is a saddle fitter qualified to adjust saddles?

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wench

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just a bit confused... looking at society of master saddlers website, as I really need a new saddler but cant find one.

Can someone who is classed as a saddle fitter alter the shape of saddles, or is that master saddlers who are trained to do that?
 
I think a trained saddle fitter has to be a master saddler? And master saddlers can adjust saddles, reflocking etc...

I have never used a saddle fitter that was not a master saddler due to the fact I would have taken them to be unqualified
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A master Saddler is NOT trained to fit saddles to your horse - they are trained to make saddles. And that training can be done without ever fitting a saddle to the horse. To fit a saddle a saddler needs to be a saddle fitter - and they do not need to be a master saddle maker to be a saddle fitter. They can be trained by the Society of Master Saddlers to fit saddles. But have never learned to make saddles. What you really need is someone who can make/adjust and fit your saddle in which case you need someone who is a Master Saddler Maker and fitter. By the way many shops are sell saddles made by Master Saddlers - and become Master Saddler Retailers.

It's all very confusing - and to be honest many of the best saddle fitters are not members of the SMS. So I would not get hung up on the Master Saddler bit.

Just a thought - even if you buy a major brand name saddle it does not mean it was made by a master saddler, it could have been made by anyone - as long as the company has a master saddler.
 
Am I not right in thinking that a saddle fitter is not necessarily trained more than by atending a few hour course , if however they are members of the master saddlery as a qualified saddle fitter then they have been properly trained and have a minimum of 3 years experiance fitting saddles.

So on that reconning it always pays to have a saddle fitter who is a member of the master saddlery out
 
Just from experience, please never get anyone to fit a saddle to your horse who is not properly qualified. Anyone can call themselves a saddler - there is no regulation in this area unfortunately I know from my horses painful experience that some of them have no idea what they are doing. Do your research.
 
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