Saddle fitted professionally doesn't fit... What w

[rowanrachel]

I bought a second hand wintec gp off off a saddle fitter in September and although I was happy at the time, I don't know much about saddle fitting so took her word on it! She did say if honey lost any weight she'd go down a gullet plate size. Quite quickly I started thinking I wasn't happy with it and honey was messing around at the mounting block and seeming unhappy in trot, but since I'd only just started riding her more consistently, friends kept saying she needed time to get used to the changes and it was that she was just unschooled and a bit stubborn (which she is) but I continued feeling a bit unsure with it. So instead of getting the same saddle fitter back out , since I didn't think she'd go back on her word-and not really having much faith in saddle fitters in general after this, I got a Physio out -she needed a once over anyway and I thought she could then also comment on the saddle.
She said it wasn't a good fit but wasn't hurting but honeys back was very tight and I should get another saddle fitter out to check it. So I got another saddle fitter and she confirmed that it slides far to far forwards on Honeys shoulders and would be pinching and hindering her movement!! Plus this second saddle fitter showed me what a real saddle fitter should be like by taking loads of time, watching me walk and trot in different saddles, taking measurements etc. the first one had never done any of this! She just saw me at stand in it and Said it was fine. It was the only one she had in my price range... Coincidence?? But I'd actually got we out to try one I had already which was no good.

So I've now got one I'm borrowing from a friend (which the second saddle fitter has okayed until I sell my wintec to get money to buy another! Thing is I actually really overpaid for the wintec anyway in my haste to have something to ride in so I'll never get my money back.

So I emailed the first fitter saying what had happened and that I was unhappy and could she take the saddle back? She said she couldn't buy it back but would be happy to come out for free and check it again. But I really don't trust her now so I don't see the point in getting her out. I maybe should have asked her back out for free to begin with when I started having issues but felt if she'd sold me a dud saddle -she was hardly going to turn around and say so?

A bit of a long one but any suggestions on what to do next? Do I have any way of getting my money back for the saddle?- my friend is actually wantin to buy it but for £60 and I paid £150 for it :-((

[specialized]

First point is that 'fitting' a wintec saddle is not really saddle fitting as such, with the interchangeable gullet they are a bit of a moveable feast and they are really more designed for self-adjustment. However I would expect a saddle fitter to see you on the horse in at least walk and trot before saying a particular saddle fits. At £150 for a used wintec you have not really been overcharged as that is about what they go for on e-bay, at £60 your friend sounds like she is trying it on a bit.
If you felt you were not happy with the original saddler it would have been better not to let so much time pass before complaining as it is difficult to say how much the horse has changed etc in the time passed.
I would suggest putting the saddle on ebay where you should get a decent price to buy something more suitable.

[rifruffian]

Take some time to self educate about saddles and saddle fits; obviously there is research material on the internet. Just give yourself a little time to read, think about it relative to the shape of your own horse. Then make your own judgements.
There's thousands of saddle choices out there. I just mention in passing that I myself favour synthetics in general and thorogood in particular.
During this learning process do not spend huge amounts of money on any particular saddle. Then you can't lose lots of money when you make a mistake and need to sell on.
£150 isn't too much for a saddle in good condition, (whether it fits or not is another matter).
Specialized suggestion to sell the unwanted item on ebay is a good idea.( Your friend can join in the bidding and get the bargain she seeks.)

[ba]

When we choose to own a horse I believe that we make a commitment to have the knowledge and funds to care for said horse appropriately. As Rifruffian said - educate yourself about saddle fitting and the different types of saddles. If you choose to ride your horse you should factor in the cost of the required equipment including a properly fitted saddle. I'm sorry but £150 isn't going to get you the best.

[jen1]

The you tube vids about schleese saddles are very useful, im in awe nowadays at just how narrow channel's are, and how close they are to the spine, I wonder if there will be any demos in your area because even if you dont intend to purchase a schleese saddle, the info alone about physiology and saddle fit is worth knowing

[maislow]

I would tell her you've contacted trading standards & they have advised the goods were not fit for purpose & the fitter is duty bound to take the saddle back. Say you currently have not told them her name but will happily put them in touch with her if she doesn't refund you - worth the bluff

[rosemaryhannah]

I too think that it will be hard or impossible to prove that the saddle did not fit at the time of purchase - I too would put it on ebay and sell it, chalk it all up as a learning experience and move on. We all make mistakes. There are a lot of dodgy saddle-fitters out there and you are not by any means the only person to have had bad experiences. I think it is too specialised an area for Trading Standards to be much able to help, and that the first dodgy fitter will already know this.

[jill]

In this day and age of good easy communication you could always let the saddle fitter know that unless she treats you fairly and at least takes the saddle back for a full refund (assuming it is in the same condition still?) you will make sure all your contacts know how badly she has treated you. The horse world is very good at networking and without a reputation she won't have much of a business. Then if she doesn't step up to the mark do it and save others wasting good money in the same way, but stick strictly to the facts, don't express opinions as that could be libel or slander.

[cookie]

Much as I sympathise I think it is unreasonable to demand a full refund or threaten trading standards when you have not had the original fitter back out since the fitting.

I would seek her opinion again, see of she can take the saddle from you to sell on, as a party refund and move on. If you don't want her out at all then go to Ebay with the saddle. But I'm afraid it is a lesson to us all, if you are not happy with a product to go back asap. Your consumer rights give you 30 days if a product is not fit for purpose.

I'm sorry if that sounds harsh but horses do change shape. Does she or you have a template that it was originally fitted to? That might be at least some evidence that it didn't fit originally which would give you more of a case?

Sent from my GT-I9100 using proboards

[Deleted]

As others have said, I'd read up on the internet about sadddle fitting and ask any fitter to explain when they're doing as they do it. Wintec or not, if you pay a qualified saddle fitter to fit a saddle it should be done properly. I'd just sell the saddle and stick with a fitter you trust.

£150 for a used wintec sounds about right unless the saddle is in dreadful condition. If its in nice nick and you're willing to sell it for £60 I'll have it and put it on ebay myself

[wills]

Jan 19, 2013 23:32:19 GMT 1 ba said:

When we choose to own a horse I believe that we make a commitment to have the knowledge and funds to care for said horse appropriately. As Rifruffian said - educate yourself about saddle fitting and the different types of saddles. If you choose to ride your horse you should factor in the cost of the required equipment including a properly fitted saddle. I'm sorry but £150 isn't going to get you the best.

Thats a bit harsh BA, I'm quite sure just because OP couldn't afford a mega expensive saddle at the time does not mean she shouldn't ride her horse, seeing as she had a saddle fitter out it's obvious she thought she was getting a correctly fitted saddle.... I bought a second hand wintec for my old horse, only cost me £80 - fitted like a glove.

Anyway OP, I had a similar experience earlier on this year with my youngster, it was a really wet and wild day when saddle fitter came out and Ori had only had a rider on twice, so rider got on and had a quick walk up and down the yard. Following weekend when I tacked her up she seamed slightly uneasy about the girth being tightend and she rushed from the mounting block - I put it down to babyness when really I should have taken into account her unhappy gestures, anyway let go of her in the school and straight away she arched her back and tried to buck her rider off, when I took the saddle off there was 2 clear rub marks on her shoulder from it . I called the saddle fitter immediatley and her excuse was "Oh well she could have changed shape, I only saw a rider walking in it bla bla bla" thankfully I hadn't purchased a saddle from her, the one she recommended belonged to a friend who had lent me it. I know no of 2 others who have had a similar experience with this so called proffessional but they have ended up out of pocket after buying from her. I would stick it on ebay and i imagine you would get your money back.

[wills]

Ohh just seen your in Edinbrugh, do you want to PM me her name so I can give her a miss

[ba]

Not harsh at all just honest opinion, that I feel is appropriate to OP's post

[tikkatonks]

Some of the replies on here are quite unfair to the saddle fitter. With a very limited budget you would be incredibly fortunate to find the perfect fit and perhaps this saddle fitter thought they were providing a reasonably good fit given the budget, and also providing the flexibility of changeable gullet as the horse developed. Having said that it may never have been a good fit but its not really possible to know that now.

I think selling the saddle on ebay is a good bet.

You would probably save yourself money in the long run by not riding until you can save up a bigger saddle budget (think potential cost of vet bills, chiro etc). Find someone who you trust as a fitter and don't part company with your money unless you and the horse are happy in the saddle.

[lisap]

Sell the saddle on ebay.

Spend some time getting to understand the mechanics of fitting saddles for yourself. Saddle fitting is a skill, not an art and is well within the capacity of any horse owner. Do not think it has to be left to the professionals - that is nonsense!

Read up on saddle fitting. Look at Youtube videos - there are bound to be many on fitting saddles. Then have a saddle fitting day at your yard (if you are on a yard). Put various different saddles on different horses. Put into practice what you have read and seen. See what happens when you put different numnahs underneath saddles. See if the saddle tips forward or back. Learn to see where the saddle should sit on the horse's back (most people put them too far forward on the horse's back). Have some fun with this.
Honestly, you do not need to spend a fortune on a saddle, I've never paid over £400 for a saddle in my life, and have yet to have a horse with a sore back. But I do know how to fit and check saddles - you will be able to as well! ;D