Opinions- does this saddle fit?

Let me rephrase.

I meant give it a fair trial. Ie ask the fitter for another week so that you can actually ride in it and see what your horse tells you - see how you feel. It might not be the right saddle but if you actually try it then at least you know!

I didn't mean keep riding in it for months and months!
 
Having spent a lot of time reading this thread - here are my comments! :)

The saddle fit looks fine - but it has been put on to the pony in the wrong place (too far back), and I think that is why it looks a little perched.

To get a proper view we need to see a rider on board.

However, if the OP isn't happy then they shouldn't buy this saddle as they will never be happy with it.

Personally I used to have an Ideal H&C, and although it was OK I didn't feel that it gave the rider a lot of support, so if you have spooky pony whom you are not happy to ride bareback, I wouldn't have thought that the Ideal would be the right saddle for you.
 
I think sbloom has got an unnecessary slating here. Yes many of us don't trust saddle fitters due to previous experience but let's face it she does know these saddles and specialises in fitting this type of horse, as well as regularly giving good general saddle advice on here.

I am sure if you looked at my new saddle you might think it fit fine to look at it other than being a little low in front, I thought the same which is probably why my fitter (also a master saddler of about 50 years!) felt it was ok, but it isn't, its like sitting on a plate of jelly and they are coming out again. I am not really annoyed about them not getting it right first time as long as they do try to make it right and that I am not lumbered with anything unsuitable!

I think purchase fear is right and entirely justified, a grand is a lot of money and I wouldn't pay it for something that I didn't feel pretty happy with, because a saddle seems to depreciate in value by about half once you're stuck with it.
 
Oh please. You cannot decide whether a saddle fits or not by looking at photos on an internet forum!

Ring up the saddler, ask if they can come out and check it again and if you can have another week to trial it as you haven't had a chance to try it due to the horrid weather.

However, if I was your saddler I'd be bloody fuming that you've asked the internet 'gurus' (haha!!) if the saddle fits rather than ringing him first!!
 
I just want to say that sbloom is a good fitter, with excellent knowledge of fitting natives who has fitted NP saddles for people I know who are extremely happy with their saddles and infact fitted one for me (which sadly did not suit/fit my very awkard mare and had to go back, but i still have nothing but good things to say about the company and its fitters).

unfortunaly new forests like this are so so difficult to fit saddles to, and it takes a very skilled fitter to get it perfectly right! saddles *can* look like they dont fit on them, and more often than not they look too high in front.
 
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I have not slated Sbloom by saying I have had bad experiences with saddlers. I have a great amount of respect for her opinion.
 
I don't think sbloom's had any slating :confused: She's only tried to help the OP, obviously knows and cares a lot about saddles and comes from a pretty different perspective than most of us.
 
sbloom has a blog on a subscription forum and has posted about this thread and has asked her customers to comment on this thread.

"If any of my customers would like to post on there about all the witches not having a bloody clue, I'd love it! "

So there you go you're all witches with no clue.
 
Julia&Jack said:
sbloom has a blog on a subscription forum and has posted about this thread and has asked her customers to comment on this thread.

"If any of my customers would like to post on there about all the witches not having a bloody clue, I'd love it! "

So there you go you're all witches with no clue.
Click to expand...

What a surprise.
 
Ebbo said:
Oh please. You cannot decide whether a saddle fits or not by looking at photos on an internet forum!

Ring up the saddler, ask if they can come out and check it again and if you can have another week to trial it as you haven't had a chance to try it due to the horrid weather.

However, if I was your saddler I'd be bloody fuming that you've asked the internet 'gurus' (haha!!) if the saddle fits rather than ringing him first!!
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I have rung him up- no answer left message. I also rang the company who are happy to take the saddle back- it is being collected from me on the 9th Feb- fabulous.


He's not really 'my' saddler- just one of the handful I've used therefore I don't have any issues about asking others. Plus I dont see them as gurus- more unbiased eyes.

The saddler is not down the road -its about a 2 hour round trip- therefore I cant just have him pop over, plus photos were taken about 7pm last night and by the time I got home it was late-o-clock.

For those who want to know I rode in it today with my instructor. It didnt slip like the GFS and the Kings saddles in the past have done. It didnt flap like the Fylde has done and it covered all along the back unlike the silhouette saddle. However, it sits on the shoulders and feels a bit tight, its just too forwards cut for a big shouldered New Forest.

He was no worse and no better in it. He was still very much behind the leg and lazy (despite 40mph winds!)

So the fit we judged to be not quite right but not as horrendous as some felt from the pictures. I rode for an hour in 3 paces on both reins in a 30x40 sandschool. I'm going to give it another 1 hour session on friday and if it doesnt relax a bit over the wither its definitely going back.

-thanks for all the replies on both sides- i've really enjoyed watching the discussion unfold and I actually feel its been informative- some of the link and PMs sent were fab! (Sorry i havent replied to all of them -i had 22!)

However! Some people do need to read the Original post properly and responses before writing ;)
 
If that gorgeous pony were mine I certainly wouldn't be paying £1000 to put that saddle on it. If the saddle were further forward - in the 'right' place - the flaps would hinder the shoulders, no matter what the company representative says.
There have been other instances of a saddle company appearing on here and putting people's backs up with their rather high-handed posts.
When my mare had back problems I asked my vet about saddles, he recommended always using a qualified saddler rather than just a saddle fitter.
 
Agree with those that say it must 'look' right on the pony/horse.

Even a bit further forward than it is in the pics, imo it would still look 'wrong'.

I like my saddles to look part of my ponies. i have very wide ponies with masses of shoulder. Would never stray from my beautiful quality Fylde again!
 
Julia&Jack said:
sbloom has a blog on a subscription forum and has posted about this thread and has asked her customers to comment on this thread.

"If any of my customers would like to post on there about all the witches not having a bloody clue, I'd love it! "

So there you go you're all witches with no clue.
Click to expand...

How to win friends & influence people...........not!
 
Julia&Jack said:
sbloom has a blog on a subscription forum and has posted about this thread and has asked her customers to comment on this thread.

"If any of my customers would like to post on there about all the witches not having a bloody clue, I'd love it! "

So there you go you're all witches with no clue.
Click to expand...

I really hope that's not true :(
 
I know this is inappropriate but I just can't believe sbloom is a woman!! I don't know why but I always thought they were a man! :-P
Anyway... Away to read all of the thread as I have always respected the advice given by sbloom and will be upset if they have went and slandered on another forum :-(
Good luck with ur saddle OP I had a complete nightmare getting a saddle for my new horse and am also very dubious about "experts" however I'm no expert myself so I feel between a rock and a hard place and therefore find myself trying to listen intently to my horse and what he thinks!
 
Julia&Jack said:
sbloom has a blog on a subscription forum and has posted about this thread and has asked her customers to comment on this thread.

"If any of my customers would like to post on there about all the witches not having a bloody clue, I'd love it! "

So there you go you're all witches with no clue.
Click to expand...

Oh dear, maybe I shouldn't have said that she sounded like a shoe salesman :o

What it needs is a wooly sock ;):)
 
Julia&Jack said:
sbloom has a blog on a subscription forum and has posted about this thread and has asked her customers to comment on this thread.

"If any of my customers would like to post on there about all the witches not having a bloody clue, I'd love it! "

So there you go you're all witches with no clue.
Click to expand...

Hubble, Bubble, toil and trouble..
 
Fire Burn and cauldron bubble..... At first when I read the post about witches claimed to be SBlooms I thought 'that's bloomin' mean' but then I guess she is pretty frustrated. Her company, colleague and profession is being called out in this threasd and as the only pro saddler taking part in this discussion (I think) she may feel got at which I can understand. Sbloom does spend a lot of time giving her advice here for free......

I am a bit of a witch - I admit it. :)
 
I met sbloom at the equine fair in December and she was lovely. I have a lot of time for her. I must say though that they are particularly bad photos. In my opinion the only real way to see if a saddle fits is in person as photos don't always ring true.
 
:eek: No I didn't mean now by sbloom! I just meant if the troll's trying to wind us up they need to come up with a bit of a harsher insult because I've been called much worse, like in my whole life. :o
 
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No, no. I know you didn't mean that - the last bit of my post was just a general request - perhaps jack and Jill could provide the link.... Sorry if I was unclear!
 
Can you post a video of you trialling it, would be helpful to see it being ridden in. How big is you pony and how tall are you? Hope it works out.
 
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