming out that you are on a very tight budget, oftern the heads on the trees can be changed and as long at the flocking is wool the saddle can be completely re stuffed so change the shape. I had the head of my Devoucoux changed and it cost 200 pounds, much cheaper than a new saddle!

If the saddler does sell you a new saddle from experience I would only ever buy a new saddle that had wool flocking, it is much to make slight adjustments too.

I would also say that you will be able to get more money for your saddle selling privately than selling to the saddler, so if you can temporarly afford to fork out on a new one it would be better in the long run.
 
Have you thought have having a complete reflock and balance or having Flair put in it so you can adjust the fit yourself. I had a Flair numnah which we used until a youngster had evened up because we found that every saddle slipped in to his hollow.
I would give him a rest not be in a hurry to get a saddle on him, sell your saddle and then get a second hand one you can try for a least a week.
 
Vets put him on painkillers and I'm not to ride him for a week

Different saddler coming out next week with Jeffries saddles as we think it's the fact it's so forward cut and he has large shoulders that's the problem rather than the flocking
He seemed his normal self today pain killers must be working!! I had never seen a horse snort so much at a vet yesterday !!
 
Agree with Honeypot.

If he's that sore, you can't go and buy another saddle straight away as his back will still be painful

I'd still get the original saddler back to look at the current saddle (once the horse has been rested) - ring them now and book it in for a few weeks' time. It may be that it just needs some altering/deflocking which could cost not a lot, and save all the hassle and extra money of buying another. Worth a try to begin with.
 
Was the saddle flocked up on site at the time of sale?

ALL flocked saddles will go flat after a certain amount of use and when the saddle is new there's still alot of air in the flock that will come out, leaving it flat.
It is customary (or used to be when I first trained to fit and flock saddles 23 years ago but how times have changed!) to fit the saddle free of charge, flock up the saddle to fit the horse at the time of sale (also free) and then offer a further free flock up say a few months or whatever down the line.
It may just need flocking up or adjusting?
I suggest you give the person fitting it a chance to resolve the problem first?
Oz :)
 
Saddle wasn't flocked at time of sale

Vet said it could be interupting with his scapula movement as he was sore at the back of his shoulders like the saddle has been pinching him

And madhossy---- he is to be rested for a week then I'm getting a fitter out who I know is very very good also recommended by the vet that came out and he is going to check the fit/flocking and see whether he needs a new one
 
madhossy said:
Agree with Honeypot.

If he's that sore, you can't go and buy another saddle straight away as his back will still be painful

I'd still get the original saddler back to look at the current saddle (once the horse has been rested) - ring them now and book it in for a few weeks' time. It may be that it just needs some altering/deflocking which could cost not a lot, and save all the hassle and extra money of buying another. Worth a try to begin with.
Click to expand...

vet said was ok to get saddler out next weekend to him,

i rang his old owner today to see where she got his saddle and for the number as when i bought him we didnt buy the saddle she sold it back to the shop so we rang her and said we were planning on buying his old saddle back, turns out it fits her arab mare and she bought it back yesterday!! such a shame!!!

apparently because of his shape he needs extrawide/extraextra wide even though he is narrow
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top