New made to measure saddle

[Box_Of_Frogs]

My horse's trusty Thorowgood T6 (like an armchair) has started to move around at the back and had rubbed two big patches, after he lost a lot of weight at a previous yard. Looking at the sweat/hair pattern on the underside of a clean numnah after he had been ridden, you could see clear evidence of bridging - a big Y-shape on the numnah with no sweat marks and no hair on it. The saddler came out and said with a croup high, dipped back horse like Sunny I would never get an off-the-peg saddle to fit well and he recommended a mdae to measure as it would be made to accommodate his odd shape and would fit like a glove. It arrived today and though it is a truly gorgeous saddle, it is bridging worse than the Thorowgood. In addition, the saddler told me that I was not to worry that the girth straps had been stitched on upside down (ie with the finished side of the leather DOWN and invisible and the rough side UP and visible) as it was done on purpose to make doing the girth up easier as the straps slide through the buckles better. I have never heard of this b4 and it sounds total bulls**t to me. The guy has taken the saddle back to adjust the flocking but I reckon the tree needs adjustment. I already have a saddle that doesn't fit properly - why would I want to fork out £800 for a 2nd one that doesn't fit - he told me it would be made to accommodate the odd shape of my horse and it doesn't. I feel I'm being ripped off here. Any experts out there with any thoughts? Whats this guff about the girth straps. Is it kosher what he says?

 

[Maesfen]

Sorry, it sounds like bad workmanship to me. Is he a Master Saddler as it doesn't sound like it at all?!
If you're not happy with the saddle, then I wouldn't accept it at all, no point him altering it cos you were told it would be a made to measure but it obviously isn't; are you sure it's not an off the peg one on the sly if it is that bad (though I'm not sure how you'd tell tbh!)
Stick to your guns, they've made the mistakes not you.

 

[PapaFrita]

You're right. Sounds like bullsh*t to me too. He's making far to many excuses.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Gosh that sounds like he's spinning you a line or 3 to me. I feel the need for a poll.

 

[nelliefinellie]

quite common to put girth straps on 'upside down'

 

[horsemad00]

I am no expert on saddles but it sounds like bulls**t to me i would'nt accept it if i were you. Its meant to be made to measure so i wouldant pay £800 for something thats not.

 

[Law]

Where in Wales are you? If it was Graham Butt from Llwynon I would be extremely surprised to hear this? Similarly if it was Huw Thomas from Bridgend I would also be very surprised. Both have been excellent saddlers when I've used them.
Hope it's neither of those.

 

[Llwyncwn]

It was neither of them Law, it was a guy who owns a local tack shop who is not a master saddle fitter. (sorry Sunnymum to butt in your post but I know you are on the Orient Express atm).

 

[Law]

Phew- sorry! Didn't think it could have been!
Lol- Orient Express how cool is that!

If Sunnymum is in Carms then I would try and get a second opinion of Huw- not that that would help make the saddle fit but it might be worth getting his opinion. (He does trips to Carms and Caeredigion quite often!)

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

If you are not happy with the saddle, either workmanship, fit or both then don't accept it. A bit od adjusting with the flocking is acceptable but if it's way out then something is seriously wrong.

If it was made for yourv horse then it should be something like a fit, if it isn't then the saddler has made a cock up & it's his problem.

 

[catembi]

My girth straps are on 'upside down' - made to measure Heather Moffatt dr saddle. I always wondered why that was & whether it was an accident - now I know!