Saddle Fitter reccomendations North West.... sorry

L

Louby

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 July 2005
Messages
6,591
Visit site
Sorry if this has been done and done and done before :(

Any reccomendations please, would say not an easy to fit horse.
I dont want top end prices, be nice to get a good 2nd hand one as my new horse has 'issues' with his back, has/is being seen by a physio and vet and we need to rule out the saddle before investigating further, hence not wanting to spend loads in case it isnt the saddle and he has a more sinister problem.

I have looked on the MS site and rang a couple who only deal in new saddles, but the dearer ones :) I wouldnt hesitate if I knew he was ok but it seems silly to spend loads and he potentially not be right.

Ive used a few over the years with good and bad experiences but really need to feel confident that they will get it right as horse is a sensitive sort.

Thanks for reading
 
Hi my mare has had many problems with her back and saddles since i have had her, and i have always used L 4 Leather in irlam, they have always been great and have even hand made me a saddle to fit :)
 
Just out of interest would it bother you if the fitter wasnt on the list of Master Saddler fitters?? Most arent but I am really concerned about getting it right as he isnt a straightforward fit and very sensitive. Ive seen someones site with years of experience but googling them doesnt bring much up.
 
If they were well known in the area and had excellent feedback/recommendation from people you know have used and rate them I would probably give them a go.
 
Louby said:
Just out of interest would it bother you if the fitter wasnt on the list of Master Saddler fitters?? Most arent but I am really concerned about getting it right as he isnt a straightforward fit and very sensitive. Ive seen someones site with years of experience but googling them doesnt bring much up.
Click to expand...

Yes it would bother me. You have no comeback if something should go wrong.

I use David at Village although appreciate he isn't everyone's cup of tea & is v v expensive. I know two people who use Steph Bradley at Freedom. Not only is she a fully qualified fitter she trains with Charlotte Dujardin so she is a rider too. She will spend a lot of time not just assessing horse & saddle fit but the rider too. Not all saddlers seem to do that.
 
Village saddlery only do new saddles I believe... thats what I've picked up on here when looking for a saddler in the area
 
Its so hard as who one person rates another will say barge pole. I had dealings with most in the area a few years ago and ended up fitting my own after some bad experiences, thats not to say someone else had a positive experience of course. Im obviously not a saddle fitter but I think Ive a good idea but in my new boys case its got to be spot on as we need to rule out an ill fitting saddle before we do further investigation.
I didnt want to mention names but has anyone heard of Paul Hutchinson??
 
Thanks Kautostar, I have used David before and he would be who I'd use if I was buying a new top end saddle. Once I know my boy isnt broken I am more than happy to spend the money but at the moment I cant justify spending that much money in case the saddle isnt the problem.
I will have a look at Freedom :)
 
I made two appointments with Freedom, hired a local school, took a day off work and they cancelled both with very little notice. This was in 2013 and I'm still await ing a call back from them to re-arrange as I was promised. I gave up on them and used Michelle Miller instead.
 
I use David from Village as well, he spends a lot of time assessing horse and rider also. Interestingly, he fitted a second hand dressage saddle when I needed a new saddle for my new mare. Paul Hutchinson is based in Burscough, and is also very good - he trained David.
 
Hi thanks everyone,
Michelle is a lovely woman, I spoke to her recently to see what she had in and she didnt have much at the time to suit my boy.
Thanks Gleeful Imp, just what I needed to hear, I will give Paul a ring.
Saddles Direct seem great and really knowledgable but so pricey for 2nd hand saddles, well the ones that will suit my boy are, typically he seems to suit Prestige, passier, Amerigo types :(. I think I'd rather buy a new one than pay over £1k for a 2nd hand one.
 
Village saddlery are only interested in you, if you want to buy a saddle.

I bought a saddle from them, and rang several times, emailed and left several messages as I wanted them to come and check a saddle I'd previously purchased from them - they weren't interested. Although I know someone who wanted a new saddle and they where out like a shot (this was in a similar time frame).

I then used Cath Lonsdale who is excellent, very thorough and sounds a lot of time evaluating you under saddle too. I would highly recommend her, and she isn't just out to sell you a saddle, she'll happily check other saddles.
 
Apache Warlord said:
Village saddlery are only interested in you, if you want to buy a saddle.

I bought a saddle from them, and rang several times, emailed and left several messages as I wanted them to come and check a saddle I'd previously purchased from them - they weren't interested. Although I know someone who wanted a new saddle and they where out like a shot (this was in a similar time frame).

I then used Cath Lonsdale who is excellent, very thorough and sounds a lot of time evaluating you under saddle too. I would highly recommend her, and she isn't just out to sell you a saddle, she'll happily check other saddles.
Click to expand...

He comes out every 6 months to check my saddles - never had any issues at all... He's always busy but if you expect not to get him for a month then you can plan accordingly
 
Paul Hutchinson is brill, I have a saddle re-flocked from a previous horse and when I bought my new horse he came at very short notice and brought some saddles based on height and size (I wasn't sure what size he would need) he brought along some suitable saddles, let me trail them all and then adjusted the saddle I choose there and then. Also reasonable prices. I think he is based at Asmall.
 
blitznbobs said:
He comes out every 6 months to check my saddles - never had any issues at all... He's always busy but if you expect not to get him for a month then you can plan accordingly
Click to expand...

you must be lucky... I'd have waited however long I needed too.. but after 6 weeks of not even having the courtesy to ring me back, I gave up... I had bought 2 saddles off him in the past too..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top