Saddle Woes - what to do

Abi90

Abi90

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I have two saddles for my horse. A Bates in nova Dressage saddle and a Bates Caprilli jump saddle.

The dressage saddle was recommended and fitted by saddle fitter number one 2 months ago and bought from saddles direct so should have had "health check" as it were.

Jump saddle bought off eBay in the hope with it being Bates also that it should fit nicely but cheap enough that I can sell it on and it not to matter too much if it didn't.

Had a different saddle fitter out to check the fit as have moved yards. Jump saddle doesn't fit but not a huge problem as saddle fitter will part ex for another.

Dressage saddle also a terrible fit, he's not changed shape that much in 2 months, and also faulty (yet to ascertain why as I wasn't at the fitting but sounds like something to do with the tree).

So I have 2 saddles I can't ride in. One very expensive one that I probably won't be able to sell so will make a massive loss and have no spare money to buy another until I sell the jump and it will have to be a very cheap one at that.

I have literally no idea what to do and wondered if anyone had any suggestions?
 
Are both your different saddle fitters associated to any professional association?

It yes, maybe worth contacting the association for some advice on what best to do regarding your situation but suspect you may have to chalk it up to a life lesson and just move on from it.

What are the terms and conditions on the saddle place which you bought from re faulty saddles? Is there a time limit which you have to inspect/accept the saddle? Maybe worth having a chat with them but I would get something written from the second fitter, describing the saddle and detailing out the faults/issues. You sound a little vague regarding the exact fault so I would find out and get it in writing so if you are going to do complain to the first fitter or to the company that you bought your faulty saddle from if there is a faulty with the tree.
 
Abi90 said:
The dressage saddle was recommended and fitted by saddle fitter number one 2 months ago and bought from saddles direct so should have had "health check" as it were.





Dressage saddle also a terrible fit, he's not changed shape that much in 2 months, and also faulty (yet to ascertain why as I wasn't at the fitting but sounds like something to do with the tree).



I have literally no idea what to do and wondered if anyone had any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Erm....you where not at the fitting, I am always there so I can try it out in the school and work at all paces in the fitting of a new saddle. Is it a new saddle as surely you would have recourse with the fitter and manufacture of this saddle. If there was a problem with the tree, then surely this would be picked up.....my advise would be when have a future saddle fitting you ride in it....you would not buy a pair of shoes and not walk around in them first in the shop.....and, personally I would speak to first fitter and to who ever supplied the saddle to get a readdress on poor service IMO on fitting and the saddle!
 
I was at the original fitting when the saddle was recommended and fitted to the horse. No fault was mentioned then so there is every possibility it may have happened since I've had it, although not sure how.

I had it checked yesterday as the saddle fitter was up for another horse and it made sense to do it on the same day. I was supposed to be there but my work changed my shift pattern at the last minute (as in same day, an hour before) so could no longer make it as had to be in work. As it was a check not a fitting for a new saddle I hadn't expected it to be a major issue.

Believe me I had every intention of being there!
 
So the jump saddle has gone back up for sale. Will accept that one as I took a risk buying online.

Dressage saddle's Cair panels are damaged and in some places seem to be missing!! Going to see if the company that sold it will take it back accompanied by opinion of saddle fitter in writing as he said there is now way I managed to do that damage to it in the 2 months I've had it. If they won't then the option is potentially to have to cair taken out and have it flocked then sell on. He also said there is now way the saddle ever fitted the horse.

But oh well! You live and learn, poor old pony was a different horse in some of the saddles we tried today but that's the only saddle I've had on him since I've had him so I just thought that was his way of going. But, you live and learn!
 
It's quite difficult when you have a recommendation from a saddle fitter to buy a certain saddle as the only charge they may have made you could be a call out which is to cover their travel costs. If the saddle doesn't fit you have no come back as you can't return it to them. When you save money by going direct like this, which I totally understand, there has to be a down side. For the dmaaged saddle if you had noticed the damage straight away you'd be in the clear, now it's been 2 months it's open to debate as to who caused the damage. I would recommend anyone buying a second hand saddle to have it checked immediately for quality, safety and fit, to avoid all these problems. If you want to be able to return a saddle for not fitting then obviously you really need to buy from a fitter and ride in it in front of the fitter before and after any adjustments.
 
Apparently the bates inova and the bates caprilli saddles have different shaped trees. I have the caprilli dressage saddle took it to the saddler for some stitching and found out the tree had a crack in it as they don't make the caprilli dressage anymore I looked into the inova as my horse really gets on with the bates saddles but the saddler said they are completely different shapes. So have resorted to a second hand caprilli from eBay
 
Unfortunately saddle fitter number 1 was my YO at the time and would not allow any other saddle fitters on the yard. She didn't have any saddles in stock so said to get one online. When it arrived she said she didn't need see me ride in it as knew it would be okay. I didn't have much choice in the matter as I wouldn't have been allowed to use another fitter anyway.

In hindsight this was a massive error but I had had the horse for all of 5 days and he's my first horse and I went on the advice of a more experienced horse person.

With regard to the damage, sales of goods act says up to 6 months it's up to the seller to prove the buyer did the damage not the other way round and they have said they are more than happy to speak to my saddle fitter about it. I'm not trying to return it based on fit as I realise it's far past that in terms of fair return period however my problem is that I can't sell it on either currently due to the damage. Hopefully there will be a resolution. If not pony will get out of being ridden for a good long time.
 
Where did she train? Having been a saddle fitter for many years, it makes me very angry at the incompetence of SOME so-called 'Saddle Fitters' today.
I was taught that there are 11 points to check for a correctly fitting saddle - 7 for the horse and 3 for the rider, so it is impossible to fit a saddle without the rider riding in it

'Adjustable' saddles only address ONE area of saddle fitting – Saddle Tree Angle – the other 10 are left to chance, or the competence of the saddle fitter.

I have a livery here who came with a brand new Wintec saddle, sold to his owner by the tack shop's Saddle Fitter. When he was riding, the saddle rode forwards up onto his neck. He had had it for only 3 weeks and although the Tree Angle was correct, it failed on 9 out of the 11 saddle fitting points. We fitted him properly with a different saddle and problem solved. It makes you wonder...?
 
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