New Albion saddle - got it home and not happy

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Maia

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I recently had my horse fitted by our local saddler who has an excellent reputation. He sold me an Albion K2 jump that I collected today after a sucessful fitting a few weeks back (it had to be ordered).

At the time I was so concerned about the fit that I completely forgot to look at the under side of the saddle. Now that I have it home I have had a really good look at it (as you do) and noticed that along the gullet and under the panels, right in the middle, there are hard ridges that look like part of the tree that seem to really stick out. Obviously the gullet should not be on her back but what really bothers me is that if I run my hand along the panels firmly I can really feel them and so surely, with my weight so will my horse
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I feel gutted as I have just handed over the best part of £1000 and have only noticed this now I have the saddle home. I haven't yet ridden in it but I did have the thigh blocks removed prior to purchase.

What do I do? Is this normal - never noticed this with any of my previous saddles.

I'm in tears
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hmm iv just got myself that saddle, and mines not like that, but then mine had to have a front gusset and drop panel added which may have made a difference ?:S my horse seems much happier in it than his old one tho:) .. try puttign it on your horses back and see what its like and if your unhappy still ask your saddleman to come back and check it just so you can be happy about and not hae to worry
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Mine has an extra deep, extra wide panel at the back.

I just cannot now put this saddle on my horses back with these damned ridges
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Does your saddle have nothing lump/ridge wise in the gullet and extending under the panels? If not, then it would appear I have a faulty saddle!
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Just feel sick - all that money on a saddle in a desperate attempt to finally correct all the saddling issues we've been having and now I discover there are ridges that I am not happy about
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But is this a "fault" or just part of Albion's construction?

The ridges appear very much like they are meant to be there but disguised by the panels...
 
Sounds like the edges of the twist/waist of the tree are angled downwards and you can feel it through the panel. Or possible the bars. IT's kinda hard to explain. Have you slid your hand up under the top side of the panels to feel what's causing it?

Eitherway, go and make a bit big fuss. Yes, there should be a twist/waist in the tree but it most certainly shouldn't be feelable thought the panels. It will make her really sore. Have a strop at the tack shop and don't give in until the saddler has either suggest something (if it's reflocking, make sure it them won't be over flocked in the middle for her, and rock) or demand a refund. Doesn't matter is it's not a 'fault'. The saddle has to be fit for purpouse (to fit the horse and not make her sore) and this one isn't.
 
Thanks. Have had another really good feel.

The ridges are about mid way between the front and back of the panels so not the points of the tree. It feels like its either where the girth straps are attached or something similar.

Will definately be phoning the saddlery on Monday. Saddle is lovely but horse has been in and out of work for 6 months due to saddle/back problems so I really do not want to get 6 weeks down the line and have a problem.
 
IT's most likely to be the waist of the tree - where the red arrow is

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Is is a fairly narrow saddle? When they're narrow the whole tree has a angle too it.
 
Yes, its a strip about 1 1/2 inches wide and about 1/4 on an inch think just about where the arrow is. Is this normal with Albions? I've never had a saddle with this sort of problem before. Also, surely I shouldn't be able to feel this through the panels and see it extending into the gullet?!

Wouldn't say saddle was particularly narrow. The tree is a med width. The ridge is at right angles to the length of the saddle so not the tree itself - its whatever has been attached to it!
 
I have an Albion Legend ultra 13 years old and an Albion K2 GP. I have run my hand along the gullet and have ridges on both saddles the older saddle is Medium Wide and and the new saddle is Narrow Medium. I cant vouch for the new one on new horse but the old one on old horse never ever gave him a back issue. Surelely there is no way that area can ever be in contact with the horses back?
 
It sounds like it could be the webbing to which the girth straps are attached. If the saddle has been fitted properly it should touch your horses back even when you are mounted. If it does then the saddle must be too low anyway.

Take it back and ask them to look at it, and explain to you why it is like it is.
 
Artyannie - if you run your hands along the panels though can you feel a ridge/hard lump over where the ridges are - surely this is just going to cause pressure points?!

Britesar - it feels like metal tbh, although it could be the webbing. I thought the webbing went over the tree however and was not attached on the underside of the tree for this very reason??? Have you handled the wintec gullet plates? It feels like a length of one of these is attached on the underside of the tree on both sides and is noticeably more prominant through the panels on one side more than the other. I have felt my other saddles and agree that the under side of the tree at the edges of the gullet channel are not perfectly smooth but I cannot feel any lumps through the panels.... Its not the gullet touching her that I am worried about as I agree this should be well clear of her back, but the fact that you can easily feel these ridges through the panels when I run my hand along them firmly - just imagine what it would feel like for my horse with 10 st of my weight pushing down!
 
Glad you workes out that my 'should' should have been a 'shoudn't'
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Thats does sound most peculiar. There really should not be any lumps in the panels of a new saddle. Take it back and get the saddler to look at it. You're never going to be happy using it until you know for sure. Good Luck!
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Sorry to hear about your Albion - having had one - new - a Kontrol made my boys back very unhappy and sensitive despite it being looked at by numerous people who all said it was fine, Horse and I decided otherwise so I sold it. Best thing I ever did!! I hope you manage to resolve!
 
i have a new k2 dont know if does or doesn't have this 'rigde'. cant say have had any problems other than it slips to the right. have a feeling it may have a slight 'ridge' in the gullet but dont think it was anything to worry about as it was only slightly raised and doesn't come anywhere nearby horses bk.
 
I think the good thing about buying a good make - with a good name - like Albion, is that the saddlers and Albion themselves will be keen to resolve any genuine problems with the quality of the saddle - so as others suggest, go back to your saddler to sort it out amd I'm sure they will be keen to make sure you are happy.
 
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