Martin Wilkinson ?? Saddler

[Horseback Rider]

Anyone used him ? any comments ??

I really need to get my saddle checked and we don't have a saddler over here so have to wait until they come over and he is the next one coming.


Thanks

 

[Baggybreeches]

He used to fit our show ponies many moons ago, makes his own and sells lots, is quite popular across the North West.
Haven't used him for years because my horses aren't posh enough to warrant posh saddles (and I like to think that with 30yrs experience I can tell when a saddle doesn't fit!)

 

[Horseback Rider]

Thanks

I wish we had a normal saddler over here too! The only ones that come over are the posh ones !!

 

[JoannaC]

He fitted my saddle originally on my old mare and I still use his saddlery although he hasn't seen my current mare, one of the other saddlers came out but they've adjusted my original saddle to fit my new girl even though I was fully prepared to buy a new one so I was pleased with that!

 

[miss_bird]

I have found him brill, and been using him all my life

 

[magicgirl]

Baggybreeches i am wondering if you have got the names muddled up. Martin Wikinson is based in Hertfordshire and Peter Wilinson from Fylde Saddlery is based up north. They both design and make saddles. I have used both of them several times each and have not had any problems. I only use these two for my saddles.

 

[jumpingmum]

Magic Girl I was just going to say the same thing, have used Peter Wilkinson of Fylde saddlery and he is brilliant as are his saddles, don't know Martin Wilkinson but think they may have been mixed up.

 

[digitalangel]

would definitely recommend Martin Wilkinson who did wonders with my horse. saddle was rather pricey compared to what they go for on ebay though, but was happy to pay for excellent fit that he did that has almost absolished my horses headshaking.

 

[Divasmum]

We use him and also Berry from the same company. Very good saddlers.

 

[Faberge]

He is excellent and so is Berry

 

[fizzer]

Heard all good things about him. He sorted a friend of mine out when another Master Saddler messed up big time.

 

[Jane_Lou]

He sorted a friend of mine out when another Master Saddler messed up big time.

Have used him for years and trust him more than any other local saddler. All my current saddles came from him 2nd hand and quite reasonably priced for what they are as well.

- wonder if it was the same "so called" master saddler that "fitted" a useless expenvive new saddle for a friend and got quite abusive in the end when they tried to complain!

 

[B.O.B.]

I use Berry at Martin Wilkinson and have found her to be excellent.

 

[fine_and_dandy]

Anyone used him ? any comments ??

I really need to get my saddle checked and we don't have a saddler over here so have to wait until they come over and he is the next one coming.


Thanks

Wouldn't touch him with a barge pole. Impression he gave me and other liveries was he was out for the money and instead of listening to what someone could afford, brought along very expensive saddles (I'm talking £2k for a jumping saddle when the budget he had been told was less than half that.) Maybe different for other people, but just going on my experience.

Also said to a friend he would try a medium wide fitting on her cob who required an extra wide fitting to see what she thought of the saddle...she was not impressed.

Didn't like his attitude when I met him and would not have him out. Can PM for someone else if you want recommendations.

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

I have only extremely negative things to say, so I will PM you.

 

[Posa]

Not a fan I'm afraid.....

 

[fizzer]

Have used him for years and trust him more than any other local saddler. All my current saddles came from him 2nd hand and quite reasonably priced for what they are as well.

- wonder if it was the same "so called" master saddler that "fitted" a useless expenvive new saddle for a friend and got quite abusive in the end when they tried to complain!

Was two useless master saddlers that messed up. The first was a supposed to be a made to measure saddle costing £1500, was never correct and after continous complaints and refits she went elsewhere to have it corrected, again!! bodge job. Then finds out the 2nd man had a track record of being dodgy, been taken to court. Martin came and told her the saddle was appauling and didnt fit at all, she then bought a saddle from Martin and has never had a problem.

 

[TicTac]

I don't like Martin Wilkinson and I don't like The Bridlepath lot either. Am based on the Cambs /Beds border and am looking for a decent honest master saddler too!

 

[Horseback Rider]

Thanks everyone for the info. TBH I don't want a flashy saddler for my TB as my last saddle cost me more than him. All I want is somethign that fits. We don't have any saddlers based over here so I am reliant on visting ones and they all seem to be the exspensive ones who never have a second hand saddle that fits !!!

btw if anyone knows of a good saddler that fancies a holiday let me know )

 

[Clueless]

Hi, various issues with Martin Wilkinson from our yard, poor saddle fitting, service issues, ie not getting jobs done on time, and disregarding budgets... having said that, I am the only person of 5 of us with no issues...

 

[Daisy1905]

Thanks everyone for the info. TBH I don't want a flashy saddler for my TB as my last saddle cost me more than him. All I want is somethign that fits. We don't have any saddlers based over here so I am reliant on visting ones and they all seem to be the exspensive ones who never have a second hand saddle that fits !!!

btw if anyone knows of a good saddler that fancies a holiday let me know )

Maybe get a saddler to bring some saddles to try and then write down make model and sizes to try and find one second hand?

 

[bitlessbill]

I had Martin Wilkinson Saddlers out recently, not the guy himself and I don't think it was Berry either, two other ladies. They tried three very over priced saddles on my horse, two were the wrong colour and the one that was black was actually faded grey for £500. Non of them fitted despite prior notice to what size and style we were looking for and I got charged £45 callout for nothing.
My friend also paid the callout fee and they didn't even put a saddle on her horse, they just said we have nothing for your budget, which incidently was £500. Would never use again.
However would thoroughly recommend Anthony Bachelor who despite not selling 2nd hand saddles, came out and told me exactly what I needed to look for and made me a template for a shared call out fee of £15! He has a great reputation.

 

[Cheeky Womble]

Does anyone know where Berry went?

As I found her very good, she had so much time for us and understood our needs with one old pony and a young very round pony! However, she has now left Martin Wilkinson Saddlers.

I have always found Martin Wilkinson good, but as everyone says pricey. However, even through he fitted synthetic saddles for my two ponies years ago, he will now only come out for leather saddles, which is very annoying. Therefore I really want to find out where Berry went.

 

[FinkleyAlex]

Wouldn't touch either of them with a bargepole. I had Berry out a few years back to alter my saddle - she insulted the way I kept him (forgive me for having a sweet itch rug on in summer - he has sweet itch!) proceeded to tell me the saddle needed alterations done by a special machine back at their saddlery. Got a phone call a few days later to tell me the machine had snapped the saddle and it was ruined - no compensation offered, then on top of that was told they couldn't sort me a new saddle as they 'don't have any to fit his size'. Ridiculous.

 

[nuttynugget]

I will have to defend them- I used them last year, turned up on time, got the job done.

Now I have a nice fitting saddle exactly what I wanted: comfort for both horse and rider

My first appointment they didn't have any saddles suitable, this was my own fault- I said he probably would need medium but infact medium wide fits him better (hence why I wouldn't attempt to fit the saddle myself). However, I only had to pay one call out charge and the second appointment (which was a week later) they had a number of 2nd hand saddles to choose from ranging in price, below and above my budget. The one I ended up with was under a year old but didn't have a mark on it!

They were recommended to me by a friend and I was very happy with the service offered.. Yes I probably could've gotten the saddle cheaper on ebay but I really needed the service

 

[kirstie]

I thought berry was good, after service terrible. I part ex'd my old saddle for a new one. They were very keen to get payment from me... Despite the fact that they sold my saddle straight away, it took over 7 months for them to give me the money for it!
One of the many excuses was that they had no record of me or my saddle! Was not very impressed.
I would highly recommend Anthony bachelor.

 

[Thistle]

Berry is no longer saddle fitting, she told me she is concentrating on other business interests.