saddle fitter expectations?!

dottylottie

dottylottie

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so my saddle fitter is amazing, i trust her 100% and she’s a lovely lovely person to boot…however i left my saddle with her for the tree to be widened, couldn’t do that week due to work and she was off the following week, we’re now on week 3 and despite messaging i still don’t have an appointment to get it back…

am i being an entitled spoilt brat, or am i right in thinking she ought to squeeze me in?! i’ve put a lot of effort into getting weight off pony, only for her to have 3 weeks off work…also supposed to be at dressage next weekend!

suppose this is more of a whinge - post than anything, but im getting a bit frustrated now!
 
dottylottie said:
so my saddle fitter is amazing, i trust her 100% and she’s a lovely lovely person to boot…however i left my saddle with her for the tree to be widened, couldn’t do that week due to work and she was off the following week, we’re now on week 3 and despite messaging i still don’t have an appointment to get it back…

am i being an entitled spoilt brat, or am i right in thinking she ought to squeeze me in?! i’ve put a lot of effort into getting weight off pony, only for her to have 3 weeks off work…also supposed to be at dressage next weekend!

suppose this is more of a whinge - post than anything, but im getting a bit frustrated now!
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Sorry this doesn’t really help you but when we had our saddle fitter out and the saddle needed widening (fair few years ago now) he did it on site as he was fitting it to the horse, same as when one needs reflocking.
 
Some idea of when it will be done is good manners.

Few years ago I’d moved to a new area of the country with new horse. Needed a saddle. Booked the local one, had a to wait a few weeks waiting for good weather, I didn’t have any stable/covered areas.

First appointment she cancelled on the day as she had to take her sick dog to the vets. Replacement appointment booked three weeks later also cancelled on the day due to her child being ill. Asked a third time for an appointment, gave her a couple of weeks to reply, didn’t hear anything, booked another saddler.

Overall she wasted about two months of my time, where I couldn’t ride my horse. She eventually got back to me about six weeks after asking for third appointment. Don’t think I bother replying to that!
 
I much prefer a saddler who adjusts on site as then they can also tweak.

I have no idea how they do it where they adjust the tree then simply send back - there is a local saddler who does this. He comes out and views, then takes it back and someone else adjusts it to his description, then the saddle is ready for collection. I don't use him!

I do think 3 weeks is too long. I presume she is coming back to do the flocking correctly on site at least?

For me, it would be OK as I have dressage and jump saddles so the horse would not be out of work. However, if this is an only saddle, I would not be able to manage a 3 week gap.
 
Fred66 said:
Sorry this doesn’t really help you but when we had our saddle fitter out and the saddle needed widening (fair few years ago now) he did it on site as he was fitting it to the horse, same as when one needs reflocking.
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she did say she doesn’t do it on site as she leaves it in the press overnight, to prevent it springing back which is fair enough, i can appreciate that!
 
fredflop said:
Some idea of when it will be done is good manners.

Few years ago I’d moved to a new area of the country with new horse. Needed a saddle. Booked the local one, had a to wait a few weeks waiting for good weather, I didn’t have any stable/covered areas.

First appointment she cancelled on the day as she had to take her sick dog to the vets. Replacement appointment booked three weeks later also cancelled on the day due to her child being ill. Asked a third time for an appointment, gave her a couple of weeks to reply, didn’t hear anything, booked another saddler.

Overall she wasted about two months of my time, where I couldn’t ride my horse. She eventually got back to me about six weeks after asking for third appointment. Don’t think I bother replying to that!
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i’ve had a lot of cancelled/rearranged appointments also, i’m pretty easy going as i completely get how easy it is to run over etc, but it is a bit of a pain
 
I would message advising you have something booked in on X date and you need the saddle, offer to collect if she cannot deliver it.
 
dottylottie said:
she did say she doesn’t do it on site as she leaves it in the press overnight, to prevent it springing back which is fair enough, i can appreciate that!
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You’re having it widened, so I can’t understand how it would “spring back”

I imagine she personally doesn’t have the equipment and is having to send it away, hence she may not have full control over the timing
 
I don't think metal works that way, trees spring back over time if they're going to do it, not in the first few hours. Glad I take a tree adjuster onsite but of course there are a few educators/influencers in the industry who are 100% against the type of adjustment that's done on site, and actually generally against adjusting wooden trees.

Fitting by feel and sight is critical IMO and testing by riding. You can't flex that if you're doing it remotely.

I would be able to return a saddle on the schedule.youre hoping for because of the massive area I cover, but that's the other reason I do it on site.
 
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