Saddle company saddles, any experience?

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I'm in the market for a new saddle after discovering both my saddles were probably causing my horse to be wonky and lame. I've spent 2 months doing in hand work and now need a new saddle to not make anything worse! Saddle fitter has suggested Kent and masters and Ideal would suit his type, in an XW (not a M/MW like my old saddle :eek3: ) Preferably I want something adjustable in case I build him up even more.

Any experiences of the saddle company saddles? Are they comfortable? How are the plastic trees?
 
I have a saddle company saddle it is very comfortable and has been great for my horse but that is more to do with the fitter than the saddle!

I have to say, even though the company have been very helpful and very easy to deal with, i wouldn't buy another. I bought the saddle with the leather covered, synthetic flaps, within 3 rides the leather covering was peeling away on the flaps. I called them and they were so helpful and apologetic, said to return the saddle, at their expense and they would replace the flaps. Great, no problem. Except it happened again within a couple of rides. Obviously I was a little more annoyed this time but again gave them a chance, this time they would replace with full leather flaps, again returned at their expense. Great, i thought! This time within a couple of days random ink like marks appeared on the flaps! I couldn't be bothered to return it again so just live with it but even the full leather flaps are showing wear now within a couple of months. Now bear in mind i had my last saddle over 10 years and saddle fitters always commented on what good condition it was in!!

I have since read similar reviews about it's durability 😕
 
Definitely don't bother, the fitters aren't properly trained,money just do 1 days training in taking a template

I paid a hefty deposit for a saddle that would never in a million years have fitted the horse it was meant for and never got it back despite photographic evidence it didn't fit

They say the MD is a member of the society of master saddlers on their website but when you cross check with the sms website he isn't in there
 
Thank you so much. I can't believe it - it's exactly as you said! On the Saddle Exchange website it says she's a Master Saddler but on the SMS website she's not listed at all!! And if on top of that the saddles themselves aren't very durable (whilst still expensive)...

If anybody in Scotland has experience of them I'd also love to hear since it may be the same saddle fitter and would be interesting to hear personal experience of her.

Are Saddle Exchange fitters allowed to sell other brands?

But I fear it's maybe back to the drawing board - again!
 
Thanks for your feedback. One of my old saddles was a treeless (barefoot london) and I think due to the fact that he's been lame on and off since 2011 with various leg injuries and I've done a lot of rehab work, despite doing the in hand stuff first I think the treeless saddle has exacerbated my problems due to pressing on his back.

After a week or two of proper in hand straightness work this summer with an instructor a long lived flare on his hind foot (he's bf these days) broke off, I think now because he's finally walking straight!

I think the Kent and masters (or maybe a bates?) May be a safer option as they're adjustable and have a longer reputation.
 
I have had one for a few months now and I love it. I went for the Vicenza which is the full leather flaps and had a half inch bigger seat on the panel as my pony is short backed but I have a bum. Saddle fits lovely and is very comfortable. Not had any issues so far and it was well fitted by my saddler who was very thorough and has done more courses than the standard 2 day saddle company fitting course so that may be it.
 
Scot123 said:
Thank you so much. I can't believe it - it's exactly as you said! On the Saddle Exchange website it says she's a Master Saddler but on the SMS website she's not listed at all!! And if on top of that the saddles themselves aren't very durable (whilst still expensive)...

If anybody in Scotland has experience of them I'd also love to hear since it may be the same saddle fitter and would be interesting to hear personal experience of her.

Are Saddle Exchange fitters allowed to sell other brands?

But I fear it's maybe back to the drawing board - again!
Click to expand...

Ehm, OP, is it me, or am I just a tad confused?? :)

You've posted in another separate thread (which I've replied to) asking for feedback about "Saddle EXCHANGE" saddles, but here you're talking about "Saddle COMPANY" saddles, which is the title of this particular thread!!

Just to clarify, that as far as I am aware the Saddle Exchange, and Saddle COMPANY, are totally different concerns! But very easy to get confused I guess! I've never had a Saddle Company saddle so can't comment on them.

So which is it you are talking about, and want feedback about?? Both companies? Or just the Saddle Exchange??? I've sent you a PM about the Saddle Exchange in my reply to your other thread.

I think I know the name of the "saddle fitter" you are referring to, if they fit for the Saddle Exchange: I think I can give you their name - Devon where I live, is a long way from Scotland, but if this is who I think it is, then they bought the "saddle exchange" saddle that I had for sale a while back, I packaged it up and sent it off to them, they were wanting it "for a client". However I don't know anything about them either good or to their detriment.

IF someone is a properly qualified and affiliated SMS then they would be on their website, if not, then not!! Whatever anyone else says!

If you'd like to refer to the PM I've sent you this evening, we can discuss via PM.............
 
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Thanks Iwantakitten, good to have positive feedback too. I'm hoping I might be able to arrange to have my saddle fitter there as well as my instructor/saddle company fitter and try on lots of saddle at the same time, ride in them and get a feel for what the best saddle is.

I'll will bring up the wear and tear issue on them too.
 
Oh no - I am SO sorry! I started a thread about the Saddle Exchange Company but somehow have posted a reply to this thread instead. I am really sorry everybody, I have no idea how I managed to do that. It's definitely the Saddle Exchange Co I was on about so maybe ignore my posts to this thread. Big apologies!! I will go and read your PM just now...
 
I have a little 14" one for my daughter. It's quite pretty for the money and I can confirm comfortable as I've shoved my ass in it on occasion. However it's not very flat and I think more suited to a curvier back than mine are so I wouldn't get one for myself.

I wouldn't touch K&M with a very long pole personally.
 
I wouldn't mostly because of the reported quality issues and the 2nd hand ones that come up always look rough. I'd rather spend a bit more (2nd hand hopefully ;) ) on something that will look better longer and keep it's value.

Great news about the straightness though!

If a K+M or an ideal will likely fit look for a 2nd hand ideal in my book. I have 2 ;) one bought 2nd hand, I knew the fit of current one and sent the seller a template. Also the trees can be adjusted a few times by the right person if not a million miles off. The VSD has been made narrower a year or so ago as F had lost some topline in his old age.
 
We have 2 SC saddles which were made for horses we had at the time, they were not expensive and have worn reasonably well. I like the serge lining. I had one of them altered to fit a different horse and it has been fine. I found mine comfortable to ride in. I now have yet a different horse and have a Solution saddle, as we have been through4 saddles in as many years as she changed shape.
 
My friend and I had a terrible experience with the SC, though I suspect it was mostly the fitter in particular. This fitter only sells new SC saddles, but "fits" any. She claims to be SMS, but definitely isn't, I wish we had known this before spending £950 on a saddle which was totally inappropriate.
My friend is out of action and I was riding her horse for her. He has always been a quirky type, but you know something is wrong when a horse who has schooled up to elementary dressage, refuses to canter. The only thing to have changed was the saddle, I was not there for the initial fitting, but after a quick feel and a look, the saddle was bridging and tight at the top. So I suggested to friend that she get saddle fitter out to adjust.
She got the same fitter out, who gave me a look of utter distain while I was explaining whats happened. She then proceeded to say " well I can't see anything wrong- but I guess I should adjust it- OBVIOUSLY YOU think theres something wrong"
She went and adjusted it, and for some unknown reason made it wider. We never properly looked at the saddle after that as I couldn't ride the horse for a while. After about 3 months, we got a SMS to come out and make sure it still fit. Low and behold- not even a bit.
It WASN'T the saddle my friend had paid for- she wanted a high wither VSD, this model was a cob saddle.
one panel was so under flocked the serge was wrinkled, the other massively over flocked.
In the end she had to contact SC, who told her that she was over charged for the saddle by about £300, and that she needed to contact the fitter to arrange a refund. The fitter is notorious to be difficult to get a hold of especially when you're wanting money back! finally got in contact and fitter refused to refund & take back saddle ( it was still basically new, only been ridden in about 30 times) because " horses change shape" After a hefty battle, my friend got a partial refund.

As for the saddle itself, it was comfy the leather was nice and the SC were ok to deal with. Just this fitter who is the only fitter in the area who does SC.
 
I've had a saddle company saddle for 7 years now, and I'm happy with it. Had it fitted by a very good fitter though (not related to the Saddle Company). She needed to adjust the tree I think twice in the first year to accommodate muscling up (follow-on to ill-fitting saddle saga with muscle loss), but has been pretty stable fit-wise since, just regular checks needed.
I got mine with extra padding in the seat, and with that I think the saddle is really comfortable. I also have the half leather/half synthetic version. I agree, the leather is probably less hard wearing than in full leather saddles, but so far, my saddle is only showing slight wear in places with a lot of friction (pommel, seam around seat area) and I have some missing stitches at the bottom of the flap holding together the leather cover on the synthetic flap. This is where my stirrup leathers are rubbing the flap, so I'm not really surprised. For the money I paid, I think it is fine.
 
Thanks for all your feedback, I think I might give them a miss - as I've just sold my 13 year old albion that was too narrow and it was in immaculate condition despite reasonable use - I wouldn't expect a saddle to age after 7 years really.

Just need to get hold of some Ideals if possible then so I can try alongside the K&M. I'm not in a massive rush, but would like to ride again - getting a little bored of in hand walking now!

Ester - yes straightness work is good, even if he doesn't really appreciate it! He looks far sounder in the field now, and seems to be able to go down hills much easier, our field is basically a huge hill so this is quite an important thing
 
ive got one (half leather/suede type) and i love it. i got it 2nd hand for about £200 barely used. ive now had it for 7 years and it doesnt look much different to when i got it. ive had 3 fitters out over the years and 2 have been excellent (one was poor) but i suppose you get that with any saddle fitter.
 
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