Saddle Fitters

josie_s

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5 January 2007
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I'm in need of an excellent saddle fitter in the North East. My boy has had 3 saddles from two different places made to measure but they all slip back. He's not a particularly odd shape, he's not got high withers and is ID x TB but any saddle I have tried on him slips back
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A saddler saw him recently and said its because he has quite big shoulders but surely there must be something out there to suit? Do you have any recommendations? Please

He's the one on the left in my sig
 
Yeah, thanks. I did look on there but TBH I got two of my made to measure one's off a guy who is an approved fitter and they still slip back
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so I was hoping for personal recommendations really
 
We too had problems finding a saddle to fit our boy. He is a 16hh WB x TB with a huge shoulder movement - the saddler said he had not come across one that had such a big movement of his scapula bone backwards. He has high withers and a very short back also (little power house for jumping) but what was happening was every saddle we got would get pushed backwards by his big movement and then make his back near his bum really sore as it went so far back. My hubby who rides him needs a 17.5 inch saddle - so a smaller saddle was not possible.

We had tried everything and have every prolite pad you can buy but still his back would get sore after a one ride so it meant he was then off work for another week. We tried Stubbens, Ideals, all sorts of saddles - by recommendations and other saddlers etc. The saddler I have now even thought the Ideal would suit him - but Nope - it made him sore. So it was back to square one.

In the end my saddler made one - it has a very cut back head, it has a small tree - one for a 17" saddle inside it I think, but the seat area is 17.5 to accommodate the rider, and is cut straightish down the front. Therefore, it doesnt get pushed back, the head sits nicely behind his shoulder - the saddle fits my partner and it is short enough in length for the horse that it doesnt make his back sore as it sits in the right place.

So all I can say is - after 2 and a half years of dispair and anquish over the boys back and being able to ride him - it is now HAPPY DAYS !

I therefore couldnt recommend my saddler enough - his name is Ian Hastilow and he visits all over the world to fit saddles and I believe does the Queens Blues and Royals I think. His contact details can be found on the Master Saddlers website.

I do hope this helps you - good luck.

MaverickMD
 
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