Saddle with a twisted tree- what to do with it?

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fleabitten

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After about a year of using a saddle fitted by a supposed professional I discovered that it had a twisted/torqued tree that was causing my poor,uncomplaining boy some fairly major shoulder pain.
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Unsurprisingly the 'lady' who fitted it ignored all my calls and letters and I am now left with a really rather nice quality leather saddle which ostensibly fits my horse (as checked by a Master Saddler) but with a twisted tree.
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I must admit that in these times of financial restraint I have been sorely tempted to send it down the saddlery auctions- but I couldn't bear the thought of someone buying it and it causing their horse the same pain it did mine.
So does anyone have any ideas of what I could do with it? My master saddler said it would cost a lot of money to strip it down and fit a new tree. Has anyone ever done this before or know anyone who may do it reasonably?
Failing that, anyone want a a twsited saddle?
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I would contact the manufacturers and point out that the saddle was manufactured incorrectly. As it sounds like a quality saddle I would expect the manufacturer to be very keen to help.

They should also be made aware that their saddle fitter/agent selling their saddles is providing poor service.

In tandem I would contact the Master Saddlers organisation and report the fitter. They should also be keen to help.

Finally if all else fails then good old trading standards as its hardly 'fit for the purpose'

So glad you aren't going to sell it!!

Good luck, I think you stand a very good chance of getting your money back one way or another
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If it definately fits your horse panel wise, measure your horse for a new tree and get it changed. It will be cheaper to have a new tree put in than a new saddle.
Or- As you have a second opinion on the twisted tree, get the saddler to confirm it in writing. Send a copy of this with copies of your letters to the fitter and say you want your money back as the saddle is not fit for purpose. The only difficulty here is proving the tree was twisted when you bought it and not since you bought it.
Or- Name and shame!
 
It was sold to me as a quality secondhand saddle, so not sure that the maufacturers would work. Also, the first fitter who sold me the saddle was not a master saddler so no use reporting her there really. As it took 8months after the purchase time to identify that it had a twisted tree then it would be easy for trading standards to say the twist was caused by me- even though I know it wasn't as I only ever mount off a mouting block parallel to the saddle! I can merely make it my life's work to make people aware of this awful mobile saddle fitter...grrrr!
The darn thing is just sat around doing nothing now! It's such a waste!
 
As you bought the saddle second hand, there is no way the manufacturers will accept liability, as anything could have happened to it. To fit a new tree will cost in the region of £200 so as it is a nice quality saddle, it might be worth doing.
Failing that, utterly destroy the saddle and make sure nobody can use it.
 
I think you either pay to put a new tree in it or sell it to a saddler who can either put a new tree in or use the flaps etc for the leather.

don't expect much though, we had an oldish 2nd hand, horse went over in stable and broke the tree, traded it in for new saddle, think it cost 250 originally and he gave us back £50 or £100 for it broken which we had off a diff second hand (which I think was £350 taking into account trade in.
 
Can't you just go to the saddler you bought it off why do you keep ringing take the saddle and face her/him with it. Don't leave the shop until they do something about it. As long as you haven't had the saddle too long.
 
If you really cannot do anything else with it then try Mat at
www.heritagesaddlery.co.uk

He is brilliant at tree replacement,will work on all brands and you can deal by post.

OR sell it on Ebay, clearly labelled with a tree fault as saddlers will buy a project saddle. As a saddlery apprentice, i used to buy damaged saddles as they were excellent practice pieces.
 
I've had similar but with a new saddle costing over £2000, albeit it doesn't fit the horse or me in addition to having two reports from saddlers saying it has a twisted tree. Again, the agent for the manufacturer ignoring me beyond saying that they would "try to sell it for me and get as much as possible for it". Hence I am now sueing them - it is a small claim. I am astonished in the circumstances that the manufacturer hasn't just offered me my money back.

Perhaps you could do the same. I would not let the saddler just get away with this. You have to prove the tree was twisted when it was sold to you however and this might prove difficult, but presumably you did not want to buy a saddle with a twisted tree which would make it not satisfactory for purpose.
 
It costs about £200 to put in a new tree.

The tree could have twisted in a number of ways - not just by mounting from the ground. Most trees twist/warp through being stored incorrectly and the wood warping or falling.

If it is a quality saddle, then it would be worth putting in a new tree, otherwise do as Darkly_Dreaming_Dex says and clearly mark it fault and try to sell it.
 
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