What would you do .... saddle issues *long*

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Louby

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My horse is short coupled and can only take a 17 inch because of his last rib and we have coped for the last 8 yrs with his Jaguar dressage saddle (a bit snug for me). For some unknown reason the saddle has started to rub me both front and back :eek::o so I decided to buy a new one. The same saddler said it will be difficult to fit both of us but took templates and I had a made to measure Albion Ultima which was made with different pannels to hopefully accomodate us both. This was last January. It came and saddler said it needed tweaking and took it back. I got it back about 3 weeks later. I wasnt convinced it was right for my boy as I felt it tipped backwards but I rode in it for about a month thinking it may mold to him??? Anyway it didnt and I noticed rubbed hair under the panel so it was sent back again. Saddler came out again, said it was bridging and altered it again and charged me for it. I paid a call out but said I wasnt happy to pay for alterations as it had never been right. So saddle comes out again and takes it away and totally alters the back and comes back with it to check it and says its fine now. That was last week. I have an awful feeling it still isnt right and now feel it never is going to be.

I feel like I am being pushed back as if Im sitting too far back and I noticed he had sweat patches under the panels again that had gone through his saddlecloth onto the saddle, right at the back. I do have a habit of tipping forwards so I dont know if the feeling of being pushed back is correct or the fact the saddle isnt right.

The saddler has been fair through out and I am not in any way calling them but I just wondered what you would do??

They did bring more saddles out for me to try last time but I didnt like any. I just dont know what to do?

If youve got this far :D:D:D THANKYOU :D:D:D
 
Hard one. Isnt there a pad you can use that shows pressure points? I am sure there is a company that does this service. So maybe Google and research that?

Have you thought of treeless? Not that I would know if that would be an answer, just a suggestion.
 
Hi Thanks for replying :)
I dont want to buy a pad to go under it as the saddle should fit really and I just feel if it doesnt fit now Im going to have ongoing problems.
I just feel that my made to measure saddle is now being made to fit, come what may. I wish Id never bought it :(
The saddler has offered alternatives but they didnt suit me :( and my budget cant stretch anymore than the Albion cost me.
 
Charlir666 said:
You say your old one was rubbing you, did you try one of the memory foam seat saver? They are fab.
Click to expand...

Thanks, yes I tried a heather moffat seat saver and it solved it but I thought my saddle was old, I'd compromised for years so Id get one that fit me this time, more fool me.:)
 
If it was made to measure it should fit.
Have you had a physio check the horse recently? if so what did they think of the saddle.
My physio always checks as part of routine treatment,a rubbing saddle could mean the horse is not working properly .
 
YasandCrystal said:
Hard one. Isnt there a pad you can use that shows pressure points? I am sure there is a company that does this service. So maybe Google and research that?

Have you thought of treeless? Not that I would know if that would be an answer, just a suggestion.
Click to expand...

Sorry just re read your reply. I thought you meant buy a pad for under it. Yes I think there is something out there that shows pressure points. I think I need to stick with the saddler for now and if theres a problem with them swapping it or saying its right when it isnt then maybe I will have to look into this.

Thanks again :)
 
be positive said:
If it was made to measure it should fit.
Have you had a physio check the horse recently? if so what did they think of the saddle.
My physio always checks as part of routine treatment,a rubbing saddle could mean the horse is not working properly .
Click to expand...

Thanks, I actually felt he moved much more freely with the new saddle. Im told it has an open head?? whereas my old one doesnt. There is definately more pressure at the back. I havent had him checked by a physio though.
I trust the saddler 100% and have had no problems at all with my other one but I dread phoning them again if after tomorrows ride I decide it is def not right.
 
Toughie. Your saddler should be fitting the saddle correctly, and if it doesn't fit correctly, well then he isn't doing his job. I understand the issue, as in getting a saddle to fit you and the horse, is difficult, but it is his job, what he specialises in, so he of all people should get it right!

You shouldn't be paying for any alterations he's doing now, as if he didn't fit it correctly the first time he altered it, then it's his problem not yours.

I'd say, try another saddler and get them to look at it, and get a physio/chiropractor out to have a look too. They will be able to tell you if it is in fact an incorrect fit, and if it is causing any problems.

If the saddle is fine, and it is your position that is making everything all a bit wonkey, maybe have some lessons, or even some sepcialised ones on a mechanical horse?

Perhaps you will have to go treeless if you can't find a normal saddle that fits both your needs?
 
If it was bridging for a while his back muscles would have been working in an incorrect way to compensate.It is surprising how quickly it can affect the horse and it may be that a treatment could correct this.
I know of a pony that had a saddle that several saddlers adjusted and said it fitted,eventually tried a different one and it made such a difference .
I do feel that the saddler should be doing more, you have had the saddle since Jan. and by now everything should be sorted.
 
The pad that measures pressure is called a POrt Louis pad, it is made with a gel inside it that moves to show excatly where the pressure points are, a number of saddlers will hire them out, or try googling to find one near you. It sounds like the shape of the tree (front to back) is maybe not ideal for you and your horse. Do you have a regular instructor who can watch you ride and comment on whether it is right for you both or not. How does the horse go in the saddle? I find this is often the best indicator of comfort. Maybe try riding in a number of different styles of saddle until you find the answer, sometimes it can be trial and error, even templated saddles may appear to fit a stationary horse but it is a differrent matter when you are both on the move. Good luck.
 
Thanks, I know everyone has there opinions to who is a good or bad saddler but I can honestly say after trying other saddlers with my other horses IMO this one is the best. There is no one else in my area that I would trust to fit a saddle.
I do think they are trying to sort the issue out and I agree I shouldnt have been charged. I just now think this saddle will never fit my horse and Im going to have to broach this when I call.
I think becuse of the alterations ie the panels where shortenned and shaped to fit my horse, all my weight is over a shortenned panel, so my weight isnt being distributed and causing pressure points. To look at the saddle on, it seems perfect. I think its the combination of me and me having a short couple horse :(

How long do you think I have, the saddle was bought in Jan but it has been an ongoing problem?
 
be positive said:
If it was bridging for a while his back muscles would have been working in an incorrect way to compensate.It is surprising how quickly it can affect the horse and it may be that a treatment could correct this.
I know of a pony that had a saddle that several saddlers adjusted and said it fitted,eventually tried a different one and it made such a difference .
I do feel that the saddler should be doing more, you have had the saddle since Jan. and by now everything should be sorted.
Click to expand...

Thanks again. Im not really sure what else they can do apart form refund me. It has been altered 3 times already. They have brought more saddles for me to try but I didnt really like any and I didnt want to have to compromise again when it cost me so much. I feel like its all getting a bit embarrassing now. I dread calling them.
 
whatawizard said:
The pad that measures pressure is called a POrt Louis pad, it is made with a gel inside it that moves to show excatly where the pressure points are, a number of saddlers will hire them out, or try googling to find one near you. It sounds like the shape of the tree (front to back) is maybe not ideal for you and your horse. Do you have a regular instructor who can watch you ride and comment on whether it is right for you both or not. How does the horse go in the saddle? I find this is often the best indicator of comfort. Maybe try riding in a number of different styles of saddle until you find the answer, sometimes it can be trial and error, even templated saddles may appear to fit a stationary horse but it is a differrent matter when you are both on the move. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks, when I tried this make of saddle I felt WOW, he moved so much better and I felt like I sat correctly. I think the issue was when the made to measure arrived as the pannels where shortenned so although the same saddle on top, the bottom part is smaller so I think my weight distribution is now all wrong. Im sure if it was the original off the peg saddle there wouldnt be a problem apart from the major fact it sat past his last rib.

I agree about the tree shape, I thought the saddle shape looked too 'flat' for my horse. I discussed this with the saddler who agreed and altered the shape of the panels, this is where Im up to now. Saddler agrees that a made to measure saddle shouldnt have to be made to fit.
 
Ahhh I see what you mean now, so you have littler pannels, bigger seat, and there is more pressure on a smaller point rather than it being distributed evenly over his back.

Hmmm, it does sound like this is going to be a no-go, if it has already been altered that much and it isn't working.... Back to the drawing board for you I fear! It's so crappy when you love a saddle and it just doean't work, everything else you try feels shite afte it too.

Call up and just have a chat with the saddler, tell him what you think, and ask him what he suggests. I'm sure eventually he'll come up with a solution!
 
I think that is what is happenning Sophieloubee. It seems to make sense when I think about it.
I am going to see how it is tomorrow and then make the dreaded call on Monday.
Thanks for your help :)
 
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