Saddler issues … should I use a different one

[Mary3050]

Hi All,

So I am having saddler woes … due to having one out of work and the others have always been checked at shows by a saddler . I haven’t had my saddler out for over 3 years the person that made the saddles originally .

However when I moved yards I went to less shows so needed a local ish saddler . I started using the yard saddler who does 75% of the yard used .

She came around 2 months ago and “checked” the saddles . One I thought required flocking at the back . However this didn’t happen they said I should just use a pad as it wasn’t worth flocking an old saddle ? I mean yes it’s 10 years old but it’s still a great saddle … they also said I should get a better girth at which point she tried to sell me a £300 girth. I borrowed my friends before I brought it didn’t work . Never once did she see the horse move, stand up or watch me ride . The first question was how much have you got to spend not what’s the issue . I am still not happy with the fit of this saddle .

So my new horse has arrived and is going to need a new saddle . We have been using one of my other for the minute with a pad under . The “yard” saddler came last week my new horse hadn’t been here long so didn’t book as wanted to let him settle .

After she came marching over and went oh you have a new one . I said yes . She went will you need a saddle I went yes but giving him time to adjust first . She said well I can put a few on and you can look . I said I wouldn’t want to buy without riding and he’s still settling in so I won’t get on . She said fine and brought over some saddle we are talking the top of the range dressage saddles the ones that start at £4,900 on average and that’s for an off the peg fit . I asked if she had anything a little less expansive she brought out one at £4,200

I explained I would rather go for a middle of the road brand Albion, ideal , Black Country etc and have the saddle made to measure for the horse . She looked at me in disgrace saying she doesn’t do cheap brands and I should look at finance or something. I kinda said oh I will think about it when I am ready and got rid of her .

I was then thinking at the weekend half the people who use her and have a £4K + saddle all sense to be riding around with a pad under .

My friend said she can’t believe she flocks on site with out any tools ie lasers .

I have around £3k ish to spend on a saddle will up to 4K if I really need/want . However I dunno if i should go back to my old saddler who made the others .

The only reason I haven’t used my old saddler regularly is because she is also so booked up and can only get you in if you travel to her which I don’t have time for .

But am I best booking and waiting for her to be available. Either way is the yard saddler above any good should I get all the saddles she checked 2 months ago re checked 4 in total ? I dunno if times just moved on from saddlers making saddles to fit horse rather than brands ?
Thanks

 

[Birker2020]

I'm apalled by her treatment towards you. She shouldn't be talking to you like that and should have respected your wishes when you said you wanted to let your horse settle in.

A lot of professional riders use padding under saddles, so one saddle fits all horses. But anyone with any sense would know that padding a saddle to make it comfortable isn't the way to go about things as you've said. If your feet hurt because your shoes are too tight, putting thicker socks on just exacerbates the problem and makes them hurt more.

I've got a lovely Ideal saddle (new) fitted about a month ago and the saddle fitter knowing I've had issues with a previous saddle (another fitter - not their fault) has offered to come out again to see if it still fits. He never pushed me into buying anything which was good and he was very patient.

You can get a really nice saddle for under £1000 you don't have to spend 4 x that much. I'd shop around and look at other day saddle fitters.

SBloom is a very helpful member of the forum and I'm sure they won't mind helping you. X

 

[Mary3050]

I'm apalled by her treatment towards you. She shouldn't be talking to you like that and should have respected your wishes when yoy said you wanted to let your horse settle in.

A lot of professional riders use padding under saddles, so one saddle fits all horses. But anyone with any sense would know that padding a saddle to make it comfortable isn't the way to go about things as you've said. If your feet hurt because your shoes are too tight, putting thicker socks on just exacerbates the problem and makes them hurt more.

I've got a lovely saddle fitted about a month ago and the saddle fitter knowing I've had issues with a previous saddle (another fitter - not their fault) has offered to come out again to see if it still fits. He never pushed me into buying anything which was good and he was very patient.

I did think the same like if she had said I think the more expensive make would fit your horse better due to shape I would have understood. I think the same it’s just taking the saddle further of the horse back . I look at all the people on the yard with a saddle that’s cost over 5k that’s an expensive name with pretty details at the back but a pro lite under ? Like why spend that on a saddle that doesn’t fit ?
Are you in Yorkshire ?

 

[MagicMelon]

Absolutely use your original fitter, this woman sounds awful. Shes clearly just trying to make as much commission as possible.

 

[Birker2020]

I did think the same like if she had said I think the more expensive make would fit your horse better due to shape I would have understood. I think the same it’s just taking the saddle further of the horse back . I look at all the people on the yard with a saddle that’s cost over 5k that’s an expensive name with pretty details at the back but a pro lite under ? Like why spend that on a saddle that doesn’t fit ?
Are you in Yorkshire ?

No sorry, West Mids.

 

[Baywonder]

£4k + for a saddle? ?

Unfortunately, I am not surprised - but no saddle is worth that sort of money. Yes, materials to make a saddle are not cheap, but they do not warrant that kind of price tag!

As for the sales person saddle fitter - I would revert back to your original one. Whilst you may have to wait, at least you will have someone you trust and who knows what they are doing.

 

[nagblagger]

I think i would have told her 'to go away' in a less polite way! Or ask if she has any 2nd hand treeless saddles for under £200 and ask to see her qualifications...
(before all you treeless saddle lovers comment, i ride in one)

 

[Mary3050]

£4k + for a saddle? ?

Unfortunately, I am not surprised - but no saddle is worth that sort of money. Yes, materials to make a saddle are not cheap, but they do not warrant that kind of price tag!

As for the sales person saddle fitter - I would revert back to your original one. Whilst you may have to wait, at least you will have someone you trust and who knows what they are doing.

Don’t forget these are cheap to her ? I think I will do it more should I get the whole tribe re checked ?

 

[Mary3050]

I think i would have told her 'to go away' in a less polite way! Or ask if she has any 2nd hand treeless saddles for under £200 and ask to see her qualifications...
(before all you treeless saddle lovers comment, i ride in one)

??? I do wonder what qualifications she has . She also doesn’t take second hand saddle apparently which is weird to me

 

[skint1]

For the budget you have you should have exactly what you want, within the parameters of suitability for you and your horse. Tell her politely to jog on and revert to your normal fitter.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would go back to the original fitter .

 

[Baywonder]

??? I do wonder what qualifications she has .

Now that is a complete and utter minefield!

Saddle fitting qualifications are usually the first thing people look for - but just because someone holds a certificate saying they are a qualified fitter, it does not necessarily mean they are any good at it! Likewise, some brands train their own fitters on a relatively short course (as in days), after which they are deemed competent to fit.

There are qualified fitters out there who are damned good at their job, and to get booked in to see them can be a tad awkward - especially at the moment as the whole equestrian trade has gone crazy busy.

Not forgetting those fitters who don't have the 'official' piece of paper saying they are qualified, but do have many years of experience and happy customers behind them.

I really would try and get in to see your original fitter, but if you are stuck, ask around your locality, or on this forum (not on your yard obviously!) for any recommendations.

I still can't get over the £4k+ price tag.............??

ETA - Yes, I would have all of your saddles re-checked too.

 

[jnb]

Who is this person? I am in the w Mids so would like to avoid!!

 

[Lois Lame]

I think you should go back to the original fitter.

The fact that 75% of the yard uses her means nothing if you yourself don't think she is as good as the other saddle fitter you've used.

 

[Ratface]

Obviously, this alleged saddle-fitting person is not fit for purpose. She should not be rude, dismissive and disrespectful to clients.
Revert to your previous fitter.

 

[Jellymoon]

Gosh, rude, bossy! She sounds scary too, poor you, I hate it when you get intimidated like that.
Ditch her and make time to box to your old saddler, if you liked her. Simples.

 

[Jellymoon]

And those price tags are unnecessary, there are decent brands (like the ones you mentioned) that are half that and with a good fitter will be completely fine, she’s just a shameless sales person.

 

[MissTyc]

Gosh!!!! Every time I read threads like this I want to fall at the feet of my saddler. I know he sells new saddles because I know people who have bought from him, but when mine was unfittable and my budget was poor, he took several templates and emailed me some recommendations to source second hand. Never ever put any pressure to buy from him. In fact, he managed to sell my unfittable saddle to another client after I got the my (used) new one. He's happy to work with pads and shims if the client can't afford to change their saddle; he's super rider and horse welfare focussed and your story makes me want to send him a message of general appreciation. Maybe we should have "honest, competent and KIND equestrian tradespeople appreciation day" ...

 

[Birker2020]

Who is this person? I am in the w Mids so would like to avoid!!

Dont worry she's from Yorkshire.

I am from the West Mids and answered the OP's question about where I lived. ?

 

[ycbm]

Albion.

Cheap.

?????????

Your question answered, I think. Turn your back on the nasty high pressure saleswoman.
.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I use one of the best and most highly qualified saddle fitters in the country, and she supplies and fits everything from Kent and Masters up to the ££££s fancy pants brands.

She fitted my mare with a Fairfax classic, which was £1595 in 2019. The saddle fit is spot on.

OP, that saddler is talking out of her @rse.

 

[littleshetland]

£4,900 for a saddle??!! Albions' 'cheap' ??!! what planet is this person from! (Planet 'Greedy bugger' I suspect....)

My Ideal dressage saddle cost £400 - it fits like a dream and is lovely to ride in, but I did get very lucky finding it....

 

[COldNag]

Absolutely, go back to one you trust. This one sounds a nightmare!

 

[Widgeon]

Dont worry she's from Yorkshire.

Oh great At least I will never be troubled by her, with the size of my budget she would probably be picking me off the sole of her shoe.

 

[Identityincrisis]

Albion.

Cheap.

?????????

.

This!!!

FWIW i had a respected physio out to my horse a few years ago, he asked who fitted my saddle (just small talk) i told him, he sucked through his teeth and said ahhhh she isn't SMS qualified, which i knew but her work and my horse's back speak for themselves. Out of noseyness i asked who he would recommend, i later looked at the horses on the yard, who the recommended guy fits, and EVERY SINGLE ONE had atrophied shoulder muscles ? i stopped using the physio after that too as i felt if he could call that so wrong i would no longer respect his opinion

 

[Baywonder]

£4,900 for a saddle??!! Albions' 'cheap' ??!! what planet is this person from! (Planet 'Greedy bugger' I suspect....)

My DH's jaw hit the floor when I read this thread to him. It is nothing more than ripping people off and making a couple of thousand profit in the process.

 

[skint1]

I did wonder what kind of saddle would cost that much, I am guessing a beautifully crafted and balanced, soft leather, whisper light kind of thing- right now I have a cheap Thorowgood T6 to see if I can get on with riding my horse after a long break, if it works out, I will aspire to the lofty heights of an Ideal, Black Country or Chunky Monkey!

 

[milliepops]

there are many around that price point. Lots of people buy them... seems there's a lot of money about. I just looked up what my equipe would cost now and it would be about 3k, being the "economy" model... fortunately i won it in a magazine competition, that stamp was bloody good value haha.

 

[Lady Jane]

Change your saddler - go back to the last one - worth travelling. Someone who wants to sell you a £4k+ saddle isn't to be trusted IMO

 

[sbloom]

This!!!

FWIW i had a respected physio out to my horse a few years ago, he asked who fitted my saddle (just small talk) i told him, he sucked through his teeth and said ahhhh she isn't SMS qualified, which i knew but her work and my horse's back speak for themselves. Out of noseyness i asked who he would recommend, i later looked at the horses on the yard, who the recommended guy fits, and EVERY SINGLE ONE had atrophied shoulder muscles ? i stopped using the physio after that too as i felt if he could call that so wrong i would no longer respect his opinion

Absolutely. I have beef with this "only ever use a qualified saddle fitter" as it seems there are as many bad as there are good, same with non-qualified. There are enough online reviews etc to help people, though personal preference is of course a big factor. I am always astonished that I still get calls and comments about a particular company that have terrible Google reviews, have been slated repeatedly on here and have taken down their own FB reviews. It screams loudly!

Saddles above £4k? Many are French and simply pay for champagne quaffing stands at HOYS etc and pay a huge amount of commission to the "fitters", but some will be worth it, to some riders.

I fit a brand that is £2500-£3100 and everyone that sees them says they're actually really well priced for what they are. Everyone is different in budget and expectations.

I'd run from this saddle FITTER (not a saddler, I know it's shorthand but a saddler is a completely different trade, though some do both). I would say a 10 year old saddle is likely to need a complete strip flock, in some circumstances I recommend a sheepskin pad or similar instead, if it's a temporary situation where we know the horse will need another saddle in a few weeks or months, depending on how bad the panel is.

And qualified or non qualified you should ALWAYS ride your horse for the fitter unless it's genuinely not possible on YOUR part and then you should be prepared to get the fitter back out again as soon as you can ride for them. It's part of the SMS QSF code of conduct yet it's not rare that they don't see you ride, sadly. It's why "could you just..." with the fitter already on the yard is really unhelpful, saddle fitting shouldn't be rushed and you should never be surprised if a fitter can't "squeeze you in".