Wrecked saddle - what would you do?

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squirtlysmum

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Last year in aa moment of utter madness I had my saddle converted to having airbags instead of flocking as neddy has a history of a bad back, I also bought a dressage saddle made by the same company that do the airbags in saddles (no names mentioned), when I had the saddles checked the guy from the company spent ages on checking his companies saddle and about 20 mins on my other saddle. I wasn't happy with this and had another saddler come out and check my saddle and it just does not fit and has been wrecked, its now had to be sent back to Italy to be rebuilt with the normal panels replaced, I know before you all shout why did I do it in the first place - well hindsight is a great tool and so am I for doing it!
But I'd be interested in what views would be as to what you would do.
My dressage saddle is ok but I'm not over happy with it and anything thats not perfect will affect my little precious boy.
 
Now I know you aren't supposed to name names, but I can tell you about how a horse got a sore back from a saddle with air bags..
A neighbour had a brand new saddle fitted with air bags and her horse began having back troubles. Eventually after numerous visits from the saddler, (not a master) the physio and vet even the farrier a Master saddler visited and used our arena to see the horse ridden. He then dismantled the saddle back to the bare bones, and found the cause of the sore back.
Where the air bags were fitted they had been shaped by using black duct tape and this had formed a ridge which over time had made the back sore.
(bear in mind this was a brand new expensive saddle)
We were all shocked to find such a cheap job inside and he flocked the saddle there and then, charging around £130 I think.
Now we have air filled saddles with no problems at all (Sue Carson) and it wasn't that make.. I probably shouldn't name the make but it rhymes with hates...
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We previously had a couple of the latter and found our horses weren't that keen on them, if they are making a saddle with a bloody great ridge inside it, no wonder!!!
I think I would ask for a visit from their representative and tell them you are unhappy. At least then they get the chance to state their case and what solution they can offer. (and if it's one of "those" saddles, I'd beware the black tape inside...)
 
Oh blimey SQmum - this sounds like one of those situations that can VERY rapidly spiral out of control and you could end up paying 3 times the cost of the original saddle to get back something that may in fact never be the same as it was in the first place again. It could also end up going down the Small Claims court route, with no certain outcomes. Could you get a rough idea of the cost to try to put things back as they were, though it sounds as if that wasn't right in the first place coz you mention a bad back. If it was me and it came to MORE than a new saddle would cost, I'd be sorely tempted to chalk it up to experience, flog the old saddle on e-bay, never touch the airbag company or their products again and get a new saddle that truly DOES fit your horse. Shame you're not nearer me as there is a fabulous master saddler near me who would put you and horsey right! Good luck.
 
pls can i just ask, squirtly, is this the airbags that begin with C or with F? i have a problem with a saddle with airbags at the moment, the horse is getting sore where the airbag ends. using prolite and it's protecting the horse, but not ideal. thanks.
i'd get the original person out who put the airbags in, explain the problem, and go from there i think. you shouldn't have to pay any more when it's their fault!
 
I bought a brand new saddle rhymes with hates which had airbags beginning with c. We changed the gullet and were shocked and horrified at what utter crap the inside of the saddle was. staples/ duct tape, you name it. I will never buy another.
 
Sounds like an awful situation, have you considered one of those saddlecloths with the air bags in it, there is a old horse at my yard that has been riddled with back problems his whole life, this has given him 2 years without a problem, it is the longest time since the owner has had him for this to work
 
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