Saddle Fitting Check - What is Done & Price?

Depends on saddler. I had a master saddler out and it cost £45.00 for fitting only. She did a template of his back, tried number of saddles ( i was looking to buy), watched me ride. Took over an hour.
 
A good fitter will check the condition of the flocking etc in the saddle, check the tree, will then look at the saddle on the horse's back - if the fit looks reasonable they should always see you at least walk and trot in it, ideally canter and if relevant jump. There will then be an extra charge for any flocking or tree adjustment. It depends on time whether I flock on site or take the saddle away - it should almost always be seen ridden in after the adjustment, occasionally it's just not possible in the required time scales but always MUCH better for it to be checked again. I do my own flocking, some fitters will brief a saddle maker to do the flocking for them, I personally feel that having the fitter do the work is more reliable, if they know what they're doing of course!

Some fitters charge a fitting fee, I usually don't, I just charge a call out which ranges from £30 if you are within 30 minutes drive, to £60 and occasionally more (as I cover a huge area) if you are more than an hour from me.
 
I am so glad I can tell you this now. Had a fitter out last month for my boy, the first time I have seen a saddle fitting.
What happened was.

(once she found the yard)
I had my boy there, with his back clean and feet picked out :P - the rest of him I just gave up on!
Made sure I has my stirrup irons and leathers off my old saddle and had a girth that came up on the third hole each side of my old saddle. (give a bit of give and take for girth straps lengths).
The saddler comes out with a load of saddles.. how she fit all the saddles into her car I have no idea?! :rolleyes:
She did my boy in his stable- it was slightly rainy! And tried a few on just to see how they all sat, his shape etc.
About seven she had, fitted him beautifully.
Then we started off-...
Tried all the saddles that fitted, rode in them for 5-10 mins each. Picked out the one I like and he seemed to like the most. Rode in it a little more and bought it.
I paid via card. With Stirlingshire saddlery.

I was £45 for the fit, and the price of the saddle with that.
I emailed them to start off with asking price etc. And told her *about* what width he was, build/breed, my bum size, the colour I wanted and the style.
I wanted a wide/XW wasn't sure, working hunter style saddle, he was short backed and I wasn't a overly heavy/big rider. I wanted it ideally in havanna.
Sometimes it helps if you give them your level of experience and what you wish to do but I didn't bother!

Mines was bought second hand from one of there clients ;)

:D
 
First of all they should look at your current saddle on the horse and see if it fits, many don't bother as they want to sell saddles. When fitting a saddle it should fit without anything underneath it you should sit in it the same. Once fitted to the horse it needs to be right for the rider.

A couple of things to look for when buying a saddle, make sure you get to look at it properly. Hold both ends and make sure the middle does not move. Look for creases across the seat, these can all be signs of a twisted or broken tree.
 
SMS saddle fitter turns up and charges £45 to £70 for travel.
Spends next 30 mins telling you that previous 3 saddles fitted by other SMS saddle fitters could never have fitted your horse.
Then fits another new/expensive saddle that definitely does fit your horse (in their opinion)but can't take any of the previous 3 in part exchange because there is no market for 2nd hand saddles!

I'm on my 5th professionally fitted saddle, none of which could ever have fitted my horse according to the 6th SMS saddle fitter.

The joys of horse ownership! Cynical - who me?

Sorry - just fed up with being ripped off!
 
My saddler assesses the saddle on the horse, then makes any adjustments needed. I am usually asked to sit on the saddle afterwards to ensure that it fits ok.

Call out costs £45 but try to share with others on yard so brings price down. The most expensive bill I have had was for a full re-flock which cost £190, but just to adjust the stuffing is around £30.

He does all the work on site and takes around 45 mins.

My saddler is a Master saddler and only adjusts, so no fear of a sales job!
 
Cost £ 50 plus a share of travel usually £20.
Look at saddle on horse , discuss
Watch me ride the horse
Adjust the saddle put back on horse ride again done.
Fully stripping my mono flap jumping saddles is bait more expensive.
 
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