The Saddle Company-Advice please

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RhiannonE

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Hi,
Last year I bought my Connemara and he was reluctant to have a saddle on due to his previous saddle being too narrow we believe.
As he is so flat backed and no whithers I found a lot of saddles were not wide enough so i decided to go for a Saddle Company made to measure saddle.
Was very pleased with the experience, brand new saddle for just over £600, had the fitter out a few times after it had bedded in etc.
A few months on, after much schooling, lunging etc my horse was still very much on the forehand, prone to holding his heah high, short stepped etc- his canter is very bouncy and often "flicky". We thought that it was just due to his jumping career and his flatwork being a bit neglected previously (he's 7 now). I got his back done, several times, teeth done etc but he still wasn't right - I then believed that was just his paces, they were better than when I got him at least.

A different independent saddle fitter came out the other week, instantly told me his saddle wasn't right - told me the knee blocks were too large, putting a lot of pressure on his shoulders, I had the saddle slightly too forward but even then the saddle was too long.
I couldn't believe it - how could it be too long, it was made to measure?! She tried on a few saddles and in particular a Barnsby saddle. The difference was amazing - he was relaxed instantly, stepping out, lengthing his stride, happy to go in an outline from the get go. His canter -now completely different, I didn't know how to sit to it! Goes to show what a genuine horse he is that he could be that uncomfortable and still be good natured enough to go along with it instead of dumping me in a ditch somewhere at his earliest opportunity!

Anyway I promptly swapped saddles but it has been nagging at me that I trusted that my made to measure saddle would be correct. I bought the saddle October time and 6 weeks on the fitter reflocked due to it now being "bedded in" and then in January (approx) I thought it wasn't right, she came back out and said nope it's fine (flocked it a bit more). I no longer have the saddle but I sort of feel that I am owed something, an apology perhaps! Or maybe I should just leave it and be pleased that my horse, finally, is comfortable?

I think that for the money Saddle Company saddles are good value, especially as they can be adjusted a lot but I would advise everyone to get a second opinion on their saddle fit, for your horse's sake!

x
 
I would definately contact the saddle co and complain - they need to know which of their fitters arent up to scratch to prevent this from happening again.

I've been thrilled with my SCS's but had an awful experience with an ideal saddle previously - it just goes to show that not all saddles will fit, and not all fitters can fit!

r.e. being made to measure, they are only made width wise to your horses template taken at the ordering stage so that they should be able to fit straight away and then be adjusted from there. Length wise will just of been the standard legnths so your fitter obviously doesnt know the difference between a 17" and a 17.5" although they must of got this incredibley wrong as SCS' scome up quite short
 
I fit saddles for the Saddle Company and I am not sure about the knee blocks being so large that they "put pressure on the shoulder".

However, if the seat was too long then yes that will cause pressure on the soft tissue over the lumbar region - was this highlighted by the chiro/physio you used? I always like to show people the difference on seat sizes - they are often amazed by the difference 1/2" makes both for the horse and the rider.
 
I've heard quite a lot of negatives about these saddles recently. Can you contact the company themselves and inform them?

Just shows it must have been uncomfortable that with another saddle that horse goes well in it. Very genuine horse!
 
I've been quite pleased with my Saddle Co saddles as well, so have a chat with them and see what they say.

Unfortunately saddles, of any make, are an absolute minefield! Glad you found one that fits now!
 
I use these saddles almost exclusively now as I find that they are brilliant for fitting to flat backed natives but would agree that you are relying on the skill of the fitter. there is certainly nothing wrong with the brand.
 
i had a not too dissimilar "problem" with my first SCS.

I had a GP when i should have had a Cob style.

the GP caused a certain amount of interference to my pony's shoulder, which as i have said, was rectified by a change in style.

The actual concept of a SCS is a good one and they produce very good, well fitting saddles.

Sounds to me you had/were advised on the wrong style, not a wrong fit
 
Thanks all, I will contact the Saddle Company and advise them of my experience of this particular fitter (found out today that two others at my old yard have also just got rid of their saddle company saddles due to the similar problems - also fitted by the same fitter.
They need to know I suppose as it gives their brand a bad name when it isn't actually the saddle - its the fit. The saddle itself I really liked, looked smart, was lightweight and easy to clean etc but I wouldn't get another now because I've been put off by the damage caused.
 
My physio did point out that there was damage there and asked about my saddle, I then very stubbornly said it had been checked three weeks earlier so it couldn't be that!
She has continued to point it out, saying that after the treatment last time it shouldn't be so sore this quickly, so that's when i decided to then get the independent fitter to have a look.
 
I had a made to measure saddle from them, which came back too long. I was sooooo excited, had paid £150 in travel and fitting fees and when she put the new saddle on, even she couldn't argue that it was acceptable. Did the fitter do the fitting with a correct length saddle? Mine didn't have one of the correct length with her and I was stupidly naive to trust them. I was left £150 out of pocket, with no saddle. No apology, either! That was 2003 and I haven't gone back to them since.

I must say I was impressed with the quality of the saddle and agree with Mother Hen that it seems to be a common fitter problem and not the brand itself.
 
I had the same thing - the fitter said that she didn't have the right size with her either but the one she did would give me a feel of what the saddle was like. I didn't even think about it when I got my saddle - should have realised it was the same size!!! I was just so excited to have my new horse and thought that a saddle being made for him would be the right width and I didn't even think about length, as I thought that would be something as standard that they would make sure was correct.
I now have started researching saddle fitting so that I have a basic knowledge of it and not just relying on a fitter. This new fitter did go through things to look out for to see if he isn't happy with his saddle so hopefully I'll know better next time!
 
I've just noticed your whereabouts. My fitter had travelled from Hertfordshire, so I guess it's the same one. What a shame she hasn't learnt her lesson, yet. My fitting was in 2003!!
 
If the fitter is recomending saddles that are too long then she doesnt know one of the basic rules of fitting a saddle, which is never go beyond the last rib. It is actually a common mistake and often over looked by fitters but very bad for a horses back!
 

Saddle company saddles are very good in themselves but sadly only fit as well as the person taking the template and fitting the saddle. I have seen a lot of badly fitted saddles lately. Maybe the Saddle company need to know this and do something ti ensure their fitters have correct training.
 
QR

I had the same problem as you, not with a Saddle Company saddle but with one of their fitters. I already had a Barrie Swain, she said it was awful, and sold me a too long Semiflex. No longer have it, but new fitter explained it was too long and not helping him, which physio confirmed when she looked at his back (she didn't know anything about the saddle fitting - just said he was sore.)

Except mine cost £1800! Plus the extortionate saddle fitting fee every time the fitter came out - when she deigned to, completely at her convenience. Even when she dropped the saddle off, and only stuck it on his back ungirthed and pronounced it ok!

I was fleeced good n proper. Got a lovely saddle now though
smile.gif
 
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