Made to measure saddle price?

I wouldn't, I've seen too many people spend £thosands on a wonky saddle fitted to a wonky horse - rather than address the underlying cause of the wonkyness.

I'd address muscle development/ suppleness etc. to build the horse up evenly so he could wear a well fitted standard saddle.
 
Mine was the same price for made to measure than off the peg. One horse off the peg and the other required made to measure due to huge high withers, no "underlying issues".
Q
 
Yes good point, I'd not thought of it like that, but I suppose as long as the saddle is checked regularly and altered accordingly it would be ok? I couldn't have a made-to-measure and expect it to still fit the same in 12 months.

Mine has no underlying issues, he's just a short backed pony-horse. His current saddle fits ok, but its 12 years old and is coming to the end of its life x
 
Mine has no underlying issues, he is just very broad with wide withers and huge shoulders and wide ligaments along his back. Try to find an off the peg saddle to fit him!! Every hoop head or wide saddle has knee rolls just over his scapulas and tree points that are uncomfortable for him and a gullet that generally isn't wide enough. I indulged in a Schleese saddle, made for me and for him, and I can't tell you how much better he goes in it, and how much more it puts me is the right alignment.
Cost more than the horse and half what I paid for an 8 yr old 4x4 to tow him around the countryside lol - getting on for £3k. But Barrie Swain saddles are almost £2k, whether off the peg or made for you and a good saddle is a good saddle. Some horses are easy to fit, some have underllying musculature issues (ain't nothing you can do about skeletal issues) and one thing I have learned - if you have a sensitive horse you can't make do. It is infinitely adjustable - even the head can be altered in the vice they bring with them to fit it.
 
slumdog said:
Yes good point, I'd not thought of it like that, but I suppose as long as the saddle is checked regularly and altered accordingly it would be ok? I couldn't have a made-to-measure and expect it to still fit the same in 12 months.

Mine has no underlying issues, he's just a short backed pony-horse. His current saddle fits ok, but its 12 years old and is coming to the end of its life x
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You'd probably find that a suitable off the peg saddle is MORE likely to fit in 12 months than a custom saddle, by some strange quirk. Plus buying off the peg gives you full distance trading regs protection - a 7 day trial and the right to return the saddle for any reason at the end of that period. With a custom saddle you are relying on the goodwill of the company.

JillA said:
Mine has no underlying issues, he is just very broad with wide withers and huge shoulders and wide ligaments along his back. Try to find an off the peg saddle to fit him!! Every hoop head or wide saddle has knee rolls just over his scapulas and tree points that are uncomfortable for him and a gullet that generally isn't wide enough.
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Some horses are easy to fit, some have underllying musculature issues (ain't nothing you can do about skeletal issues) and one thing I have learned - if you have a sensitive horse you can't make do. It is infinitely adjustable - even the head can be altered in the vice they bring with them to fit it.
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Very broad and straight cut is something I do very regularly! There are saddles out there with hoop or semi hoop trees, short points, good flat panels and knee rolls that stay back off the shoulder....

I agree that the harder to fit that your horse is the more carefully you should shop, choose a brand or fitter who understands your shape of horse and they may well bring out a choice of saddles that will work even with the hardest to fit animals. I love it when people are amazed that they can choose between say a GP and a WH when they thought they'd be lucky to find one saddle that fits their wide flat horse!

There are cheaper made to measure brands, at £500-800 that are just that, cheaper. The leather is cheaper, the structure is cheaper...you do get what you pay for. Then you can pay even more than quoted above for a custom saddle - £4000 is not unheard of, and even higher for a brand like Hermes.

I always say that there are three interrelated factors in finding a saddle:

How hard to fit is your horse and how choosy are you?
How soon do you need a saddle?
How big is your budget?

If you can stack all three in your favour then you'll find a saddle relatively easily, but stack one or even two against you and it will be harder. Find the right brand and fitter first go, even if the saddles are a little pricier (but are they good VALUE?), and you'll almost certainly save money and heartache in the long term.
 
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