Equation Saddlery

[eqmassage]

Where to start…
Equine Inspired started as Equine Inspired Touch. I am a Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist, Certified Veterinary Technician and have been working with horses for over 30 years. After seeing so many sore backs and compromised horses I began learning saddle fitting so that I could offer some relief to these horses I treat. George has been a big part of my learning, as well as Veterinarians, Farriers, Nutritionists and other saddlers. So yes, there will be a George influence in my website and materials. I don’t want to focus on one brand of saddle because I think there are different saddles for different people and horse types. I also post and will be posting more educational information by Gerd Hauschmann, Dr Deb Bennet, Dr Heather Mack, I can go on and on but I think you get the gist. I don’t have a bio up yet because I want my site and business to be more of a collaborate effort of many different specialists, so I’m not sure how I want to do that yet.

Regarding people buying expensive Hennig saddles from my site, yes, I’m hoping they do, I am an authorized dealer, so they are free to call me and I will assist them as best I can with the best saddle I can get for them. All businesses start somewhere, Dover, Smartpak, etc. they all started with a few products and grew. I’m hoping I can do the same, but I want to provide the best Equine “Inspired” products, that are the best for the horse as I can.

I don’t mean this to be an advertisement in any way, I just wanted to clarify for the previous posts that are questioning my validity.

This will be a growing quest, I don’t have all the answers, as none of us do, but I want to encourage education and ownership of your horses health, happiness and well being.

My site won’t be perfect and may not satisfy the needs of the people on this forum and that’s alright, I only started a post because I wanted to respond about my website.

[system]

Truthfully, would you order a saddle worth thousands of dollars from a “nameless” website or a “new” business without “x” experience in the industry, references or anything? You’ve explained your reasoning on why your Bio isn’t on the website but honestly, this is George’s old website revamped (pics & all), and added to. Sorry, but there is too much of George involved here.

[DressageReine]

I know there are people here with negative experiences, but I just need to pipe up because I’ve had nothing but positive experiences w/George and Equine Inspired. I ordered one of George’s saddles in July and got it in August. My horse’s muscling has improved so dramatically since getting it, and it really helps to support me as well. I have nothing but high praise for both George and his son, as well as the massage therapist who works with them. My horse is letting me know how happy he is with the saddle

I know they can be hard to get a hold of, but e-mail works better than calling I believe. It’s the same if people want to get a hold of me though If anyone has specific questions, pm me, I’d be happy to tell you about my experience.

[paulaedwina]

I noticed that there is a picture of Becky Holder on the site as an example of a hard to fit rider who is benefiting from a well fitted saddle. Does this mean that Becky Holder is one of their satisfied clients?

Paula

[SnowFalen]

Hate to bump this back up, but I have an equation saddle from George. I had mine long before many of these posts appeared, but I had all the same trouble with poor fit and poor customer service.

Fast forward to now, I rode off and on over the years and now am trying to see if I can get the saddle to fit my horse again. I had a saddle fitter look at it today and apparently the tree is cracked. I have two options, find a replacement tree and fix my saddle or scrap it and buy a new one. Obviously, replacing the tree is cheaper so in that vein does anyone know what tree was in those saddle and if I can purchase one? I know they were made in the UK and I know other people have had similar issues with the tree. I would call it a loss and buy a new one, but the saddle is great outside of the tree not fitting (that has always been the problem, and I do not know when it cracked).

If anyone has any information about the tree or any idea of where to look (I am going to try the Equine Inspired people and see), my mare and I would greatly appreciate it!

Thank you!

[alto]

As the tree never fit properly in the first place, why not have County or some other saddlery replace the tree - I only mention County as they do them on client saddles … if there are saddle makers in you area, start there

I would expect when they pull the current tree, that will point to tree type/manufacture etc & suitable replacements … obviously you want your horse measured as well.

[Maude]

Patrick Saddlery made the saddles for Equation. Patrick is not affiliated with Equation but was contracted to make saddles for them. Patrick has no affiliation with Equation but is a very nice honest person who may be able to help you if you still want the saddle. I believe he has a website Patrick Saddlery. Good luck.

[SnowFalen]

Maude, Thank you so much for the information! I will give them a call and see what I might be able to do.

Alto, There is a County person here that my saddle fitter works with. The saddle fitter is the one who recommended I try to replace the tree with an exact replica because she said everything else (leather, seat, etc.) was measured for that specific tree so an exact replacement would be best for the saddle integrity as a whole. But perhaps that is another option, thank you for the suggestion though, as I am trying to examine all options!

[alto]

Drastic change in tree can/may affect the saddle as a whole - that is part of what the saddler will assess, but County does replace trees as part of their guaranteed fit program ie tree size changes, shape, maybe not so much BUT if you think of saddles with an adjustable tree, shape /width changes between horses & saddle integrity remains …

Much will depend on the condition & quality of the leather (glue/stitching etc also will impact).

Of course the least done means least cost BUT if the old tree didn’t fit the horse

the saddle is great outside of the tree not fitting (that has always been the problem,

Contacting Patrick Saddlery for information is a great idea - ask about his US schedule: I’d be inclined to wait for his next US trip & try to have him & the horse & the saddle (& you) all in the same room
Distance fitting can work but also has limitations - consider how much you’ll pay in shipping- once (& return), twice (& return) etc: try to do any shipping under the saddle company contract as that usually saves you $$

[3s1]

equineinspired.info is all about George Gullikson. interesting how much this supposition was originally negated…

[Snork]

3s, Equine Inspired is in my neck of woods and that’s definitely not George. I’m not a big fan of George (to put it mildly) but I’m a really big fan of Stacy from Equine Inspired.

Lets put it this way - I would sell my horse and quit riding if my only option was to be fit by George (again). My experience with his fitting expertise wasn’t exactly trust inspiring.

Stacy, on the other hand, i really like. She is a very good fitter. She is also kind, responsive, shows up when she says she will, is easy to talk to, honest to a fault and never pushes anything so I trust her. I’m sure she could have made a lot more money by trying to sell me one of their brand new custom saddles but, instead, she recommended an older used Hennig because that fit my horse the best. She does sell George’s saddles but she does not push them at all and if their models do not fit, she will say so (instead of telling you that you just need to learn to ride better). She also carries a bunch of used saddles, they are fairly priced and she never makes you feel like a second class citizen or a complete idiot for not wanting a brand new custom.

In short, Stacy is not George, and thank goodness for that. I like Stacy.

[ToN_Farm]

[QUOTE=Snork;7867177]
3s, Equine Inspired is in my neck of woods and that’s definitely not George. [/QUOTE] Stacy may own the website, but Equine Inspired is the name of George’s new business.

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/george-gullikson/41/444/3a6

[Snork]

Their whole naming convention is obtuse. I’m not sure about the reason behind it but i wish Stacy didn’t have to take the fall for George because she really does not deserve to inherit his reputation. They are polar opposites in my experience.

I always thought that Stacy took over George’s business but it might be that she just took over our area (IL/WI) if George is using the Equine Inspired name on Linked In. The new saddles that Stacy carries are stamped “Equine Inspired” (just checked the flap on my trainer’s saddle in the barn) so they are sharing a name but the website is definitely Stacy and the fitter (at least in IL) is Stacy as well. Since she never pushes any saddles, I just think of her as a nice fitter who carries a bunch of used saddles and some new saddles that do not fit me.

[Keg-A-Bacchus]

Stacy is Equine Inspired Touch. George is Equine Inspired LLC. I was confused too but they are seperate companies. She did take a lot if his clients when he moved south and she died offer his saddles for sale if people are interested. She’s awesome though and has done amazing things fitting my impossible to fit short backed, mutton withered sensitive horses I seem to keep getting! LOL She has a ton of used saddles and the last 3 she recommended for me were used and under $1000. She’s extremely honest and easy to work with. Just to clear up the confusion similar name but not the same

[wallyworld]

I know this is an old thread, but I feel I need to let others know who are googling this saddlemaker what my experience has been with George. I ordered a “custom” saddle two years ago - I needed extra D rings and didn’t want the hole in the flap. He said no problem, he would have it made that way in Walsall, and gave me a “loaner”. Well, I never got my saddle - it was one excuse after another, the last correspondence was from him in Nov. of 2018 saying he would have it to me in January. January came and went and no word from George (which is per usual) until I told him it was coming back and I wanted my money refunded. He said he didn’t keep invoices ??? - but I still had mine and sent a copy to him. No response for weeks, and I got tired of waiting. I sent the saddle back and contacted the BBB. I am in the process of getting a lawyer involved. This man might be a good fitter, but he’s a HORRIBLE businessman, and a liar, so I would say either buy one used from someone, or make sure that what you are getting is EXACTLY what you want, because he will promise things he can’t deliver, and then you get stuck holding the bag. I never should have paid him up front, but he comes across as such a caring and genuine person. Don’t be fooled.

[wallyworld]

I know this is an old thread, but I feel I need to let others know who are googling this saddlemaker what my experience has been with George. I ordered a “custom” saddle two years ago - I needed extra D rings and didn’t want the hole in the flap. He said no problem, he would have it made that way in Walsall, and gave me a “loaner”. Well, I never got my saddle - it was one excuse after another, the last correspondence was from him in Nov. of 2018 saying he would have it to me in January. January came and went and no word from George (which is per usual) until I told him it was coming back and I wanted my money refunded. He said he didn’t keep invoices ??? - but I still had mine and sent a copy to him. No response for weeks, and I got tired of waiting. I sent the saddle back and contacted the BBB. I am in the process of getting a lawyer involved. This man might be a good fitter, but he’s a HORRIBLE businessman, and a liar, so I would say either buy one used from someone, or make sure that what you are getting is EXACTLY what you want, because he will promise things he can’t deliver, and then you get stuck holding the bag. I never should have paid him up front, but he comes across as such a caring and genuine person. Don’t be fooled. And there are well qualified trainers who feel the saddle puts you too far back on the horse.

[Maude]

@wallyworld

I know this is an old thread, but I feel I need to let others know who are googling this saddlemaker what my experience has been with George. I ordered a “custom” saddle two years ago - I needed extra D rings and didn’t want the hole in the flap. He said no problem, he would have it made that way in Walsall, and gave me a “loaner”. Well, I never got my saddle - it was one excuse after another, the last correspondence was from him in Nov. of 2018 saying he would have it to me in January. January came and went and no word from George (which is per usual) until I told him it was coming back and I wanted my money refunded. He said he didn’t keep invoices ??? - but I still had mine and sent a copy to him. No response for weeks, and I got tired of waiting. I sent the saddle back and contacted the BBB. I am in the process of getting a lawyer involved. This man might be a good fitter, but he’s a HORRIBLE businessman, and a liar, so I would say either buy one used from someone, or make sure that what you are getting is EXACTLY what you want, because he will promise things he can’t deliver, and then you get stuck holding the bag. I never should have paid him up front, but he comes across as such a caring and genuine person. Don’t be fooled. And there are well qualified trainers who feel the saddle puts you too far back on the horse.

Thanks. I am no longer looking to get one anyway.

[meupatdoes]

@Maude

Thanks. I am no longer looking to get one anyway.

Well, it’s good that other people who may be considering one can be warned.