Nightmare before Christmas
Well-Known Member
This is why I never a saddle 'fitted to a horse'. I find one that suits his shape, wide enough to put sheep under and off we go. Never had a horse with a bad back
Would you ignore advice from a saddle fitter ?
- Thread starter Asha
- Start date
pansymouse
Well-Known Member
I've seen some shocking saddle fitters and happily ignore their so called expertise. I'm very lucky to be a customer of Kay Humphreys who has managed to iron out the problems caused by other fitters and crappy saddles on mine and couple of my friends horses.
muckypony
Well-Known Member
I have refused saddler advice before and would do it again.
A month or so ago I felt my saddle wasn't right. I only bought it in May, had it re-flocked soon after and it had been fine June - December. Pony was aggy to tack up, and put in a couple of stops jumping, very unlike him! So I had a saddler asap that someone else on the yard was using. Saddler put saddle on, straight away said its too narrow. Didn't girth up, ride or anything. Very unusual.... Then proceeded to tell me I had to buy a new one and the cheapest she had was £650!! Straight away I called up my usual saddler and she was available and I hacked him over to her. £15 later I had a newly flocked saddle and a happy pony! Of course, a do-gooder on the yard mentioned that it must be too narrow as saddler had said so, and she thought it was too.... Soon after he went hunting like a tank, had a win show jumping, and has been much more forward to ride in general.
Always go with the horse! I have always had issues with saddlers, the ones I get always seem to tell me I need a new saddle which they will supply... However, the pony never lies!
A month or so ago I felt my saddle wasn't right. I only bought it in May, had it re-flocked soon after and it had been fine June - December. Pony was aggy to tack up, and put in a couple of stops jumping, very unlike him! So I had a saddler asap that someone else on the yard was using. Saddler put saddle on, straight away said its too narrow. Didn't girth up, ride or anything. Very unusual.... Then proceeded to tell me I had to buy a new one and the cheapest she had was £650!! Straight away I called up my usual saddler and she was available and I hacked him over to her. £15 later I had a newly flocked saddle and a happy pony! Of course, a do-gooder on the yard mentioned that it must be too narrow as saddler had said so, and she thought it was too.... Soon after he went hunting like a tank, had a win show jumping, and has been much more forward to ride in general.
Always go with the horse! I have always had issues with saddlers, the ones I get always seem to tell me I need a new saddle which they will supply... However, the pony never lies!
Asha
Well-Known Member
Thank you for all for sharing you experiences, it's been really very helpful. I have a new chap coming out who has been recommended by several people. hes already come up with a solution which I know my boy will be happy with.
Thanks everyone ! I will bore you all with photos of us both when we get out and about doing our dressage diva impressions !
Thanks everyone ! I will bore you all with photos of us both when we get out and about doing our dressage diva impressions !
cremedemonthe
Well-Known Member
I asked my friend in Nantwich but she said no, she's sold all her equipment and came right out of the trade sorry, good luck with your new Saddler/saddle fitter
Shooting Star
Well-Known Member
Yes I regularly ignore them, in fact at the moment I don't have one in the area that I would recommend and I think I've tried most. I tend to rely on what the horse tells me, find a saddle that is a decent fit and the horse likes then get it tweaked if needed.
The most recent two 'qualified' fitters that I've had the displeasure of have 1) told me that the saddle fitted absolutely fine (there was so little clearance that with a rider on board and stationary it crushed your fingers, apparently ok and should just ride in a pad until muscled up more totally ignoring the fact this made it too narrow!) and 2) declared a saddle to be a perfect fit without so much as doing up the girth or seeing the rider on board ... They then went on to a lengthy speil on how there were so many bad fitters around and that they should be reported to help improve standards - hmmm!
The most recent two 'qualified' fitters that I've had the displeasure of have 1) told me that the saddle fitted absolutely fine (there was so little clearance that with a rider on board and stationary it crushed your fingers, apparently ok and should just ride in a pad until muscled up more totally ignoring the fact this made it too narrow!) and 2) declared a saddle to be a perfect fit without so much as doing up the girth or seeing the rider on board ... They then went on to a lengthy speil on how there were so many bad fitters around and that they should be reported to help improve standards - hmmm!