Reommend me a saddle fitter

[Kub]

Hi, I need to get a saddle for my coblet, who's going away to be backed next weekend (eek!!). I've had suggestions as to what will fit him but tbh, what I'd really like is to have someone out who has a range of second hand saddles so I can get a proper idea of what will fit him.

Problem is, I have no idea where to go for this! I'm in Somerset and what I would really like is someone who can come out with a good variety of saddles and help me find what is going to work for him, without feeling like I have to buy something. I am definitely looking to get a second hand saddle as he's only 4 so going to be changing, especially once he's in work, but I would like to find a good fit and then shop around.

This is my first horse and the first time I've needed to get a saddle fitted so any suggestions and recommendations would be really fab. I don't want to be spending too much on a saddle but I know how important it is for it to be perfect for coblet and this is my number one priority.

Thanks

 

[Kub]

Anyone?

Also, just had a thought. Would it be better to get a saddler out once he's been backed so we can see how he actually goes in it? Or am I just over thinking it?

 

[ThePony]

Sorry can't help with a saddle fitter, perhaps if you put the location in the title too people from your area might be able to help?

Re. when to get someone out - You will need something for him to be backed in so I would get a saddler out to sort that for you. Although you won't be sat in it a good fitter will be able to get a good idea of how the fit is to ensure his backing is a pleasant and calm process. After he is backed it would be a good idea to have the fitter out again to see you in the saddle, and regularly afterwards as your boys muscle will change alot. Once you have a saddle that fits, alot of your boys initial growing and changing shape should be able to be dealt with buy adjusting the flocking and perhaps easing the points of the tree as he develops his topline. If you go for an adjustable saddle or second hand then you have less £ to loose and anything that he grows out of will either have more adjustment (though no guarantee of course that it will always fit, bloomin' horses!) or you will loose less selling the second hand one back to the saddler and getting another that suits his newer shape.

Lots of luck, sounds like exciting times!

 

[SpottedCat]

Try Julia Garrett at Garrett's saddlers. She has a wide range and is good at adjusting things to fit as they change shape.

Before you go buying anything for him to be backed in, I would find out what the people who are backing him think - a lot of places have their own breaking saddles which they like to use.

 

[Kub]

Thanks ladies. The girl who is backing him has something she can use, so I don't need to have something in place for then, it's for when he returns and I can start riding him.

SpottedCat - Julia has been recommended to me by a few people so definitely thinking I'm going to with her, just unsure whether to get her out this week before he goes or wait til he comes back and she can actually see him move in the saddle and me in it too.

Which way do you think is best?

 

[ThePony]

If you have something sorted for him to be backed in which will be comfortable for him then I would wait until he returns to get a saddle sorted. I assume he will be away for at least a couple of weeks? He will start developing 'ridden' muscles in that short time even, so I would give your new saddle the best chance of fitting for longer by getting them out as close to the time that you will be riding him as possible. It is also really important that the saddle fits you well too, so if the both of you can be sorted together when you can ride him on his return then I think that would def be the best solution.
Please post pics too, he is just gorgeous!!

 

[SpottedCat]

In that case I would definitely wait until he comes back and you can sit in it too - it's all very well it fitting him but if you can't ride in it then it's of no use to you!

She commented last week on how much my little dun horse had changed shape since she first fitted the saddle to him - it's amazing the difference you can make with correct work in a short period of time - this was since about December time.

 

[Kub]

Thank you, ThePony, I'm hoping it will stay warm enough for me to give him a good scrub before he goes on Sunday, he's a bit of a mucky mammoth at the mo hehe!

Here's a few pics of him on Thursday, I love the last one, I call it 'Bashful Harry'

And this was his last show last year, looking much less like a mucky mammoth lol!

Ah good, that was my line of thinking too but wasn't sure if I was just being over cautious. I will get her booked for when he returns then, hopefully she'll have something in stock but if not, then I'll just have to wait a little while longer before I ride him. I've waited 2 years so a few more weeks won't hurt