Saddler in the Midlands?

C

Chunkie

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I'm on the Warwickshire/Leicestershire/Staffordshire border and need a good saddler.

I am looking for a qualified fitter who deals in new and second hand saddles.

I've looked on the SMS website but would really appreciate your reccomendations please. Thanks
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Mel from The Horse Shop is very good I'll PM you her number if you want?
I would not use anyone from round here who is not qualified as a saddle fitter even if they are a master saddler...........
 
Thanks Pidge - is this someone you have used yourself, and does she come out to you or do you have to take your horse to them?

I should have said that actually - I know there are a few around here who will come out to you as long as you are buying a new saddle from them, but if you want a second-hand one or are just having yours checked, you have to take your horse to them, which I don;t really want to do as my mare isn't a good traveller.

Thanks
 
Have used her with great success on my horse, far far better than last one I used who wasn't a registered fitter
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She comes out to you and deals with both new and secondhand saddles. Also if your saddle has to go away to be altered she leaves you with a saddle you can use in the meantime - can't fault the service I've had from her at all and I know have an exceedingly happy horse who can work properly
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I would also whole heartedly recommend the National Saddle company, Jo was patient , explained exactly what she was doing and looking for, after a whole load of bad experiences earlier this year, it was a service not to be faulted.

They come out to you also and deal with a variety of different makes.

Brilliant
 
i can highly recommend Martin Gulliver from Woodseaves saddlery , he is a master saddler who has been ace with me he fits the saddle to the horse and rider , checks it frequently and is very obliging when problems have arisen . p.s to qualify as a saddle fitter is only a 4 day course so beware anyone who only has this qualification
 
from personal experience I would be extremely wary of using someone who is only a master saddler as they can make good quality saddles but not necessarily make them fit the horse! and yes it may only be a 4 day course but if its that easy as you seem to be implying then why don't more people take it?
Plus if you do then have problems with saddles that don't fit properly you will get more help from the SMS if you have used a qualified saddle fitter as opposed to one that isn't qualified.
 
i thought that a if a master saddler saddler makes you a saddle , he or she must fit it to your horse and as i am assured must be qualified to do so as it is an apprenticeship and you would not make a saddle without the necessary measurements of the horse , and in the case of a good saddler . the rider . the saddle fitters course is available to anyone particularly people who work in shops that sell saddles . or people on yards who fit saddles for example in a riding school where they would get the basic training offered by the course anyway . i presume you got or have experience of people getting help from the SMS when involved with someone who is not a " oualified saddle fitter "
 
no that is where a lot of confusion arises from. A master saddler MAKES saddles. A saddle fitter FITS saddles. Someone can make the best saddle using lovely leather and it looks lovely, however it is a whole different ball game to make and fit a saddle to a horse, hence the two distinct qualifications. You are also relying on the fact that the saddler knows where to take key measurements on your horse and then apply them to the make or fit of the saddle.
You would assume therefore that a master saddler would indeed be a qualified saddle fitter and therefore able to make and fit a saddle or join up with a qualified saddle fitter to deal with the fit but sadly in my experience despite the saddles being lovely neither fitted my horse despite regular fittings and adjustments
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Sadly for my horse and my bank balance I have learnt the hard way NEVER EVER to deal with someone who is not a qualified saddle fitter as they really have little idea on how to fit a saddle! I have gone from having an unhappy horse who fidgetted constantly when being tacked up, inside out - upside down and quick when ridden and started to stop and run out when jumping, to a horse that stands perfectly still when being tacked up, can work consistently on the bit now in walk and trot, canter is coming along nicely and the juming has gone back to normal, he loves jumping, (only had saddles sorted in Feb after using badly fitting ones for approx 18months) so as you can see it has taken a while to rectify the problems caused by the badly fitting saddles, though the change in the way my horse went was instant and amazing, I've even had people not recognise him since the change in saddles
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- if only they realised the impact and damage they cause by not fitting saddles correctly I'm sure they'd want to change, if they had a conscience!
 
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Have used her with great success on my horse, far far better than last one I used who wasn't a registered fitter
mad.gif
She comes out to you and deals with both new and secondhand saddles. Also if your saddle has to go away to be altered she leaves you with a saddle you can use in the meantime - can't fault the service I've had from her at all and I know have an exceedingly happy horse who can work properly
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Wholeheartedly agree with Pidge and recommend Mel from the Horse Shop 100%. I have had 2 saddles from her and would use no-one else.
 
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