Jump saddle help please!

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elliebrewer98

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Saddlery question for the collective minds!

Whilst at Hickstead last week, I got chatting to a saddler who described how she could recommend saddles which might fit my mare just from a side-on picture. (She recommended Equipe Synergy)

I wondered to what extent this was true? I'm based in Norfolk and have no local saddlers who stock what I need (jump saddles under 17") and am running out of ideas.

I'm a bit stuck...so am trying to find out if a brand/model of saddle could be recommended from a photo and then I could perhaps risk an expensive call out fee from a saddler who stocks said brand/model from a neighbouring county. Currently that seems the only feasible option?

Am also considering using saddles direct to try and find one. Would they be able to advise from a picture, what brands/models would be most likely to fit? All saddles would be checked by my saddle fitter but not sure where to go next! Thank you! :)

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...27301.100002304708618&source=43&ref=bookmarks

Hopefully the link shows a picture of her! 😀
 
A side on photo is unlikely to be much help, they may be able to advise on what shape tree will suit but not the width or whether the horse will go well in it.
I had one of mine at an event and was having a browse by the stands when the saddler noticed me taking an interest in the new saddles, she took a quick look at my fine, fit tb x welsh and said he required a narrow fitting saddle and she had just the one in mind, he was actually a wide fit despite appearing to be fairly narrow, she totally refused to listen so I walked away, she possibly lost a sale and showed that you need to do more than just look let alone just look at a photo.

I would ask your saddle fitter what they think would suit, they will also be able to advise on shape, width etc. then you could get a couple from somewhere like saddles direct that your fitter can look at or a saddler from outside your area that has several that will be possibly suitable rather than limit yourself to one make which the horse may not be suited by, I know someone that had 2 Equipes fitted to her event horse, neither really suited him and both had to be replaced.
 
I think if you *can* you really need to try a saddle.
I had a saddler try to sell me an Equipe Synergy for my TB. Beautiful saddle, looked to fit great.
Then when we took saddle off there were fluid lumps on his spine. The saddler was adamant it was a girthing issue and saddle was perfect?!
Anyway I wasn't about to fork out that much for a brand new Equipe that was causing my horse lumps after only 30 mins wearing it. His old saddle that did fit didn't cause lumps!
I would never have known if he hadn't been ridden in it as it did look like it should have been fine.
 
I know these things are geographic - but why should you have to pay a saddler to come out and sell you something? I can understand paying a call out for a fitting check / re-flock. But to come out and try to sell you a new saddle. That should be free surely! But then we have a lot of saddlers around here.....
 
Always ride in a new/changed saddle, any saddler that says you don't need to must be bonkers! Would try elite used saddles too as they let you trial so you can get it checked over :)
 
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