Saddler in Essex (North)

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Shipley

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OK I need recommendations on a Saddler that will come out to me in North essex to check and re stuff my saddle. I want to go to mark fisher but have transport issues (Hubby is the nly one that can tow trailer). Until this can happen and I need someone to look at my GP.

Any suggestions welcome but must come out
 
Antony Bachelor.

He has a flat rate of £40 call out I believe (within reason). Unfortunately that means he charges me that when i'm 1.9 miles up the road...my own fault for not hacking there.
 
Antony will only do new saddles now unfortunitally (or ones he has sold) DAvid is an idea have had mixed reports on him from other people
 
Tom Connolly - not sure if he goes out to you but worth a call. He reflocks on site. Let me know if you want his number. He is the only other saddler I would use in Essex, apart from Antony.
 
No, Tom doesnt generally watch you ride if you are getting a reflock. He will check the saddle tree is appropriate and then reflock to fit the horse.

Quite a few saddlers dont watch you ride after a reflock - and to be fair I know quite a few saddlers who have never been on a horse therefore have no idea if a horse is going well in the saddle or not so no point in them watching you ride either.

I assumed that Ship only needed a reflock and that the saddle fits- Tom does this onsite. He wont try to sell you a saddle unless you ask his opinion on what fits your horse. He reflocks a bit hard for my taste but he does it evenly, even though he doesnt actually remove the panels (which I would always insist on). I have seen some really bad reflock jobs (panels askew, uneven and no regulation) but Tom's work in my experience has been even.

There are a number of saddlers in Essex that I would let anywhere near a horse - one specialises in Wintec to fit everything (and everything is a 17" which is conveniently what he has in his van).
 
CBAnglo said:
Quite a few saddlers dont watch you ride after a reflock - and to be fair I know quite a few saddlers who have never been on a horse therefore have no idea if a horse is going well in the saddle or not so no point in them watching you ride either.
Click to expand...

This is not the main reason for seeing a saddle ridden in - dynamic fit is EVERYTHING in saddle fitting and it really is not possible to set up perfect saddle fit without seeing a horse being ridden. A saddle can look great "in the cross ties" but can move unexpectedly when ridden on. Whenever possible use a fitter who will see you ride before and after adjustment.

I do look at how the horse is moving but take more account of how the owner feels the horse is moving and responding - they know the horse after all. I can however pick up on asymmetries in movement, picking up issues that should be seen by a vet or body worker and which may affect saddle fit. I can use girthing and shims to keep the saddle still in those instants, I'd not have known about slippage if I'd not seen it ridden in.
 
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