martin wilkinson saddlers

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Pony needs a jumping saddle and fed up with local saddlers having naf all stock so thinking of driving him to a big one. Any thoughts on MW or any other good ones to go to within about an hour of Surrey?

Thanks!
 
I have got them coming out to fit a saddle to my boy on Wednesday - have heard good reports from lots of happy customers, which is great because I had a far less than successful visit from a different saddle-fitter last week, who shall remain nameless!
 
I have heard lots good, but I won't have him on the yard.

How on earth can you take a saddle away to reflock/adjust then return it in the post without coming back to refit?

The saddle the rubbed and he expected me to wait 6 weeks for a visit!
 
Maybe they are OK in person, but I certainly will never make the mistake of ordering mail order from them again. Inaccurate description of the saddle and absolutely disgusting attitudes of the staff.
 
Hmm, I've had both good and not so good service from MW but with different horses. The horse that I had the problems with saddle fitting was not an easy case so if you have a horse or pony that needs specialist attention then find a good remedial saddler. Wasn't very happy with Bridlepath either but then again it was with the horse with the back problems.

MW fitted the saddle I have for my current horse. I've had no problems AND he re flocked the saddle on site!
 
I had my last saddle from him and to be honest I haven't had any problems and it all went smoothly and the reflocking was fine. I live quite local to them so I was able to take it to them.
 
I and 3 other girls from the yard will not use him again!

One of my close friends also sent her saddle away with him to be adjusted and he POSTED it back and didnt do a re-fit! She took the matter further when she found out it was a bad fit!!!
mad.gif
 
Have a look on the master saddlers website and see if you can find a qualified saddle fitter near you. They often have a range of saddles to try and will be happy to come out and fit them, or can fine tune an 'off the peg' saddle that is the right size for your horse. You do have to be patient tho - we have a master saddler in our village and she will squeeze my horse in when she can as the yard is only five mins away, but otherwise her waiting list is 4-6wks.
 
Absolutely fantastic - I have used them for years (nearly 20!). Whether it be my fat little Exmoor or my aged TB the saddles are always perfect. Can't rate them highly enough.
 
Whatever you do do not mention a budget you can guarantee the cheapest saddle will be at least £100 over that! Second Thistle- had a new saddle fitted and they went away to make adjustments and wouldn't come out to check fit again just posted it. Tried to part exchange a saddle I had bought two years previously from them that no longer fitted and they went on about how a master saddler couldnt sell it as panels too narrow etc etc- they went a bit quiet when I actually mentioned I bought it from them lol! If they have a saddle I like/ want I get it on trial and pay for independent saddle fitter Tom to come out and look at it.
 
He does have hundreds of saddles though. I guess in Stars case it may well be worth a visit with the horse but to then trust a saddler closer to home to fine tune the fit.

Another thing. I took in a nice ex wide albion to sell. He told me the price he would sel it for and how much of that I would get.

A friend (unknown to me) called him out to bring 17" ex wide saddles for her cob. He didn't bring my saddle, just a van full of new ones. I went to the shop to collect my saddle as I decided that it wouldn't sell if he didn't try to sell it.

It was priced up £150 more than he told me he would ask for it! But on the invoice the amount I would receive remained the same.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Whatever you do do not mention a budget you can guarantee the cheapest saddle will be at least £100 over that! Second Thistle- had a new saddle fitted and they went away to make adjustments and wouldn't come out to check fit again just posted it. Tried to part exchange a saddle I had bought two years previously from them that no longer fitted and they went on about how a master saddler couldnt sell it as panels too narrow etc etc- they went a bit quiet when I actually mentioned I bought it from them lol! If they have a saddle I like/ want I get it on trial and pay for independent saddle fitter Tom to come out and look at it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I use Tom too, a conversation with him is veryenlightening.

Star what sort of saddle are you looking for, I have a few to sell.
 
We bought a brilliant Albion jumping saddle 6 years ago from MW....never had a problem fitting or comfort wise...however it developed a tiny hole in one of the flaps just under the stirrup leather after just a few weeks...turned out they'd sold me two of the same girth guards (as opposed to a left and right one!) so the buckle rubbed through...tried to take it back but they wouldn't accept responsibility.
 
Ahh I have him coming out today! He is just checking my saddle but when it was fitted to her by someone else - it took 4 fitting sessions!!!! Hmmmm might cancel then!
 
I and several other people I know use Berry from Martin Wilkinsons and we would all recommend her.
My boy is really hard to fit and Berry has been more than helpful with trying saddles and making any changes needed etc.
 
The only dealings with them I had were over the phone. They said they didn't have any of the brand of saddles I was looking for, even though they had loads on their website, and would phone me when more were in stock. I never heard from them again.
 
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