How much to have a saddle made?

[Malteaser]

Has anyone eve had a saddle made from scratch? I'm thinking of having one made for my horse but was wondering how much the approximate cost would be?

 

[FfionWinnie]

Think there are saddlers who start at about 800, look at heritage on eBay. (I have no experience of them by the way).

I had one made and it was the worst decision I've ever made, I wouldn't do it again, second hand all the way. This was £1400 plus fitting down the drain really.

 

[xxcharlottexx]

I had a English leather made to measure done for 580. Local saddler came out did measurements etc and then it was made in Walsall. Saddler then came back once saddle was made to check fitting and all was ok. However that was 6 years ago ;-)

 

[soulfull]

Where abouts are you?
Be wary and make sure who ever you choose is a master saddler FITTER not just maker. I know several people who have followed recommendations and had awful problems with more than one saddler
Most decent ones are around £1500. Round here Any less and chances are person making it has never had any training to fit.

 

[Clava]

I think they are rarely actually "made to measure", certainly new saddles which fit your measurements but were already made (unless they are very particular requirements)

 

[Coldfeet!]

I had one made through the local master saddler but I wanted a Barnsby so he did all the measurements etc and Barnsby made me a hybrid saddle for my hard to fit short coupled cob and it fit like a dream cost approx £1500 plus VAT.

 

[sbloom]

Where abouts are you?
Be wary and make sure who ever you choose is a master saddler FITTER not just maker. I know several people who have followed recommendations and had awful problems with more than one saddler
Most decent ones are around £1500. Round here Any less and chances are person making it has never had any training to fit.

Obviously you do need a saddle maker to make the saddle as well as the saddle fitter, some people do both. Depending on what quality a saddle you want then I think you can get even M2M cheaper than that but £1200-1500 would buy you a really nice saddle M2M.

I think they are rarely actually "made to measure", certainly new saddles which fit your measurements but were already made (unless they are very particular requirements)

I am wondering why you feel you need M2M, it's not always more successful than finding the right fitter and the right brand from stock, I fit almost always from stock but make the odd semi custom saddle, often something like combining a different tree and flap or increasing the height of the rear gusset for a particular horse. Any bench made English saddle can be ordered with customised bits and pieces.

Buying from stock means you are protectd by distance trading regulations giving you a satutory 7 day trial, you may pay for the saddle up front but you can get a refund for any reason at the end of the trial, with deductions for costs and wear and tear.

 

[Marydoll]

Ive had 2 mtm, from scratch, since i was buying 2 i struck a deal with the saddler who then fitted from a selection if different trees and i chose all leathers, finishes and trims, my jumping saddle changed how my horse was able to use herself by really freeing her shoulders up, and my dressage saddle was a dream. I went out to the workshop and saw my saddles put together, and the finished product was fitted and flocking tweaked at stables. Both myself and my horses love our saddles by Andy Sankey

 

[Magicmillbrook]

I think mine was made to order rather than made from scratch. It is an Ideal VSD with a hoop tree, they start at 16" but made me a 15" to order. It was £1200 including the original call out, the first fitting and the first adjustment, of which we have had many!