Saddler

[Jessey]

Before Xmas Monkeys saddle seemed to be not fitting so well, so I swapped him into the treeless (Freeform) but I don't get on great with it, so I booked a saddler to come out to fit a new-to-us saddle. Snow postponed our first attempt, but she made it out yesterday.

She seemed very knowledgeable and sensible, I liked her and her ethos. She brought half a dozen saddles for us to try and 2 fitted Monkey nicely, the first was an older Albion SLK 17.5" and I hated it the second I sat in it, as the pommel rose too steeply due to a cut-back head and was very uncomfortable, she tried a flocking tweak to sit me differently but it wasn't much better. The 2nd was a Saddle Company saddle, she said it was 17" but the paper tag said 16.5" (which I know could be wrong but it's niggling in my head) it was better, but not great - It had a deep seat and although comfortable, I felt wedged into it, I did W/T/C and felt very secure even when he had a silly about the horse next door but it wasn't super comfortable and it was a 'if you replace the knee rolls with smaller ones it should feel better' situation and I'm not really ready to compromise my comfort without trying more saddles. We both agreed really I need a 17.5" or shallower seat but she feels Monkey really needs a 17" unless it's a short panel so back to the drawing board!

She topped up the flocking on my old saddle to see us through for now, while we look for something else but I'm feeling deflated, I was excited to get a new saddle! I'm now trawling saddlebank to see if they have something worth trying and she can come and fit it for me during the trial period.

 

[Trewsers]

That's a shame when you were looking forward to a new saddle. However on the upside least you can still use your current one with the flocking topped up. The right one will come along won't it.

 

[Jessey]

OOo, I might be on a winner, there's a second hand tack shop about 45 minutes away and I messaged them to ask if they had a fitter as they seem to have lots of potential saddles, they don't but they will 'sin out' saddles to me to take away for my fitter to look at! I'm going over there on Friday to look closer at what they have and sit in a few

 

[carthorse]

Did you find anything that looks promising? Saddles do need to be right for both of you so I totally agree about not compromising unless there's no other option. They can also feel very different on different horses.

 

[Jessey]

It was a little treasure trove, I sat in about 20 saddles and we whittled it down to 3, all were 17.5” but their panels are all 1”+ shorter than my current saddle so I was hopeful. Until I got home and popped them on him, 1 is a definite no, 1 is a maybe and the other I think unlikely. I’ve sent pictures to my saddler to see if she thinks it’s worth her time to come and look at them in person or can nix them straight away. Unfortunately the 17” that worked for me were the wrong width. I now realise I should have noted down what they were!!!

 

[carthorse]

Can you ask your saddler to tell you what width the ones that worked on him were, and ideally the model too. That way you'll have a better idea of what style and tree shape you're looking at as well as width and length. Also it may be that the width of the ones you've brought back could be adjusted slightly even if they don't have changeable headplates. My saddler will sometimes give people a list of what's likely to fit their horse if she knows the budget is seriously limited and she doesn't have anything used that will work. The trouble is widths vary quite a bit between makes, and style will change that too to an extent.

 

[Jessey]

Yep she already gave me that, the 2 maybes (1 Albion and 1 Black Country) looked good width and shape wise (to my untrained eye), it’s the length that I’m not sure on.

 

[Jessey]

I think I’ve been ghosted. When saddler was here Monday she said she would happily come back to fit something from saddle bank etc. (she volunteered it, I didn’t ask), so Tuesday I found the loaner saddle option and messaged her, Thursday she replied and said she could come on Monday and I said I’d let her know what they had on Friday, which I did, and I messaged again this morning to ask if she was coming and I’ve heard nothing.

As I finish typing that (1.30 on Monday) I get a reply to say she now can’t make this afternoon but could do tomorrow, but of course I’m back to work, replied straight away and nothing again. I’m not feeling warm and fuzzy about the whole thing, she seemed skilled and nice enough but late for first appointment, takes days to reply to messages and I haven’t even had a bill for last Monday yet (she couldn’t give me a price on the day) and I’d really like to get it paid. Perhaps I’m reading too much into it.

 

[Trewsers]

Hmm, are there lots more saddle fitters near you? If you're not feeling good about it then I'd probably try someone else (after you manage to get the bill of this one that is). If someone is running a business then they should reply promptly whenever possible. I don't like having to wait days for replies. Appreciate folk are busy, but so are you. Personally, my choices would be limited due to location but I'm guessing yours aren't.

 

[Jessey]

There’s less than you’d think, and having tried some of the others in the past I wouldn’t go back. She’s just replied to say next Monday so I’ll see how it goes

 

[carthorse]

To be fair the good ones can get pretty booked up, and they also have lives where things can go wrong. I agree a text or call in the morning wouldn't have gone amiss though.

Fingers crossed she gets to you next Monday. On the bright side it gives you a chabce to take back the ones you think are wrong and see if there's anything more suitable and/or get some from the Saddle Bank.

 

[Jessey]

Well she arrived half an hour early this time! The Albion she wasn’t keen on as someone had removed the point strap (the webbing was still there so relatively simple to sew back on), so went straight to the Black Country which looked good in theory but Monkey didn’t like it, he wasn’t lifting his back in it and was stuffy.

Saddler had brought a K&M with her so gave that a try, Monkey was better, more willing to walk forward, but when I asked him to really walk he kept doing a little hop like he was going to canter but didn’t, same in trot, but then wouldn’t canter and bucked a bit when pushed. Went out briefly and 2nd try he did canter ok. I can’t decide if it was uncomfortable and he gave up objecting, or if he was just unsure of the change and eventually got the confidence. Saddler felt it was good for him. I preferred it to the one last week, but I wouldn’t say it was comfortable. So I’m meant to pick it up Friday but I’m really not sure.

 

[carthorse]

If you aren't sure and Monkey isn't saying he loves it (he really isn't!) then I wouldn't go for it, and while I don't know your saddler it sounds like she's selling what she's got rather than what suits the pair of you. That hop in walk and trot plus the buck in canter would say to me he wasn't comfortable if he was mine, what was he like on a tight turn and rein back? I'd be ringing and saying I'd changed my mind and will keep looking, but it's up to you.

How odd not to even try the Albion because a poit strap had been removed. I've had that done in the past when I know I won't use it to remove the bulk of it from under the flap.

Is she the only decent saddle fitter that will come to you and isn't linked to one make?

 

[Jessey]

Yeah I’ve basically come to that conclusion. There’s a couple of others around, I think I was spoiled with the lady I used for years, she had her own brand, but never pushed new saddles, in fact refused to sell me one for Jess because mine suited us both so well and just needed some TLC! She was a wizard and always knew just what was needed, I was so sad when she retired.