Has anyone purchased a dressage saddle from George Gullickson? Please share your experience if you have. Thanks
yes- Run as fast as you can.
I have responded to other posts regarding George but I guess it bears repeating.
I do know people that work with him and continue to do so, but I know more people that have felt ātakenā by him.
George talks a good game, will have you thinking you are doing the right thing by your horse and yourself. It may even work out for a few months. If your horse changes, you start having problems, your horse starts getting cranky, sore, unwilling to go forward, ears pin when you go to saddle him up, George will be nowhere to be found.
When I found a real saddle fitter and bought a saddle that did fit me and my horse, 2 years ago, my horse began to progress again. I bought an Albion and could not be happier. The person I ended up working with (Ann) is in Florida, however she is always available to help. George lives about 90 miles from me and would not be able to fit me in for 6 weeks.
I donāt know where you live, but I work with Ann in Florida, and Kate in IL. Between the two, I get my saddle adjusting annually and have stopped funding the chiro and the massage therapists kids college funds. PM me if you would like more information.
I am quite interested in this post - there are several people in the Memphis area that have his saddlesā¦ and my guy needs a saddle fitting (saddle is not one of Georgeās).
Weāve been trying since late Feb to get a date for him to come. Finally looks like a āsoftā date has been reached - next month, hopefully (maybe?).
Lots of the ladies like their saddles and in another thread there were 4 posts about him, two were negative.
I did come across a man in Dallas who would come to MS, but the cost just for him to come for only my horse is pretty tough on the wallet. Especially if I have to replace my saddle with a ānewā used one.
beware
I was one of those who thought at first these saddles and the way George fits was great. He talks a great game and seems to really know his stuff. However, after multiple horses became backsore (vet and chiropracter suspected saddle fit) and he would not return my calls/was very evasive about scheduling a date to come, I started to doubt. , I spent time educating myself and spoke to several other saddlers who were quite horrified to hear how he purposely ābridgesā the saddle and flocks asymmetrically to compensate for rider leaning.
Iāve got to say the saddles are very nice. Still have em but use another fitter.
My Grand Prix trainer wouldnāt touch them/him with a ten foot pole.
My conclusion: he makes a nice saddle. maybe he is right with his theories about bridging, asymmetrical reflocking, etc. but it made my horses sore. and donāt count on him returning your calls or coming when you need him.
[QUOTE=happyhorsegirl;4016024]
I spent time educating myself and spoke to several other saddlers who were quite horrified to hear how he purposely ābridgesā the saddle and flocks asymmetrically to compensate for rider leaning.
My conclusion: he makes a nice saddle. ā¦and donāt count on him returning your calls or coming when you need him.[/QUOTE]
That is scary to me that he intentionally ābridges and flocks asymetricallyā. Iāve been doing a lot reading and Iāve yet to see that as a recommended practice.
I can believe it about the phone calls. Itās taken the barn 2.5 months to get a date. And the owner of the barn has several of his saddles.
we have three of his saddles here and the vet/chiro loved the fit when she checked them on a routine visit. We have had them adjusted a couple of times since buying them over a year ago but no major issues.
I did some (more) checking around and there are several upper level trainers/riders in the area that really like him.
Iām going to give him a try. On the other post there were people that liked him as well.
[QUOTE=happyhorsegirl;4016024]
I was one of those who thought at first these saddles and the way George fits was great. He talks a great game and seems to really know his stuff. However, after multiple horses became backsore (vet and chiropracter suspected saddle fit) and he would not return my calls/was very evasive about scheduling a date to come, I started to doubt. , I spent time educating myself and spoke to several other saddlers who were quite horrified to hear how he purposely ābridgesā the saddle and flocks asymmetrically to compensate for rider leaning.
Iāve got to say the saddles are very nice. Still have em but use another fitter.
My Grand Prix trainer wouldnāt touch them/him with a ten foot pole.
My conclusion: he makes a nice saddle. maybe he is right with his theories about bridging, asymmetrical reflocking, etc. but it made my horses sore. and donāt count on him returning your calls or coming when you need him.[/QUOTE]
That is it exactly! I just asked him to sell my saddle for me if he could no longer come out to fit him, and he stopped returning my calls. I finally went to BBB and there is a complaint under Canterbury farms. He never even responded to the BBB or to the State of Wisconsin. They advised me to go to small claims court. I thought it too much negative energy and gave up. I love my current saddle, no more pain [edit].
[QUOTE=Boomer;4017291]
I did some (more) checking around and there are several upper level trainers/riders in the area that really like him.
Iām going to give him a try. On the other post there were people that liked him as well.[/QUOTE]
Good luck. I hope you have a better experience. It was my $2800 mistake plus $2000 in chiro, massage and vet bills.
If I were you, I would have a chiropractor and/or a vet present.
I bought a $4000 saddle from him, and when it did not fit my horse he did not answer my calls nor e-mails. It is a nice saddle, with nice leather, but does not fit the horse.
He does talk a good bit, but if you really listen, and know some biomechanics ( i am a bone doctor) it is not accurate.
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[QUOTE=Bogey2;4017106]
we have three of his saddles here and the vet/chiro loved the fit when she checked them on a routine visit. We have had them adjusted a couple of times since buying them over a year ago but no major issues.[/QUOTE]
This is the real question and issue. You stated saddles were bought a year ago, and adjusted āa few timesā. That is great to keep adjusting the saddle, if in fact you really need to, or is this overkill and a good sales pitch? (of course the first few times are free). When you really need to get him to come because you are in real trouble, hope you can get him. The above posts mentioned scheduling dates 2 1/2 months, even with current boarders owning his saddles. Can you truly wait to have a proper readjustment, especially in the middle of show season? If the saddle is fit to your horse, your horse should develop into, and the muscle should develop as the saddle is not interfering. Georgeās philosophy of fitting to overcompensate for horse flaws and/or rider flaws does nothing to fix the problem, and makes it worse.
When I gave up on George, I bought a saddle, it was adjusted once after its break in period, and I have had it checked regularly. Nothing has been needed. Horse looks great and has been going perfectly since. My horse was miserable when I was trying to fall Georgeās program.
I said a couple of times. 2. My horse was 3 when I bought my saddle. It is very comfortable.
I have no reason to argue with you about the fact that I have been satisfied as have the others here who bought the saddle.
do you know anyone that wants to buy mine? Rode in it 6 months max.
if you can sell the 2 Amerigoās we have been trying to sell for a year:lol:
George broke the gullet plates on many of our horses at our barn. Everyone used to use him, but now nobody wants to even hear his name mentioned. RUNā¦
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I had my doubts
Glad to find this forum. George came to our barn Friday, May 1 and sold at least 2 saddles $3,400 each and adjusted others. I have an Albion SL, that I love. It has been a year since any adjustment, so I wanted it looked at and adjusted if needed.
Put my horse on the cross ties and he immediately started pushing on his back and poking around and making my horse mad. We are talking a lot of pressure, and no horse is going to put up with that. This is all part of the pitch to sell you a saddle. Then I had to ride my horse, and he just went on, and on, blah,blah,blah.
Finally, when he realized that I wasnāt going to buy a saddle, he dropped me like a hot potato and went to the next victim. I had to wait to the very end to get my saddle adjusted, and personally I think he screwed it up. He also was going on about how he sold 40 saddles at Rolex. I think he is just alot of Bull.
He came to Rolex in Lexington and would not come to our barn in lexington to adjust saddles that he made. Will not return calls, etc.
Ok personal experience here someone who has two of his saddles. I didnāt want to say anything but I think itās time that I do.
- He is full of crap, his stories donāt match and he has no clue what he is talking about.
- He will put you in the saddle weather it fits you, your horse, or not. He is all about making selling his saddles and not making a perfect fit for you and the horse.
- You will not get any service from him so be ready to buy the saddle and never see him again. Unless you are at the barn where the trainer has a bunch of saddles he wonāt come down just for you.
- I think he is on drugs just the way he is acting very strange and very inconsistent.
- He makes no sense when he explains things and if you ask the same question later he will tell you something totally different.
So back to the saddle:
I have one of his first saddles that he made for my WB, 2 Ā½ years ago. When I got the saddle after 8 weeks waiting it felt terrible, my horse was bucking, and I felt spread out. I called the guy but had to speak to his assistant who has no clue just repeats what George tells her to say. He said ride in the saddle for a month and if you donāt like it I will make you another one. So, a month later I call and said I donāt think that the saddle is a narrow twist as I feel spread out and I was told that this is as narrow as they come. So I shot up and kept riding in the saddle. Over time I got used it and actually started liking it but I was at a trainers who told me that all the issues I was having is 100% me and not my saddle or the horse. So I believed it and thought I had the best saddle. Sure itās comfortable to sit in but I always have to struggle putting my leg back because it puts me a little bit in a chair seat and itās difficult for me to put my leg around the horse. I am only 5ā1, 105lbs and I have a fairly large WB so I thought it was me and went with it. My trainer who I no longer train with totally supported George and said it was in my head and somehow got me to make another saddle for my TB.
I had to wait almost 4-5 months to get my 2nd saddle and when I did get the saddle it was totally different than my first one. The twist is definitely narrow as I asked originally (I must have called him 10 times after I ordered my 2nd saddle to tell him not to forget to make it a narrow twist) Saddle fits my TB and myself pretty well. I was much happier with my 2nd saddle and wished that he made the same one for my WB.
About 2 months ago George came to my old trainerās barn so I arranged for him to come by me, which is literally 2 minutes away. First of all I had to wait almost 4 hours for him. When he came out I told him that my first saddle puts me in a chair seat but my 2nd one doesnāt. His response was oh yeah that was my old tree and it does do that. So I asked him if he would take this saddle as a trade and make me a new one that is like my 2nd saddle. He showed me one of the saddles that he made as āsemi-custom/stockā and told me I can try that one. He left the saddle with me to ride in for 10 days without a payment (I paid him like that once before so he trusts me) I rode in the new saddle and as it put me in a great position it didnāt fit my horse and the twist was not narrow so I had to jack up my stirrups even more and have less leg on my horse. I have been trying to get a hold of him for two months to tell him that but no one would call me back or talk to me but I did get an email asking for money and my old saddle. The saddle also had a strange problem the leathers bunch up under my thigh at the center. I was told that it was my fault and this is the way I sit itās not the saddle but go ahead and buy it as itās no big deal. I only have to stop to fix the leathers after each time I canter. Sure letās see if I can use this as an excuse at a show. The saddle gave me bruises because of that.
So finally after sending a not so nice email and leaving 5 voice messages and speaking to his assistant George called me back. He had all kinds of excuses than told me that he was doing me a favor by giving me his $4k saddle for less money and even though it doesnāt fit me or the horse I should still buy it and send my old one to him with the check. I guess I should do that because he is giving me a great deal and doing me a favor. I was shocked to hear that from a custom saddler who at once told me that he went into business to make perfect saddle for the horse and the rider. He then proceeded to tell me that the saddle is used and was made for someone else and thatās why he was giving such a great deal. Ok, the saddle showed no signs of being used it was in brand new condition, there is obviously something wrong with the saddle.
So to make my story short I would not buy another saddle from George again. Letās see how long it will take me to sell my custom saddle after I buy a different saddle for my horse. Sadly my old saddle fits my horse fairly well; however it does not fit me and makes me ride in a very uncomfortable position. I am moving up the levels now and I cannot afford to ride in a saddle that puts me in a chair seat. I wish I did my research about George and his saddles before I bought two of them. I will say though so far I am fairly happy with my 2nd saddle I am just worried when time comes for it to be adjusted I will not get any service. Because the saddle has air panels it will be difficult to find someone who can adjust that as most saddles donāt have that feature.
So, would I ever buy another saddle from him? Absolutely NOT!
Just an update from MSā¦
George looked at my saddle (Spaulding) and adjusted it. It seems to be fitting my guy fine now. He didnāt really like my saddle or the one I was borrowing for my gelding. But he did suggest some used brands to try that might be a better fit on my high-withered boy.
He didnāt give me a hard sell - but then he knew up front that I didnāt have lots of $$. But he sure gave the pitch to another gal and spent lots of time with her - and got a sale.
As an aside - what I have noticed since riding in another saddle vs mine is that the stirrup bars are a bit far forward. I hadnāt really noticed it until Iād been riding in my trainerās saddle a few months in lessons. My saddle is wayyy comfy thoā¦ just wish the bars were back a little. Both the trainers I work woth said the same thing.
George did suggest he had a saddle at the shop he could send me to tryā¦
[QUOTE=Warmbloodmom;4024855]
George broke the gullet plates on many of our horses at our barn. Everyone used to use him, but now nobody wants to even hear his name mentioned. RUNā¦[/QUOTE]
He is banned from our facility- large show barn
