New saddle woes

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Bluemoon1234

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As part of remedy for ponios sore back, professional saddle fitter suggested new saddle. I wasn't mad on it but it fits ponio and me. Saddle fitter didn't have great selection and felt that what she suggested was best. I was happy with anything where ponio wouldn't be in pain. But I can't get used of new saddle. It is completely different to old saddle and is putting me in what is a technically correct position but I don't feel at all secure in. It is foam and was quite expensive so not an issue of breaking it in. But what can I do to get used of it? I know riding in it is what will help but I feel so insecure, I don't feel safe in that I can't find a secure, strong position in it. Also can't return and selling on would mean massive financial loss. Also find its aggravating a knee injury. I know this is a first world problem but I never had a new saddle before and had saved for quite a while for it so would appreciate any advice please.
 
If it's agravating a knee injury you might not be able to get used to it. The only way to tell will be time. I guess if it's putting you in a different position to how you're used to riding, you'll be using muscles you weren't using before. So I guess going back to basics with fitness is the way to go, start with 10min rides and gradually build up from there. It's what we'd do for the horse. You wouldn't take a dressage horse for a one day event without getting it fit for the new kind of work first. When your new muscles build up you'll not feel so wobbly and insecure in the saddle and maybe your knee injury will be fine too.
 
If it does not fit you and is aggravating an injury then it should be returnable as it is not fit for purpose, saddlers should not be pushing clients to buy a saddle that you felt uncomfortable riding in, their lack of stock is not your problem if they couldn't fit something you were completely happy with they should have left without selling you anything, you do have rights as a consumer, if you paid by credit card your case to return for a full refund is stronger.

Sometimes you can never adjust to a saddle, the right saddle will help you sit well, be secure and your pony to move correctly, a saddle that you are uncomfortable in will do the opposite however hard you try to adapt your riding.

I would find out exactly what your rights are and start the process of returning it and finding a saddler that will get the right saddle for you both.
 
The saddle has to be fit for purpose. I would notify the saddler straight away in a friendly way, but being clear that it is not and give them a chance to rectify it. You need to inform them within 30 days to have the best position. If they cannot rectify it then you need to inform them in writing (email is fine) that you are rejecting it under the 2015 consumer rights act. They will almost certainly argue the case. They may try to blame you or the horse for the issue but stand your ground and if necessary you can take them to the small claims court.

You also might have a claim under the goods and services side of it which means you are entitled to the provider of the service in this case a saddle fitter, to be reasonably good at their job (words to that effect you should google it to get the right terminology) and if they have not been, ie by convincing you to buy an uncomfortable saddle then you would have that route to take them to task over too.

Far too many Saddlers get away with conning customers out of thousands of pounds because we don't know our rights. The first saddle I bought fitted neither myself or the horse however the next time I had a problem saddle which did not fit my horse *at all* I stood my ground!
 
How long have you had the saddle? Do you know what the saddlers return policy is? They should have given you that at time of purchase :)

Also - did they see you ride and was it discussed as to whether you felt comfortable at all? I'm amazed at the amount of saddle fitters that don't actually see the person ride for more than a couple of minutes but this is so important
 
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I took I think two rides to get used to my 2nd saddle (2nd hand gpd saddle same brand as last gp saddle). It being an inch smaller and being more dressage cut was odd but I soon got used to it and I can actually now sit to my horses big trot. Before I moved too much in the saddle whereas this holds me in more.

Think if you aren't used to it after about 5 rides you probably aren't going to. Get the fitter back and ask for another one or your money back. You are entitled to it.
 
Thanks everyone. I took delivery of it more than 30 days ago. Didn't ride in it for first couple of weeks as ponio was just doing lunge work. I have now ridden in it about eight times and the more I ride in it, the worse my stability. My trainer thinks the issue is all me - but I can't understand if I was that bad before why we were somewhat successful competing (albeit at a very low level) in the past. And I used to compete a lot! This is an expensive saddle and looking at it, you would think it's three years old - it has been treated carefully but my previous 15 year old saddle looks fresher. The latter is annoying but I am more concerned about my lack of stability. I have ridden occasionally on holidays and in other yards on other horses on older and cheaper saddles but never felt as insecure. Could it be me though? I am just surprised that any new saddle could feel like this. It is close contact - could that be a factor?
 
Close contact saddles often have a rather flat seat...could that be the problem? Do you feel as though you're slithering about?
A gel out seat saver might help.
 
I would get in contact with the fitter and explain the issues. I've returned a saddle well past 30 days and although the fitter took 10% off of the refund for wear and tear I was happy to get most of my money back.

Let us know what happens
 
I am surprised that the fitter sold a foam filled saddle rather than a flocked one when your horse was not in full work and likely to change shape if you were doing remedial work with him, did they use shims to allow for him to change?

There is a saying that a poor workman blames his tools and that seems to be the attitude of your trainer but as a trainer myself I know the difference an unsuitable saddle will make and if the rider is having obvious problems which were not an issue previously then I think it fair to blame whatever new bit of kit is being used, fair enough if your riding was bad before but if so why was it not addressed at that time.

I still think it is not fit for purpose, you may have had it longer than the 30 days but they knew at the time of sale you were not going to use it for a while, well I hope they did, you are in a weaker position but still have rights, get started now as it cannot be much longer and the sooner you start complaining the better.

In my view close contact should be just that, closer to the horse and in theory more stable because of that not less so, as it is getting worse I do wonder if the horse has built up and it is no longer fitting him as well as it was a month or so ago and it is therefore moving about and moving you at the same time.

I have just looked back at your previous threads and see that your horse has had loads of time off and been undergoing extensive treatment in that time, I think the saddler to turn up with limited choice and sell you the one that suited best may mean it was never "perfect" and it may be contributing to why he is not always happy under saddle as you have mentioned elsewhere, don't accept second best or their refusal to help sort this out, you are trying to rehabilitate him and need everything to be as near perfect as possible, I don't see how it can be with a saddle that has no flocking, foam panels would not be suitable at this stage in my experience.
 
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Bluemoon1234 said:
Thanks everyone. I took delivery of it more than 30 days ago. Didn't ride in it for first couple of weeks as ponio was just doing lunge work. I have now ridden in it about eight times and the more I ride in it, the worse my stability. My trainer thinks the issue is all me - but I can't understand if I was that bad before why we were somewhat successful competing (albeit at a very low level) in the past. And I used to compete a lot! This is an expensive saddle and looking at it, you would think it's three years old - it has been treated carefully but my previous 15 year old saddle looks fresher. The latter is annoying but I am more concerned about my lack of stability. I have ridden occasionally on holidays and in other yards on other horses on older and cheaper saddles but never felt as insecure. Could it be me though? I am just surprised that any new saddle could feel like this. It is close contact - could that be a factor?
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I have no idea whether your saddle is fit for purpose or not but I see many people competing, especially but not exclusively, at RC/local level whose riding is definitely poor, with dreadful positions but who have forgiving horses.
Perhaps you need to go back to what caused your horse's problem originally - could your riding position have contributed?
 
Well you still have rights they are just less than if you informed the fitter within 30 days. I would still inform them and see what they say. You've nothing to lose.
 
Thank you for your kind words and advice which is greatly appreciated. I'm going to investigate my rights with the original fitter but due to some other complicating factors: I suspect that mightn't get us too far - and as I'm in another country, small claims route (as a final escalation) isn't an option. However I'm going to get the saddle valued - and I'm going to accept a loss in value which is annoying but is what it is. Then I'll go to a locally based (or even same country!!) fitter - and try a lot more saddles that not only fit my ponio but that I actually feel secure in!! You live and learn.....thanks again.
 
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