UPDATE on badly made English saddles

PorkChop

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What a great post, thank you for taking the time.

I presume what you are advising is to take a saddle to a master saddler to check it?
 
Flame_

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Thanks for all this information, it is certainly interesting.

OP, did you or the saddles' former owners do anything like complaining to the manufacturers or involving trading standards about saddles which have raised safety concerns?

ETA, I'm feeling even more smug about having a Reactor Panel now. Please no one burst my bubble and tell me that they're rubbish!
 
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cremedemonthe

cremedemonthe

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Flame_ said:
Thanks for all this information, it is certainly interesting.

OP, did you or the saddles' former owners do anything like complaining to the manufacturers or involving trading standards about saddles which have raised safety concerns?

ETA, I'm feeling even more smug about having a Reactor Panel now. Please no one burst my bubble and tell me that they're rubbish!
Click to expand...

No, they just threw the saddles in my direction when I showed them, I saved them cut the flaps off and use them as demonstrators if I'm asked to give a class/talk at local riding schools.
I've put a girth construction thread up now too on a separate post.
My aim is not to scare people but to raise awareness that not all English made saddlery is good or well made.
In all honesty, if we all worried about what we are using on our horses. no one would ever get on one again, so chill out, enjoy your horse and just be aware. Oz:)
 
V

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Very interesting thread. 2 years ago I needed to buy a new saddle for my horse. The experienced saddle fitter recommended to me by my professional rider told me what make and type of saddle to get for my horse. Saddler also told me which large master saddler retailer to get it from on a returnable basis in case it would not fit my horse.
I picked up this saddle and when saddle fitter came to fit it I was told how well it fitted my horse. Only minor reflocking alterations were needed to get it to fit perfectly. The saddle was used on the horse for about three months whilst stored properly on saddle rack in between rides. I was then told by professional rider that it needed checking as horse was getting a sore back. The same saddle fitter came to readjust it and I was then told that it was all out of shape as the panels underneath had collapsed inwards as they had not been stitched in properly. Saddle fitter took saddle away to rectify the problem. My saddle was returned several weeks later due to saddle fitter finding several further problems.
I was told this saddle should never have left the factory due to the poor workmanship. Some of the things which were pointed out were the collapsing panels which had to be restitched back in again due to poor stitch work. When taking the panels off it was also found that the girth straps had been crossed over under the seat, this is not noticeable from the outside. When pulling the girth tight it was pulling crossways to one side causing uneven pressure to horse's back. The piping along the panels was fastened to the wrong place under the flap and coming apart. The leather inserts to the back of the panel is 8 cm on the right hand side and only 6.5 cm on the left hand side at their widest part. This should probably have been noticed at the first fitting as it makes it difficult to flock this saddle. I have been told I need to keep a very close eye on this saddle as it is basically faulty.
As I had paid £ 1000 for this saddle which carries a Society of Master Saddlers Stamp on it I decided to write to this very well known British saddle company and let them know about the findings. This company says their saddles are guaranteed. I gave them the unique number for this saddle and the retailer’s stock number. The reply from the company in question said that due to the independent saddle fitter not informing them of all the faults prior to rectifying them they could not honour the guarantee and take it back. This saddle fitter does buy saddles directly from the company in question so not unknown to them.
I totally lost faith in this Walsall Company and will not buy any of their saddles again. I don’t know how you are going to spot serious problems with a new saddle which are out of view. I would also caution other forum members from buying new saddles and having them fitted by well known saddle fitters who don’t sell you the saddle as it might revoke the guarantee.
 
cremedemonthe

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Violet said:
Very interesting thread. 2 years ago I needed to buy a new saddle for my horse. The experienced saddle fitter recommended to me by my professional rider told me what make and type of saddle to get for my horse. Saddler also told me which large master saddler retailer to get it from on a returnable basis in case it would not fit my horse.
I picked up this saddle and when saddle fitter came to fit it I was told how well it fitted my horse. Only minor reflocking alterations were needed to get it to fit perfectly. The saddle was used on the horse for about three months whilst stored properly on saddle rack in between rides. I was then told by professional rider that it needed checking as horse was getting a sore back. The same saddle fitter came to readjust it and I was then told that it was all out of shape as the panels underneath had collapsed inwards as they had not been stitched in properly. Saddle fitter took saddle away to rectify the problem. My saddle was returned several weeks later due to saddle fitter finding several further problems.
I was told this saddle should never have left the factory due to the poor workmanship. Some of the things which were pointed out were the collapsing panels which had to be restitched back in again due to poor stitch work. When taking the panels off it was also found that the girth straps had been crossed over under the seat, this is not noticeable from the outside. When pulling the girth tight it was pulling crossways to one side causing uneven pressure to horse's back. The piping along the panels was fastened to the wrong place under the flap and coming apart. The leather inserts to the back of the panel is 8 cm on the right hand side and only 6.5 cm on the left hand side at their widest part. This should probably have been noticed at the first fitting as it makes it difficult to flock this saddle. I have been told I need to keep a very close eye on this saddle as it is basically faulty.
As I had paid £ 1000 for this saddle which carries a Society of Master Saddlers Stamp on it I decided to write to this very well known British saddle company and let them know about the findings. This company says their saddles are guaranteed. I gave them the unique number for this saddle and the retailer’s stock number. The reply from the company in question said that due to the independent saddle fitter not informing them of all the faults prior to rectifying them they could not honour the guarantee and take it back. This saddle fitter does buy saddles directly from the company in question so not unknown to them.
I totally lost faith in this Walsall Company and will not buy any of their saddles again. I don’t know how you are going to spot serious problems with a new saddle which are out of view. I would also caution other forum members from buying new saddles and having them fitted by well known saddle fitters who don’t sell you the saddle as it might revoke the guarantee.
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Interesting post, I've PM'd you
 
cremedemonthe

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You can check the basics, like twisted tree, uneven panels, lumpy or hard panels, stitches fraying or broken over the ends of the girth straps, frayed or rotted girth webs, holes elongated on girth straps, cracks across the girth straps, point pockets sound, panel along channel underneath hasn't come undone (usual problem on older saddles), lacing in sound, after that all you can really do is to take the panel out and have a really good look!
Oz
 
gadetra

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Fantastic an informative post and a necessary one. You should write a cautionary guide to saddle buying! It is also lovely to see what they look like under the skin. I have been tempted to do so with my old one as it is coming to the end of it's life but it would feel so wrong to rip up an old servant!
It should be stickied!
It is such an art, saddlery.
*goes off to find girth thread*
 
cremedemonthe

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Beausmate said:
Booted off for recommending someone else's product? Seems a trifle unfair.
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As I'm in the trade it could be seen as advertising even if it isn't intended as such, I'm surprised this thread hasn't been pulled even though I haven't named the bad saddles, it doesn't take much on here usually for someone to button push!
 
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Great thread - really really informative :D

Find it fascinating about the differences in the webbing placement, how it is attached (or not as the case may be) and these are new saddles relatively speaking but yet few people use over-girths these days. Go back 30 years where everything was more basic, saddles were probably better quality and well made and they all used over-girths for xc...
 
cremedemonthe

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PapaFrita said:
Fascinating and SCARY! When you refer to well known brands, is it EVERY saddle that is likely to be dodgy, or do you think its individuals (saddlers/saddle makers) working for the companies who are taking shortcuts?
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Don't definitely know the answer to that, mostly made on benches in factory type conditions and there should be some sort of quality control
 
PapaFrita

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cremedemonthe said:
Don't definitely know the answer to that, mostly made on benches in factory type conditions and there should be some sort of quality control
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Do companies employ saddlers on a freelance basis to make their saddles? This is incredibly interesting. I live in Argentina (my saddle is Argentinian as well) and am now wondering what controls are put on imported saddles, if any.
ps: would also like to know which are the saddles to avoid/trust. Ta :)
 
Beausmate

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Elsiecat said:
Yes, you're right, how incredibly sad to take the time to inform people about unsafe and potentially life threatening products.:rolleyes:
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Think you may have that out of context. I was referring to people who would button push if cdm were to mention names of saddles which are ok, thinking that he may be advertising. He hopefully knows what I meant.
 
Elsiecat

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Beausmate said:
Think you may have that out of context. I was referring to people who would button push if cdm were to mention names of saddles which are ok, thinking that he may be advertising. He hopefully knows what I meant.
Click to expand...

Haha! I must say I was baffled at how someone could have had 'your' reaction :rolleyes:
 
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