Saddles

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Gerilew

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My horse suffers with navicular but is currently sound. Due to his changes I got my saddle checked and was told the tree was unsuitable for his change of shape and way of going. This was 6 wks ago and I must of tried at least a dozen saddles but still not found the one :( don't get me wrong my saddler is very through but is there such a thing as TOO through ?? The last one I tried was a Harry Dabbs brand new retail £1600 and I just can't justify spending that amount with his issues. Has anyone got any suggestions as what to try/do next thanks
 
How is the navicular being treated? Doesn't sound to me as if it's a saddle issue.
 
Then get a second opinion - the saddler is not going to be offended, trust me.
 
tallyho! said:
Then get a second opinion - the saddler is not going to be offended, trust me.
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You would think BUT.... when I got my horse I used a very experienced and recommended saddle fitter to fit and source a brand new saddle for said horse and happily used same saddle fitter consistently for next few years. Then saddle fitter started being a bit slow to get back to you/reluctant to come out; when queried it turns out she was thinking of retiring (she's over 'normal' retirement age) so fair enough, I look for someone else and have used new lady a couple of times since; again, very experienced, recommended lady, but unfortunately much much further away.
Recently horse had physio and was v sore, physio suggested getting saddle looked at. I happened to hear that original saddle fitter is coming to my yard in next couple of weeks (apparently she is feeling better than she was). Perfect I think; but when I ask if I can have a saddle check when she comes down I get told; "oh well we'll see what we can do, we had been told (presumably by someone else on the yard) you had swapped to another saddle fitter and we don't usually look at a saddle after someone else has done something to it". Is it me or is that an odd response?! I only went to someone else because she wouldn't come out to me?! I didn't know there an exclusivity clause!
 
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Mrs G said:
You would think BUT.... when I got my horse I used a very experienced and recommended saddle fitter to fit and source a brand new saddle for said horse and happily used same saddle fitter consistently for next few years. Then saddle fitter started being a bit slow to get back to you/reluctant to come out; when queried it turns out she was thinking of retiring (she's over 'normal' retirement age) so fair enough, I look for someone else and have used new lady a couple of times since; again, very experienced, recommended lady, but unfortunately much much further away.
Recently horse had physio and was v sore, physio suggested getting saddle looked at. I happened to hear that original saddle fitter is coming to my yard in next couple of weeks (apparently she is feeling better than she was). Perfect I think; but when I ask if I can have a saddle check when she comes down I get told; "oh well we'll see what we can do, we had been told (presumably by someone else on the yard) you had swapped to another saddle fitter and we don't usually look at a saddle after someone else has done something to it". Is it me or is that an odd response?! I only went to someone else because she wouldn't come out to me?! I didn't know there an exclusivity clause!
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Unprofessional. Petty.

Good riddance.
 
Have you asked her what type of saddles should fit and then see if you can trial one from Saddles Direct.
 
I've never understood why, in any other form of consumership, we are happy to chop and change who we buy from to please ourselves...

Yet, in the horse world, we will happily foresake the health of our horses in order not to offend anyone else.
 
I must of tried at least a dozen with her and she works alongside Saddles Direct but the problem is the more she is looking for a "perfect" fit then the more the budget is going up :(
 
Gerilew said:
I don't like as she has been so helpful :(
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But she hasn't managed to fit your horse. A good saddler will know roughly what type of saddle will fit based on body type and then can try a range of similar, they will also know what certainly won't fit and won't waste your time with those.
 
EQUIDAE said:
But she hasn't managed to fit your horse. A good saddler will know roughly what type of saddle will fit based on body type and then can try a range of similar, they will also know what certainly won't fit and won't waste your time with those.
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This. My sister went into the saddlery to look at leather dressage saddles, as she's thinking of getting a new ones and wanted to see what's out there. Said she liked x sort - saddler promptly said there was no chance they'd fit her horse (who he's fitted for years), but she could try those ones, which were similar but had better tree for him.
 
Gerilew said:
I must of tried at least a dozen with her and she works alongside Saddles Direct but the problem is the more she is looking for a "perfect" fit then the more the budget is going up :(
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So tell her your budget is "x" and she's to find the best fit she can within that budget. If she works alongside Saddles Direct can you be sure she's not on commission, a % of the final sale price, so the higher the better as far as she's concerned?

Or do what others do and find something yourself that's a reasonable fit and which the horse is happy with.

Or try a different saddler, no need to tell them about each other. All either of them needs to know is they're there today to offer saddle fit advice to a horse. They don't need to know who may or may not be there on other days.
 
Where do you live? I'm sure someone can help you with an alternative saddler for a second opinion.
 
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