Please look at my girth straps and give me your opinion!

[MrRoo]

Morning

In July my saddle was taken away to have the girth straps replaced. I picked it up, put it on my horse a couple of days later and realised there was one black and one dark brown strap on each side!
Saddler came to the yard on Tuesday to sort it, I wasn’t there at the time but when I got to the yard and had a look, the stitching looks awful to me. Is this ok? To me it doesn’t look that secure. I’m also probably going to sell the saddle at some point in the next year and I sort of think it looks like I did this myself. Also included pics of the other strap to show comparison of stitching. What would you do? I hate complaining about stuff

 

[Barton Bounty]

I would be raging! Especially if you had paid for that? However can the girth straps be seen?

 

[Goldenstar]

No that’s not good enough ask for the money back how much did they charge ?

 

[MrRoo]

I am raging but I just feel like everything I do goes wrong at the moment and I’m so rubbish at complaining. You can’t see it but I’m worried about how secure it is and also when I come to sell it, it looks like I’ve had a bash at doing it. Paid £80 on July, she came back on Tuesday for no charge

 

[Barton Bounty]

I would definitely contact her back and tell her its not a professional looking job and it will impact the price you get when you sell the saddle on. Id also emphasise the fact that it looks like a child has done it. ?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am raging but I just feel like everything I do goes wrong at the moment and I’m so rubbish at complaining. You can’t see it but I’m worried about how secure it is and also when I come to sell it, it looks like I’ve had a bash at doing it. Paid £80 on July, she came back on Tuesday for no charge

I would ask her to rectify the amateurish work and mention SM reviews.

 

[criso]

Or get your money back and get someone else to do it. I wouldn't have faith that it will be done properly.

You paid to have girth straps replaced and they still need to be replaced so there's no additional work needed. It may cost more but the work you paid for is substandard and was maybe too cheap.

 

[MrRoo]

How much is a fair price to pay to have girth straps replaced? Yes, at this stage I’d rather she didn’t have another go at fixing it. I’ve messaged her to let her know I’m not happy, so will see what she comes back with

 

[MrRoo]

I would ask her to rectify the amateurish work and mention SM reviews.

What is SM reviews?

 

[Wizpop]

My immediate concern would be how safe are they? They don’t look as ‘secure’ as ithe strap in 3rd photo.
For me, safety and security would be my point of complaint before appearance.

 

[Cortez]

Not a good job at all, but easily remedied. I'd use a different saddler though....

 

[Hormonal Filly]

? that’s awful! Talk about rush/bodge! Can you email both the pictures and complain, formal trail then.

 

[Annagain]

What is SM reviews?

I assume PaS means Social Media by SM.

 

[Nasicus]

That's hilariously bad. There's over 3 times the amount of stitches on the decent one than there is that goofy domino looking hack job.

 

[irishdraft]

No I would not be impressed, those straps do not look secure enough to me, I carnt believe a saddler would think they are safe to go jumping/ galloping on. The third pic looks fine.

 

[criso]

Maybe if you give a rough area, someone will be able to recommend someone to put right.

You'll be on stronger ground if you have a professional opinion of the job.

 

[MrRoo]

I’m in Surrey if anyone can recommend someone to fix it? Could do with getting it done ASAP as I’m not confident to use this saddle till it’s sorted and bareback is definitely not an option with my horse!

 

[MrRoo]

And thank you for all your replies! I’ll stop second guessing myself now ?

 

[Chianti]

I’m in Surrey if anyone can recommend someone to fix it? Could do with getting it done ASAP as I’m not confident to use this saddle till it’s sorted and bareback is definitely not an option with my horse!

Chobham Saddlery?

 

[MrRoo]

Chobham Saddlery?

That’s really near me but they don’t actually have a saddle fitter there any more as far as I’m aware.

 

[alsxx]

Out of interest can you pm me who the Saddler was?

 

[Fieldlife]

I’m in Surrey if anyone can recommend someone to fix it? Could do with getting it done ASAP as I’m not confident to use this saddle till it’s sorted and bareback is definitely not an option with my horse!

If you can get to Woldhingham, I am pretty sure that Ted the saddler there (Woldingham Saddlery) will fix it for you. He specialises in mending tack. And is reasonable. I would call first as he has a workshop day.

I am guessing who ever you have used isnt very good at leatherwork.

 

[poiuytrewq]

How much is a fair price to pay to have girth straps replaced? Yes, at this stage I’d rather she didn’t have another go at fixing it. I’ve messaged her to let her know I’m not happy, so will see what she comes back with

I had some done last year and paid £15 per strap. I was quoted that by two saddlery’s so assume that’s a fair idea of going rate.

 

[Chianti]

That’s really near me but they don’t actually have a saddle fitter there any more as far as I’m aware.

I didn't know that. I was just about to take something in to be altered. Bugger.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I didn't know that. I was just about to take something in to be altered. Bugger.

Guy moved to Wales over a year ago but popped back once a month till xmas to Chobham Rider.
They did get an outworker saddler to do repairs for a while, but it meant dropping off without discussions on alterations etc. No idea if this is still the case, phone and check 1st.
Huge shame as lost 2 good leather work saddlers in 3 yrs, really a super opportunity for a good one to set up in the area as Ted has been snowed under since!

 

[MrRoo]

Out of interest can you pm me who the Saddler was?

PMd you

 

[MrRoo]

If you can get to Woldhingham, I am pretty sure that Ted the saddler there (Woldingham Saddlery) will fix it for you. He specialises in mending tack. And is reasonable. I would call first as he has a workshop day.

I am guessing who ever you have used isnt very good at leatherwork.

I can’t sadly, I work quite far from home and really struggle with time to do anything. I’m out to my horse at 8pm every night as that’s the only time I seem to get! That’s why this is even more frustrating as she had the saddle for a couple of weeks the first time and I don’t want to lose that amount of riding again

 

[MrRoo]

Guy moved to Wales over a year ago but popped back once a month till xmas to Chobham Rider.
They did get an outworker saddler to do repairs for a while, but it meant dropping off without discussions on alterations etc. No idea if this is still the case, phone and check 1st.
Huge shame as lost 2 good leather work saddlers in 3 yrs, really a super opportunity for a good one to set up in the area as Ted has been snowed under since!

Yes I think they send the saddles off to David Dyers now. Will probably have to do that as it would hopefully only be gone a week and it’s very near where I live

 

[sbloom]

Can I just point out (though agreeing with the others) that original girth straps are sewn on by machine, replacements by hand, so they'll never look the same.

That’s really near me but they don’t actually have a saddle fitter there any more as far as I’m aware.

Saddle fitters fit saddles, they may or may not also be a saddler, or do very minor leatherwork like this (many indeed do), but this is definitely saddler, not saddle fitting as such.

The SMS website has a searchable members list, you should be able to find several options.

 

[Sossigpoker]

How much is a fair price to pay to have girth straps replaced? Yes, at this stage I’d rather she didn’t have another go at fixing it. I’ve messaged her to let her know I’m not happy, so will see what she comes back with

A saddler I use charges £15 per strap if you take the saddle to her