I give up with saddle fitters

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amzy

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My horse was always a bit nappy when hacking alone but over the last few months he has improved enormously with me being more confident and determined and not afraid of using the stick when need be. However, someone at the yard told me his saddle was too narrow recently so I decided to get a Master Saddler out to sort the problem out once and for all as I had only used 'experienced fitters' in the past.
The saddler did say that the saddle was a bit too narrow but, rather than trying to sell me one of their new ones, they decided that another one of my saddles could be made wider and would then fit him. So they took the horses template and the saddle, for me to collect a few days later. Since riding him in it neither my friend or I can get him more than a hundred yards down the road without him blatently refusing to go any further and backing up into the hedge and bucking when I used the stick. He has never been this bad before and to me the saddle did seem quite tight when I was riding him. When we took it off, the hair was ruffled on one side of him and also where the point sits on the other side.
The next step is to ride bareback and see what he's like before I ring the Saddler back up. If I can't trust a Master Saddler, who can I trust!!
 
You need to use a qualified saddle fitter, a master saddler can be someone who makes tack or merely a retailer or works for someone who is a retailer. Look on the Society of Master saddlers website.
 
I was looking for a saddler the other day as I would like to buy a new dressage saddle. I decided to find someone round me who sold the type of saddle that I am looking for. I was shocked to see that the people I though were qualified saddle fitters were only approved retailers! It makes my blood boil to think people go there to have a saddle 'fitted' when really all they are getting is the sales blurb! You need to find a qualified saddle fitter! Have a look here: http://www.mastersaddlers.co.uk/
 
If it makes you feel better, as soon as I got Cat I had the saddler out...won't mention names but he advertises himself as being the best... as I wanted to get off to the best possible start with my new horse.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, the saddle actually damaged his back so he had a dip each side of his withers & was refusing at //s cos he couldn't stretch. Got another saddler & by then the damage was so bad that she had to get her boss out to help her fit him. They did templates & the difference in musculature in 6 months was absolutely staggering. Plus he stopped refusing, got another 18" of jump & his flatwork came on about a years worth in 6 weeks. Ie vastly improved head carriage/self carriage/attitude.

I've spent £££££££ over the years on saddles trying to do the best for my horse & it's only with my latest saddle (WOW) that I truly feel I've achieved it.

Like you, I assume that qualified people know what they're doing. FFS if you can't trust a qualified saddle fitter, who can you trust??? I'm a compliance auditor, not a saddler, & when I delegate the care of my horse to a professional, I expect them to have better knowledge than I do!!!!

Here endeth the rant...
 
Happihorse - Just looked them up and they are an approved retailer. Will now look for a qualified saddler. How stupid do I feel!
 
I got a horse last year. He's 16.2 TB X with quite narrow withers but big shoulders. I've had a narrow to medium saddle for about 10 months, the second one I've had. I had it fitted by a well known saddlery store but I've never been quite happy with it and he is a cold backed horse so sometimes doesn't seem happy. I've had one of those thick sheepskin numnahs with gel in them and most of the time he's fine but my instructor, who has saddles made and is a qualified fitter, brought one of his wide fitting saddles. I was like, no way will a wide fitting saddle go onto my horse and fit but guess what, it did. I had a lesson in it and he has never gone so well using his back muscles and rounding like he had suddenly been released from a straight jacket. Needless to say I am having one made to measure and the off the peg narrow to medium fit will soon make an appearance in the for sale ads !! Its more money but its worth every penny to know my horse is not being damaged or restricted by the saddle I use.
 
Hi,
A well known master saddler has tried to sell me a saddle with a broken tree before now. I have also had to advise people who've had new saddles made by him that they simply do not fit. I also know he has tried to sell people twisted trees.
If the saddler you are talking about is based just off the north of the M25 then I would recommend getting a different one!!!
Good luck and i hope you find one that fits.
 
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