Saddler - Central Scotland

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weegreypony

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Hi guys (first post from me!)

I'm desperately looking for a saddler to come and see how my current saddle fits my new horse. Who are your recommedations? I'm in central Scotland and struggling to find info on the internet.

Thanks!
 
There's stirlingshire saddlery or central saddlery. Also Donald McClellan but he's east kilbride way I think and is a but fussy about traveling far unless it's for a lot of horses.
 
I've got experience of a few saddlers in the are or know others who have.

Stirlingshire - I've heard mixed reviews but never used them myself.

Donald McClellan - as far as I know you have to travel to him but he does have a good reputation and I have friends who use him and are happy with him

Central saddlery are not qualified saddle fitters and I've seen them do some bad reflocking work although they do have a reputation of being knowledgable when it comes to saddle - I think you have to go to them though.

The Grange - have used them once - it was Elis that I used and I liked her, she did a saddle check using a pressure pad and I found it very interesting to see what went on under my saddle when I was riding.

Amayzing saddlery - have used them with success in the past although they don't stock a lot of saddles for you to try.

Hope some of this helps!
 
Personally seen a saddle fitted by Stirlingshire and it was shocking, the woman was out 3 times and it still wasn't right.
I use Lee Valley, have been really helpful and don't try to sell you a saddle, will advise on which tree etc suits your horses back. He came back out 6 weeks later once the muscle had built up and only charged me half price.
 
Just wondering if the people who used Donald McLellan had bought their saddles from him originally?

I contacted him a while ago about getting a check and possible reflock of my Ideal saddle (I didn't buy it from him originally) and he wasn't interested. I was willing to travel horse + saddle over to him too.

It seems to be difficult to get anybody to come to see one horse with a saddle they didn't sell to you in the first place, which is a bit of a bind.
 
Brightbay, I bought my saddle fom him but he has since been out to the yard and checked saddles not bought from him. He does come across a bit nippy sweetie on the phone but is very nice when you meet him
 
He does come across a bit nippy sweetie on the phone but is very nice when you meet him
Click to expand...

I've actually met him :D He fitted my friend's horse's saddle, and I thought he did a fantastic job, I was very impressed. About a year later, I ended up with an Ideal for my own horse, and tried to persuade him to do the same for me - he mustn't have liked my phone manner :p I might persuade OH to phone him and work his telephone charm...
 
Another vote for Donald McLellan. I have found him reluctant to come out to yards though and he definaately prefers if you take the horse to him. I have asked him a few times over the years to come out to my yard and haven't managed to persuade him yet.
 
Donald is great :)
he fitted my saddle after horsey lost weight and he's readjusted the tree in my gp.
he said that if it didn't fit he would give me my money back - lucky for him it fits
 
Ok.

Stirlingshire Saddle Fitters - DO NOT TOUCH WITH A BARGE POLE. I have had personal experience of them and have seen saddles fitted by them - if you want to spend a good couple of thousand on rehabilitation of your horses back - then the cost of a new saddle - then they are the company for you.

It is important to note that Stirlingshire Saddle Fitters have absoloutly NOTHING to do with Stirlingshire Saddlery - the saddle fitters used to work for stirlingshire saddlery but they parted company over 2 years ago - I can only hazard a guess why? but are no longer associated. - incidetally Stirlingshire Saddlery do not do fitting however, the do recommend a Mary Waiste (Barnsby saddles I think) and she is based in central Scotland - if you phone Stirlingshire saddlery (they're based in Perth 01738 623222) they will give you her no (i can;t find my card)

Amayzing Saddlery - I haven;t used them personally but know people who have and i have heard nothign but excellent reports about them - they do have a fb page

Kay hastilow - mixed reports about her - however I have recently been told she is no longer checking saddles it's new fits only and she'll now only do made to measure - as I say i've heard that third hand.
 
I have used Alene at Stirlingshire Saddle Fitters for years and have nothing but praise for the service I have recieved .
I have bought many saddles from her had many fittings done and have had her sell saddles on occasion all good I would go no where else.
 
I have used Amayzing Saddlery on all my horses and recommended to her to many friends who also had nothing but praise from her :)

I tend to know what saddle I do want and roughly what Size and Amayzing saddlery has always been willing to accomodate this AND fit saddles that havent bee bought from them.

Highly recommend.
 
Wow - thanks everyone!

I'm in Kinross so will need to figure out who will and won't travel to me, but this post has been most helpful. Thank you.
 
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