Saddle Company Saddle So Frustrating

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anslowpearl

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Hi All new here but have been lurking around for a while. Really need a bit of advice regarding my saddle company saddle. Bought this saddle about 12 months ago for my warmblood. After the initial bedding in period everytime I rode in it it slipped forward. So saddle fitter came out and altered the width. However the damm thing still slips forward so got fitter out again and was advised to use prolite pads on one side. This has made it slightly better but still slips forward and I am constantly getting on and off to move it back. I really feel that this saddle will never fit my horse and I am so frustrated as it was expensive top of their range sienna model. What would you do, I feel like forgetting all about the damm thing and buying another make, does anyone have any suggestions as to what would be suitable for a warmblood.
 
Can I just ask what saddler you are using?
I would ring the saddle company direct they are very very helpful.
I had problems with one of their fitters / stockists and called them directa nd they were very helpful.
Unfortunatly for them my problems just put me off the saddle co. for life.
 
I also had problems witha fitter. I rang the Saddle Co and they were very helpful, but like Hollypass, I was put off and sold the saddle on eBay
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I fit these saddles for the Saddle Company - pm me and maybe I can help. I think I may know who you used as well ... starts with N?
 
Thats exactly what happened with mine!

The fitter kept coming out, trying pads underneath, saying I need a drop panel etc etc. I got so fed up I got a second opinion from a fitter that sells not just SC saddles but loads of different makes.

She said that the tree and the panels in the SC saddle did not fit my horses shape at all and she said that the panels are so soft that they give too much for my horse, the saddle keeps getting wider and wooosh it just slides up her neck!

She said for the right sort of horse they fit perfectly but she has found that for anything with a bit of a wither they just dont suit at all.

The problem is SC fitters usually only fit SC saddles so they try and make one type of saddle fit every horse. You probably are best selling it and getting a master saddler out who sells lots of different saddles so you can choose the right one for your horse, thats what I did and im really glad.

I think the SC would try and fix your saddle for you, they did mine but I just knew it was never going to work, my horse was gettig sore and I cut my losses.
 
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Thats exactly what happened with mine!

The fitter kept coming out, trying pads underneath, saying I need a drop panel etc etc. I got so fed up I got a second opinion from a fitter that sells not just SC saddles but loads of different makes.

She said that the tree and the panels in the SC saddle did not fit my horses shape at all and she said that the panels are so soft that they give too much for my horse, the saddle keeps getting wider and wooosh it just slides up her neck!

She said for the right sort of horse they fit perfectly but she has found that for anything with a bit of a wither they just dont suit at all.

The problem is SC fitters usually only fit SC saddles so they try and make one type of saddle fit every horse. You probably are best selling it and getting a master saddler out who sells lots of different saddles so you can choose the right one for your horse, thats what I did and im really glad.

I think the SC would try and fix your saddle for you, they did mine but I just knew it was never going to work, my horse was gettig sore and I cut my losses.

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Agree... I got rid of my Gp as it was constantly needing adjusted to maintain the fit, now have an event with drop panels which is a good shape for my mare - she is TB - but I swear the saddle keeps getting wider all by itself, and its nothing to do with stuffing settling as I have been measuring the external width, its now and inch and a half wider than it was....

It'll be getting sold on next year - will be sorry to see it go though as its lovely to ride in....
 
I hate to say this but I suspect all the same fitter - beginning with N. CBAnglo - I am with you on that one.

Are these horses where it slips forward mares - or geldings with narrowish shoulders and larger bellies? Are you using an elasticated girth or a thinner cottage craft type girth. Have you tried it with a stubben jumbo cord girth. These saddles do not get wider - the tree cannot move except under serious tonnage. Scarlett if your has you need to ring Dave Johnson at the Saddle Company he needs to see it as it sounds as though there is a serious fault. The flocking will bed down but it should do in every saddle - provided it is flocked correctly and not jus absolutely stuffed hard. Once the saddle has bedded - provided it has been fitted correctly it should be fine for your horse. However you have to remember horses change shape dramatically sometimes, with work, diet, cold, illness so it can never fit all the time.

AS to your saddle fitter saying that about withers - she is I am afraid talking absolute rubbish. I have put these saddles on all shapes of horses, and used them as remedial saddles for horses who have serious muscle wastage. In most cases the most seriously damaged are the ex racers with the razor sharp withers. These fit beautifully. they can be adjusted an infinite number of times to get a perfect fit and the serge and the flocking encourage muscle development and therefore increasing saddle width requirements.

Like with any saddles they are only as good as the person who fitted it and the quality of after care. they are fantastic value for money as they are relatively inexpensive to buy and can be adjusted to fit as your horse changes - provided you get a decent fitter. If you are not happy with the fit then talk to your fitter firstly - and then Dave Johnson. No other saddle fitter will be independent - haven't you noticed how they all seem to slate each others work and that they can fit you the perfect saddle.

An no - I don't just sell Saddle Company Saddles, I do others and I do lots of remedial work so I am only biased in favour of the horse and its comfort.
 
I'm not being funny BUT surely if this N person is known about for being totally useless then he/she should be struck off. The Saddle Co. need to be told about them because if they are using the Saddle Co. name and being crap then they aren't doing the Saddle Co. any favours at all.

I think all bad saddlers should be struck off!!
 
I am with you on that one - but who strikes them off - they are not on any register some of these and the SMS is totally useless from that side - how many really bad saddle fitters are reported to the SMS and then let off - talk to Pidge she knows exactly what the problem is as she tried to get one disciplined -
 
I have a Saddle Co saddle and didn't have any problems with it.

Got a fitter out " N " and it slides to the right now.
 
Bosworth fits my SC saddles and has done for 7 years, she's fitted them to my witherless wonder (SC Cob GP & SC Event GP) and to my withered WB boys and they have all fitted beautifully, of course the saddle is only as good as the fitter, luckily I have an excellent fitter.
 
I've phoned twice now for an appointment to get mine looked at as it's now sitting a little low on my horse's wither. Both times I was told they'd ring back with an appointment, but 5 weeks later, I'm still waiting.

Little frustrating that you can only have one type of fitter come to look at the saddle really as I understand they are very busy and cover a large area. I feel as though mine is twisted. No matter how I sit, my right foot is further back than my left and I feel I'm looking over her right shoulder. When I have mine checked, it never even gets girthed up. Just placed on the horse and then the underneath of it looked at it. I gets declared sound and a good fit, but when I ride in it, I always feel I'm battling with the feeling of not being sat straight in it.
 
for the sake of your blood pressure and sanity, give the original saddle fitter one last chance and then if still not sorted sell the saddle and get one that fits from a different saddle fitter who knows what they are doing.
IME this is the best option although not the right one ethically
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as at the end of the day badly fitting saddles have such a detrimental effect on your horse, mine is now extremely happy in both his saddles and has started to build up the muscle under the saddle where it had wasted away with the other saddles. Also hurrah
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the patches of white hair either side have now gone since I clipped him out for winter
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Patches, try setting it back slightly - it may be that your horse is bigger through the right shoulder and as such everytime the right leg moves the right shoulder pushes the saddle across to the left. This would make you feel as you describe. Setting it slightly further back behind the right should would then minimise the movement. Also what girth do you use. Anything with elastic at one end is hopeless. they allow twist and movement from all saddles. you should think about getting a Stubben jumbo cord girth that will maximise saddle stability and be far more comfortable for the horse.
 
I used to use a stubben cord girth but the biting upon girthing her up was horrendous. I used to wear a body protector to do it...I kid you not! I never over girthed her and always put it up one hole at at time from opposite sides.

I switched to an aerborn humane girth (just the standard canvas type one, not a padded one) and she's been fine about being girthed ever since.

However, the saddle has always done this from day one. If I set it further back, I'm told it's too far back over her loins. She's only 15.1hh and very compact with it. I'm really at the limit, I think, saddle length wise for her to cope with.

Will try it though. Have called them again since reading this post and have been told they're just very busy and will try and call me back to book me in the week after next.
 
I have also used this fitter and have had no end of problems with my saddle although I know others who are happy with him (but also others who are not).

Bought in in Feb, it fitted for all of a month and then started slipping forward. It also has always risen at the back. Funnily enough, I have a very round cob with small shoulders!

I've lost count of the amount of times I've had it adjusted including a full reflock and am now ready to sell it and get a Thorowgood!
 
Wow so many comments thanks everyone much appreciated. Firstly the saddle fitter isn't N and I honestly do have large respect for the fitter I used even though the saddle is giving me grief! I do have saddle company saddles on 2 of my ponies and they are great no problems whatsoever which is why I went for one of these for my warmblood as I was impressed with the ponies saddles. Said horse is a gelding and he does have one shoulder slightly more muscled than the other, always has been like this and I do know this doesn't help the saddle. What is happening is he is actually changing the shape of the flock with his shoulder if that makes sense and you can see on one side of the saddle the flocking is pushed over the outside of the leather whereas the other side is perfectly flush. Hence we have tried prolite pads on one side but it doesn't really make much difference. I just wondered if this was just me and my horse or whether others had experienced it. He has an albion leather girth which rubbed him and so now using a wintec girth which has also started to rub so now using a stephens sheepskin girth cover. Ebay here we come I think
 
I had a problem with a saddle fitter making a mess of a Saddle Co saddle for one horse and a Bates for another, but I called up the Saddle Co, Dave came out and sorted it. I quite like my Saddle Co saddle, but I would never say that one saddle can fit all horses, so maybe it's just not for you.
 
Baby Bear - if your saddle has always ridden up at the back it has always been too wide.. I suspect he has low withers, and a large tum. because the saddle is too wide it can move very easily. his tum will be moving the girth forward which will pull the saddle forward. and because the saddle is too wide it will travel forwards really easily. You aren't by any chance near Bristol or in South West as I would be happy to have a look at the fit and sort it out for you. using a cord girth will help stop the girth moving forwards and thereby stop the saddle being pulled, however while ever it is too wide it will not solve your problem.
 
anslow pearl, is your horse getting sore in the arm pits? I suspect your saddle does not fit, and also it is possible being set on too far forwards, if it is set on behind the largest shoulder the shoulder movement should not be affecting the saddle. could you possible post a photo of how it sits on your horse, and can you let us know if it is an elasticated girth
 
sold mine as it was a bad fit and caused all sorts of problems, my horse had to have time off work due to it
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Baby Bear - if your saddle has always ridden up at the back it has always been too wide.. I suspect he has low withers, and a large tum. because the saddle is too wide it can move very easily. his tum will be moving the girth forward which will pull the saddle forward. and because the saddle is too wide it will travel forwards really easily. You aren't by any chance near Bristol or in South West as I would be happy to have a look at the fit and sort it out for you. using a cord girth will help stop the girth moving forwards and thereby stop the saddle being pulled, however while ever it is too wide it will not solve your problem.

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Unfortunately I'm in Scotland and we don't have a SC fitter in our area
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anslow pearl, is your horse getting sore in the arm pits? I suspect your saddle does not fit, and also it is possible being set on too far forwards, if it is set on behind the largest shoulder the shoulder movement should not be affecting the saddle. could you possible post a photo of how it sits on your horse, and can you let us know if it is an elasticated girth

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I will take a photo tomorrow and post it for you to see. Yes he does get sore in his armpits only on the one side ( the side we have to fill with pads ). Have been using albion shaped dressage girth with elasticated insert but am now using wintec chafeless girth which is slightly better. I do however use the stubben string girths on the ponies and their saddles are spot on.
 
I have a SC saddle and an quite happy with it. Well designed and comfortable for both me and the horse.

I had it fitted by a SC saddler and it slid about like nothing earth. Usually backwards, which was a first - she's a round cob and everything usually goes up the neck! Had it reflocked (by different fitter, but not one who could change the width) and it didn't make much difference.

Got the SC saddler fitter out again and made them do exactly as I wanted - making it narrower, despite them not agreeing. Hey presto, saddle fits and never moved an inch, horse never been happier. Problem sorted.

Had the same issue with the Barry Swain saddle (my pride and joy!) - determindly fitted too wide to 'allow repair of muscle damage' which the horse never had (she's high withered and will aways be high withered, but no muscle damage). Horse didn't like it, I didn't like it. Had it made narrower, at my insistance, and it's been perfect since.
 
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