Saddle fitters - Warning bit of a rant

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Flight

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Hi, My friend took her new horse to have a saddle fitted today to a well known sms qualified saddle fitter and came back with a nice looking saddle very excited as old saddle wasn't great. We went out for a ride and she asked me what I thought of it. When I felt the front it did give good clearance at the front and was level etc but was so tight on shoulders I couldn't get any fingers in. I've always been told that for a horse to get more muscle behind withers (which this horse needs, typical tb) the saddle needs to not be tight to allow the muscle to develop. I was very shocked that the saddle fitter had told her that this was fine and that as she got more muscle it would fit better? I'm not a qualified saddle fitter but have had lots of experience and can't believe that this person is trying to sell her a saddle which firstly doesn't fit properly and secondly could potentially cause serious damage to the horses back. GGGRRRRRRR Sorry rant over but this really irritates me!
I told my friend what I thought so now she is torn between who to trust.
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Saddle fitter rants usually annoy me, but in this case, you are perfectly correct.
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It is a common mistake to fit a too narrow tree on TB types in order to clear the withers under the pommel. Unfortunately too many saddle fitters are more interested in making a sale than the welfare of the horse.

I would encourage your friend to phone the fitter asap and explain your concerns and see what they say. Better to get it sorted now, dont wait for the horse to have a problem
 
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