Saddle Company Saddles

ExpressPrincess

ExpressPrincess

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I want to invest in a good saddle for my (apparently) oddly shaped mare, I have had 5 saddles to try off my friends and none fit well! I am at the end of my tether! I have been using a Falcon GP saddle which appears to fit ok however I took it off my mare today after a 40min hack which she spent the whole time being silly on as some Deer decided to cross the road in front of us and it has given her blisters behind the saddle/back of the saddle even through a polypad! I feel awful!!! I’m really trying to get it sorted but first appointment Mark Fisher can do is 20th May, as i have said i have tried a total of 5 saddles from friends of which my Falcon saddle still fits the best.

I’m looking to get probably a dressage or showing design saddle. I only have a budget of up to about £500.

I’m very seriously thinking of Saddle Company saddles and I think I am keenest on the working hunter design, would like to hear people’s opinions especially if you have brought a second hand one and had success having it refitted to your horse.

Also if anyone could recommend a local (Cambridgeshire) traditional saddle fitter to have this GP refitted before 20th May!

Also a bit cheeky i know but please PM me if you have a saddle company 16/16.5/17” Dressage or WH saddle for sale in brown/Havana.

Thanks
 
I have a working hunter saddle company saddle and I love it.

very flexible to pony changing shape, very comfy, I've had it three years and it still looks smart

hope that helps
 
Personally I think they are brilliant. I have used them on two Horses who had previously had bad fitting problems. However, like any saddle they won't fit everything. They are however fully adjustable so will fit a large variety.
I would suggest you try Norman. He lives somewhere 'down south' (I actually am not sure exactly where but a long long way South of here!) but travels anywhere, even up here, charges very reasonable prices and is also a Bowen therapist. I can guarantee he fits the saddles properly (as in assesses the Horse and gets you to ride in it then comes back for a follow up etc etc). Be carefull as there are a fair few rubbish SC fitters out there.
Don't be put off by the website saying South Africa - he spends some time over there fitting saddles as well.
http://www.equinebowensouthafrica.com/Index.htm
 
PS He had a new SC saddle up to me and fitted within a couple of weeks of me getting in touch.
PPS Yes I have previously bought a second hand one. Fitting was no issue as the serge panel and soft flocking re-moulds much quicker than leather and lambswool and adjusting the width takes the fitter hardly any time at all. When you feel the difference in the panel and flocking you'll see what I mean.
 
suzysparkle said:
Personally I think they are brilliant. I have used them on two Horses who had previously had bad fitting problems. However, like any saddle they won't fit everything. They are however fully adjustable so will fit a large variety.
I would suggest you try Norman. He lives somewhere 'down south' (I actually am not sure exactly where but a long long way South of here!) but travels anywhere, even up here, charges very reasonable prices and is also a Bowen therapist. I can guarantee he fits the saddles properly (as in assesses the Horse and gets you to ride in it then comes back for a follow up etc etc). Be carefull as there are a fair few rubbish SC fitters out there.
Don't be put off by the website saying South Africa - he spends some time over there fitting saddles as well.
http://www.equinebowensouthafrica.com/Index.htm
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He fitted my saddle too (and my other saddles and my friends):)
 
i have the verona dressage saddle, love it, fit is amazing easily adjustable by a fitter (luckily my freind) also have gp's from saddle company, they are great!!!
 
HingeFarm said:
I want to invest in a good saddle for my (apparently) oddly shaped mare, I have had 5 saddles to try off my friends and none fit well! I am at the end of my tether! I have been using a Falcon GP saddle which appears to fit ok however I took it off my mare today after a 40min hack which she spent the whole time being silly on as some Deer decided to cross the road in front of us and it has given her blisters behind the saddle/back of the saddle even through a polypad! I feel awful!!! I’m really trying to get it sorted but first appointment Mark Fisher can do is 20th May, as i have said i have tried a total of 5 saddles from friends of which my Falcon saddle still fits the best.

I’m looking to get probably a dressage or showing design saddle. I only have a budget of up to about £500.

I’m very seriously thinking of Saddle Company saddles and I think I am keenest on the working hunter design, would like to hear people’s opinions especially if you have brought a second hand one and had success having it refitted to your horse.

Also if anyone could recommend a local (Cambridgeshire) traditional saddle fitter to have this GP refitted before 20th May!

Also a bit cheeky i know but please PM me if you have a saddle company 16/16.5/17” Dressage or WH saddle for sale in brown/Havana.

Thanks
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Either PM bowen4horses on here or go to www.poppywebber.co.uk, she's a Saddle Company saddle fitter, fairly local to you and she's great :D
 
I have the Verona Dressage saddle company saddle and I really do love it. I have pm'd you.

edited to say it's the all leather one :)
 
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I have two SC saddles and I love them, not everyone likes them. I will PM you details of my fitter, I have also used Norm (equinebowen) and only changed as this fitter is much more local.
 
mrussell said:
another vote for Poppy Webber !! lovely LOVELY lady, no hard sell..just wants the very best for you and your horse.
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That’s great - I have an Equine Bowen therapy appointment with her (Poppy) in April so going to talk about saddles then :D will keep my beady eye on Ebay meanwhile.
 
Have you tried Barnsby saddlery? I was having problems with my Albion as it was rubbing my pony's back (she had bulked since getting the saddle made). Rang barnsby and some one came out within two days, moved some flocking around and hay presto it fits again
 
I have the Cob GP SC saddle, fab saddles, very forgiving with the soft serge lining, my horse loves his and goes really well in it. I didn't used to find mine very comfy but I've just had the flocking balanced and readjusted and now its much more comfy so much so that I don't need to use my seatsaver anymore. Can thoroughly recommend Poppy Webber too, she's so lovely and very, very good, checks the horse over as well as the saddle, I'd heard good things about saddle fitter Norman too but tried for 6 months to get him to come and do my saddle and in the end gave up and had Poppy out - and I'm so glad I did !
 
I had one of these saddles and really liked it. Reasonably priced, love the adjustability and as a bonus it was the most comfy saddle I've ever sat on.
 
i have the 16inch verona WH saddle and i am really happy with it. i have a new forest with a table top wide back and virtually no wither and this is a good fit for him.
 
i have a SC gp and love it, horse has never had a back issue since using it, it is super soft on them.
Everyone who has sat in it from a BHS I, show judges , huntsmen have all commented on how comfortable it is. I would never put anything else on his back.
 
I love the concept of SCS, however while some i've had have been brilliant, the ones that have not worked out so well have had severe consequences. The adjustable tree is great, as long as it is absolutely correct - as are the serge panels. If the metal tree is not absolutely correct, the serge panels then allow the points of the tree to "dig in" and cause damage....What looks like a good fit initially can soon change due to the "giving" nature of the panels so it is very important to review the fit regularly.

Due to this, I would go for a wider tree adjustment to ensure the points of tree dont dig in, but then the "give" of the serge panels are likely to affect the spine clearance in (not a lot) of time.

Just my experiences - and was a few years ago so the above problems might have been overcome now
 
thoroughlybred1 said:
I love the concept of SCS, however while some i've had have been brilliant, the ones that have not worked out so well have had severe consequences. The adjustable tree is great, as long as it is absolutely correct - as are the serge panels. If the metal tree is not absolutely correct, the serge panels then allow the points of the tree to "dig in" and cause damage....What looks like a good fit initially can soon change due to the "giving" nature of the panels so it is very important to review the fit regularly.

Due to this, I would go for a wider tree adjustment to ensure the points of tree dont dig in, but then the "give" of the serge panels are likely to affect the spine clearance in (not a lot) of time.

Just my experiences - and was a few years ago so the above problems might have been overcome now
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The tree in saddle company saddles is not metal, it's polypropylene, and it always has been. Either way, if the tree in any saddle is too narrow it will "dig in", regardless of what the panel is made from. Most saddles have leather panels. No layer of leather or serge (combined with flocking) will protect from a rigid tree that doesn't fit, regardless of what the tree is made from. Fitting a tree that is too wide also has its own problems (allbeit if it's only slightly wide then you can use extra padding but only if this is advised by a good saddle fitter in cases of muscle atrophy).

What's suggested above is true of any saddle. All rigid trees have the potential to "dig in" if not fitted correctly. Likewise, all saddles should be checked regularly for fit. The SC flocking is very soft and generally needs topping up at initial fitting, then again after a few weeks and then checked every 6 months or so. Any GOOD SC fitter should do this as standard and again, this is normal with all saddles.

I suspect most of the problems with these saddles is fitters who are no good. But, again, the same can probably be said for all makes of saddles.
 
I hated mine. They do not suit every horse so beware.

I got the full leather brown GP version for a TB with a memory foam seat. Despite the memory foam the seat was really hard. I got a 17inch and at a size 6-8 with 30 inch hips you think this would be fine but no, the seat was too small and doing forward canter work ect the cantle would hit me.

It was appallingly made. Mine was brand new, made to measure. Under the flaps the stiching was messy and you could see the White plastic of the points of the tree under the saddle flaps where it had not been put together properly.

The serge while a fab idea in theory with the SC saddles the panels were very floppy. Light and soft yes but the panels would compress and the saddle just got wider and wider! It would slip and slide all over my horse. I saw the SC fitter more times then my own mother and got sick of having it constantly adjusted and still it didn't fit (horse was a mature 9yr old, no muscle wastage or anything). It got sent back for different panels ect and in the end I got rid of it as it was a never ending headache.

Would never have one again. If I wanted a light saddle I would have a thorowgood, if I wanted serge I would get a black country saddle who also can do serge.
 
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