cobwithattitude
...
could not remember name for life of me.....sounds about right.
Saddle fitter/master saddler
- Thread starter AdorableAlice
- Start date
Stace
Active Member
OMG, just read this thread I've got Jo Beavis coming to sort out a new saddle and I'm now worried. I have already lost a lot of money on a brand new Sue Carson saddle that was fitted by Sue. Is there any one we can totally trust.
Our horse is very sensitive and if the saddle isn't right she can be quite a handful
Our horse is very sensitive and if the saddle isn't right she can be quite a handful
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Maybe she's upped her game, then. Let's just say that IMHO she needed to.
My opinion of Crewe Saddlery was that the girls were pleasant, but wouldn't recognise a correctly fitted saddle even if it jumped up and bit them on the bum. I used to use them for many years til I got completely disillusioned.
This is a very depressing thread. Like others I like to employ an expert, pay them well and expect to be given good service. Doesn't seem to much to ask, does it?
Frumpoon
Well-Known Member
All I know is, from my experience, do not have Jo Beavis!!!!!
Joyous70
Well-Known Member
Has anyone used Craig Millard before? he now works at Tower Farm Saddlers.
I am looking for someone but am only in the market for a 2nd hand saddle, as my girl is growing, was hoping someone may have heard if they are any good?
Also do Horsesense travel to yards? i think it might be too much of a BIG ask for my youngster to travel to them for the first time ever in the trailer and then expect her to behave for a saddle fitting as well.
I am looking for someone but am only in the market for a 2nd hand saddle, as my girl is growing, was hoping someone may have heard if they are any good?
Also do Horsesense travel to yards? i think it might be too much of a BIG ask for my youngster to travel to them for the first time ever in the trailer and then expect her to behave for a saddle fitting as well.
patchandloopy
Well-Known Member
I had an excellent experience with Jo Beavis, she explained eveything thoroughly, knew her stuff for sure and was polite and easy to talk too!
cobwithattitude
...
Craig .... Great and very down to earth, fixed my saddle on site and did not try to sell me a new one. Fave saddle fitter from Barnsby has left. Craig was recommended. Unsure of how much stock they have ..give Tower Farm a call.
Joyous70
Well-Known Member
thanks for this, Tower Farm have masses of 2nd hand saddles, this is why i was quite keen to try and use them, but had never used Craig before and as i have my Kent & Masters to PX, they also stock these as well so may mean im in a more favourable position.
chestnut cob
Well-Known Member
IME saddle fitters give you a cr@p price if you PX, I always sell my old saddles privately as I find I get a better price.
It's really frustrating trying to buy a saddle. I don't know Tower Farm. I bought my jumping saddle from Crewe Saddlery last year who have some second hand - if you use them, specify that you ONLY want Beatrice, no one else!! You could also try Mel Lewis in this area - she's a bit like Marmite, some people love her, others... not so much... There's also someone in Stourbridge direction... Jane someone?? Have a look on the Society of Master Saddlers website, they are all listed there.
Joyous70
Well-Known Member
Im in warwickshire, near to Rugby & Coventry, im sure i looked at Crewe Saddlery before, but there mileage rates were horrific, i have been recommended Mel Lewis by someone else also, will have to contact her to see if she would travel as far as me.
I have looked on th Society of Master Saddlers website, but you don't always know who your dealing with.
Thanks again for your help.
I tried to sell my last saddle privately, a Cliff Barnsby in excellent condition as i was told by two different saddlers, but still only raised £200 for it!!
chestnut cob
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't say I particularly recommend ML but I know quite a few on here use her.
Do you have transport? You can take the horse to CS if so, that's what I do and it makes it so much cheaper, even with costing in my trailer fuel!
I've found that you have to hold out for the price you want if you sell privately. Put it on for a higher price then you can take offers, and decide the lowest you will accept. It took me about 4 months to sell my Jeffries last year; I got £100 less than my asking price but sold it for what I'd paid for it the year before (it was a complete bargain when I bought it, I don't think the seller realised how much it was worth!).
There is also the National Saddle Centre near you - they might check your old one and be able to refit it if you are wanting to stick with it?
Do you have transport? You can take the horse to CS if so, that's what I do and it makes it so much cheaper, even with costing in my trailer fuel!
I've found that you have to hold out for the price you want if you sell privately. Put it on for a higher price then you can take offers, and decide the lowest you will accept. It took me about 4 months to sell my Jeffries last year; I got £100 less than my asking price but sold it for what I'd paid for it the year before (it was a complete bargain when I bought it, I don't think the seller realised how much it was worth!).
There is also the National Saddle Centre near you - they might check your old one and be able to refit it if you are wanting to stick with it?
Joyous70
Well-Known Member
Yes i do have transport, but it would be her first trip out in the trailer, and i think it might be too much of a big ask to take her all that way and behave for a fitting, i may be wrong though.
The saddle has been checked by NSC and does fit her, but because she is slimmer than my late horse who's it used to be the panels are effectively shorter or not so out in front of my leg, which is why im having problems i cannot get my knee where i want it, shame because i love the saddle.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
It's interesting that Crewe Saddlery have second hand saddles again. They used to have a good selection, mostly taken in p/x. Then they stopped taking p/x's unless they'd sold them from new, then stopped p/exing at all. At this point I stopped using them.
I last saw Beatrice about 2 years ago, doing a fitting on a yard I was visiting. She sold a new saddle but it was far too small for the lady rider (as I could clearly see from a distance). Not sure of the ins and outs, but the lady got rid of the saddle and went to David of Village Saddlery (another 'marmite' fitter!) who fitted her and the pony correctly.
I last saw Beatrice about 2 years ago, doing a fitting on a yard I was visiting. She sold a new saddle but it was far too small for the lady rider (as I could clearly see from a distance). Not sure of the ins and outs, but the lady got rid of the saddle and went to David of Village Saddlery (another 'marmite' fitter!) who fitted her and the pony correctly.
Blythe Spirit
Well-Known Member
I just had Jo try to find me a saddle - we narrowed it down to two - one she swore would be good for the horse two sizes smaller but I hated it to ride in as it was massively blocked off the horses back with HUGH high panels and tipped me forward. The other was fab for me but I wasn't convinced it fitted the horse as it was so tight on the shoulder his skin wrinked back as he walked. She very cannily said 'it's not wrong' which I interpreted to mean 'its not right either' and didn't buy it - though boy it was nice to ride in! I then tried Barton Saddles - who were very helpful but best they could do was see if they could get a bespoke Ideal made with a GP or VSD on a jumping tree which they said fitted the horse best - It may have done but I was still unconvinced about it giving the shoulder enough room - it sat well over the shoulder but I was told that because the point pockets pointed well back it would let him move under it..?? Then I had Antonia Wills - she was helpful, took her time, and happily had in stock a small GP which sat back enough to free the shoulder
Renvers
Well-Known Member
Lord what an ordeal, glad you weren't railroaded into one that is "not wrong"!
Cheshire Chestnut
Well-Known Member
Oh Christ, don't use David at Village Saddlery in Warrington (I know it's not the OP's area but I had to say something with him being mentioned). Being messed about by 3 saddle fitters so far, I went against all my better judgement and used David. Rudest and most arrogant man I've met in a long time. Turned up 3 hours late, charged a fortune for his opinion on my saddle and the quoted some stupid price (£200! On top of the £70 call out fee) for having two inches of flocking removed.
I feel like I'm living my own saddlery nightmare. If I still lived in Yorkshire I would have used Patrick Wilkinson, he never let me down. In fact, with all the money I've wasted on rubbish saddlers in the past few months, I could have paid for him to travel down twice over by now!!
Jo1980
Well-Known Member
Andy Wheels (the saddle man) is awful. He is extremely expensive and generally doesn't care whether he sees you ride in a saddle or not (which I think is vital, as that's what it's for!!)
He 'fit' a saddle to my horse who instantly started bucking afterwards. I called him to let him know and he was very rude (once I'd managed to get hold of him). Apparently he had done a great job and it was the horse being naughty. She'd never bucked before that day and hasn't bucked since having a different saddler come out and fit the saddle properly.
He 'fit' a saddle to my horse who instantly started bucking afterwards. I called him to let him know and he was very rude (once I'd managed to get hold of him). Apparently he had done a great job and it was the horse being naughty. She'd never bucked before that day and hasn't bucked since having a different saddler come out and fit the saddle properly.
CMMB
Well-Known Member
As mentioned there seem to be good and bad said about all the saddlers mentioned so a bit difficult to decide. I have used Andy Wheals for 3 years now; first fitting he insisted on seeing the horse ridden and jumped, spent ages making sure the saddle fitted by reflocking on site (a new Thorowgood). Came back out again to check a month later when I said I wasn't perfectly happy with the fit (for a small fee). Now knows the horse and can comment on the ever changing shape and reflock accordingly (always on site). In my opinion with the small amount of knowledge I have about saddle fitting I am happy with his service.