Alis is still working, and she is based in San Diego. She is rather busy with existing clients, and even some of them have a hard time getting her out.
Sarah Boothe can certainly strip and reflock. She trains other reps.
You paint saddle reps with a very broad brush, Scribbler. Maybe things are different in Canada.
Most of the Custom Saddlery reps Iâve come across have some reasonably good training in fitting and flocking. As do the N2 reps, and Trilogy, and Bliss. In fact, all the decent quality English wool flocked saddles.
They generally arenât keen on fooling with other manufacturerâs saddles for reasons of warranty and liability, not because they arenât capable. Just as I wonât service my competitors products.
However, as in all things, there are always those that come bottom of the class.
If they are bad enough they tend not to last. Certainly not in a competitive market like the Western USA.
Somis/Moorpark area. I only know of one rep, and that was when I was told reps do not necessarily flock second hand saddlesâŠ
For musings on this question, see my responses in the âHorse Ownership as Canary in the Coal Mineâ thread. Tack suppliers, especially in dressage, seem pointed directly at those with money to burn.
Specifically for saddles, in decades of shopping for second hand saddles â never had a budget that could justify any other kind â Iâve watched the styles, especially cushier seats, require thinner leather. While this may be a supply chain thing, it could be that the quality of leather has generally deteriorated, it seems a general rule that newer and often eye-poppingly expensive saddles mar and split after less use than a 10-20 year-old saddle.
Or, maybe, itâs simple expediency. Who â besides us weirdo knitters â darns socks anymore?
Thatâs Sarah Boothâs area. She can do a strip and reflock, and I have personally seen her work on Custom Saddles she did not sell. Whether or not sheâll come out to work on a single used saddle for a new client (rather than at a barn of existing customers) is another story. Only way to find out for sure is to call and ask.
Well that is great news because I was hearing the opposite. I havenât had a chance to call yet, but certainly will update!
