Made to measure or off the peg is there really much difference??

G

Gryfiss

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 August 2012
Messages
254
Visit site
As it say's in the title really as some of you may know I'm planning on buying an albion k2 jump saddle is there really a massive difference between made to measure or off the peg saddles.

I know ruffley what size I want 18 inch med, but do they alter them a lot made to measure or not .

All your experiences would be great it's a lot of money to spend so want to get it right.

Big plus if you can reccomend a saddler in derbyshire/staffordshire area that would be great too! thanks x
 
In my (somewhat sheltered opinion) the decision on whether a horse requires a "made to measure" saddle or an "off the peg" saddle depends on the horse. If you have something that is relatively "standard" sized then you should be fine off the peg, however it is has quirk (i.e. unusually short in the back) the horse may require a made to measure model. This would obviously need to be achieved with the discretion of a trusted saddler....

In terms of trusted saddler, when I used to live down Derby/Staffs way, I used to use Sally Cartwright (www.saddleryservices.co.uk), I have very seldom known somebody who is as good at what they do...
 
I'd be disinclined to a M2M, because the resale value is considerably lower than an off-the-peg saddle in case you need to sell it later on down the line.
 
Hi, with regards to littlebopeeps recommendation above please PM me if you do consider using Sally Cartwright, I've not been quite so lucky in my experience!
 
Not only do they have lower resale, you also lack the protection of the Distance Selling regulations which give you a 7 day trial of any regular goods. Anything customised for you does not have a legal trial, and you are dependent on the company for any trial and possible refund.

I see that M2M saddles do not have a higher success rate that off the peg, if you read the stories of woe on the web. I fit almost always from stock and I fit tricky wide and flat horses and ponies, you just need to find the right fitter and brand.
 
M2M will only fit the horse for that point in time & if the horse changes shape it will need to be altered which can be difficult depending on how the saddle is made or changed,
As mentioned the resale value of a M2M is much lower.

I always go for an off the peg saddle which offers a good degree of alteration.
 
I think part of it is that fitting off the peg well almost starts and ends with dynamic fit - you try each "looks okay" saddle with a rider through all paces and you work from there, making fine adjustments once you have the right tree and panel for the horse. M2M has to have some element of making to the static fit as taking records away, tracings, photos, tends to focus on the shape of the back standing still. I certainly have an instinct that M2M saddles are less versatile in their fit, even if they have all the same ingredients as an off the peg saddle.
 
I would never buy a saddle I could not sit in first, even if I rode in a stock model and had things like flap size customised. I did it once, spent an immense amount of money, and it was a thoroughly unsatisfactory experience. Then, of course, I could only resell it through the person who made it for me (a literally world renowned saddler) and at a fraction of the cost. I had a similar experience with boots and my father had the same with a hideously expensive pair of shoes! No more custom for me! Semi-custom, fine - you can test drive all the parts and i would KILL for a semi custom Passier/Butet/Antares/Prestige - but not made from scratch. I've seen too many bad experiences.

Also, the chances of being able to adjust it to another horse, or even the horse it is for if there is a significant change, is very slim. And, as said, you have little recourse at that point.

Get a good quality stock saddle, semi-custom if necessary, and get it tweaked by a saddler who sees you ride in it and will let you "test drive" the changes.
 
We had a M2M as our nothing fitted our boy. His whole body is on the huh! So, we had an Ideal made. OH liked a big seat, the back/cantle of a Bates, knee rolls off the Impala but bigger flaps. It fitted him perfectly. Nothing else would fit so no choice really.
 
Thanks for all the reply's, all very helpfull I think I'm going for off the peg!! I've just booked jo beavis to come out at the end of feb x x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top