Good "non-denominational" saddle fitter in Northern Virginia?

[Dr_Doolittle]

I have a student who is looking to get her saddles checked out by someone reputable and local, and is having trouble getting her calls returned from a couple of fitters she’s used in the past - one of them the area County rep who sold her her custom County dressage saddle…

Anyway, I was thinking of recommending Annette Gavin from Hastilow, but her jump saddle is a Devoucoux, and I do know that Annette is not (ahem) fond of that brand – to say the least. Student is not interested in replacing the jump saddle, FWIW - hence the search for a nondenominational fitter

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thanks!

[Happyhorse77]

https://m.facebook.com/Harrison-Saddle-Fit-1491244114450171/ Wonderful to work with, non-brand

[faybe]

When I lived in Lexington I used Michael Stokes (he is a saddler and makes his own saddles- Centaur Saddlery- but also works on other brands) and he was excellent. The dressage saddle he made for me is just lovely and still looks like new 10 yrs on. The work he did on my other saddles was great as well.

[sheltona01]

How about me? I am independent and work on all brands.

www.thesaddlefits.com

[lovemytbs]

I might be wrong, but since Devoucoux are foam I don’t think they can be adjusted? I use Gina Perilla, she used to be with County, then Stubben, but I think she’s pretty much on her own now and will fit anything

[Dr_Doolittle]

luvmytbs - yes on the Devoucoux - I’m thinking she may want to do some “strategic shimming” to improve the balance (she bought the saddle from a BNT and he thought the fit was “okay”, but didn’t really check it, just rode the horse in it and the horse didn’t complain )

Thanks for the recommendations! I’ll forward this thread to her.

I actually know Gina, though haven’t seen her in ages (we used to teach at Reddemeade at the same time), I love her!, and she has been on my radar as a saddle fitter since she went that route

Several good options, so thanks folks!

[Stacie]

Katy-Lou Gray who is also does massage, fits saddles and makes shims. I have a cotton mattes shim pad that I’d be happy to sell you. I don’t need it anymore since I had Michael Stokes make a saddle for Zen.
cell 540 270-0313
home 540-554-2604

[Sing_Mia_Song]

Love Gina and Susie Coffee. Both are exemplary.

[flyingchange]

David Young sometimes comes up this way from North Carolina. You can also send measurements, pix, and the saddles down to him and he’ll do the adjustments there and ship back. But I don’t know if he will be able to help with the foam panels (think he’s not a fan of Dev. but I’d still get in touch with him). After using him in NC I’ve never run into anybody else even remotely comparable.

[siyafunda]

If I remember correctly Katy Lou Gray also hates Devoucoux saddles.

It’s interesting to me that so many saddle fitters despise these saddles. I borrowed my husband’s Devoucoux dressage saddle the other day and it’s incredibly comfortable. I wanted to steal it but I’ve been indoctrinated by so many saddle fitters about the evil of these saddles that I’m nervous of using it on my horse!

[yellowbritches]

[QUOTE=siyafunda;8846994]
If I remember correctly Katy Lou Gray also hates Devoucoux saddles.

It’s interesting to me that so many saddle fitters despise these saddles. I borrowed my husband’s Devoucoux dressage saddle the other day and it’s incredibly comfortable. I wanted to steal it but I’ve been indoctrinated by so many saddle fitters about the evil of these saddles that I’m nervous of using it on my horse![/QUOTE]
That’s because, IMO, they are made with all the bells and whistles to be comfy for the rider, but leave a lot to be desired for the horses.

Katylou is great. I would go with her. I’m really surprised the County rep hasn’t gotten back to her. She’s usually really great about that.

[Dr_Doolittle]

Thanks for the additional input (and yes, what yb said WRT Devoucoux :), maybe Mary Sue isn’t the best person for the job!

Stacie, thanks - I’ll ask the student whether she’s in the market for a Mattes Shim pad (she already has two Mattes pads but neither of them are shim pads), and good to know about Mary Sue for future reference.

Sing Mia Song: I used Suzy back in the 90’s and early 00’s, I loved her!, but I think she’s finally retired. Had some health problems from what I heard, and was also busy with her family and it was hard for her to get down to VA on a regular basis. She taught me a lot about shimming when I worked with her. What a nice woman

(I used Bill Wood on and off for years after Suzy, but now HE has retired, sigh, also for health reasons. He was great, and my horses always loved him - Ella wanted to crawl into his pocket. He has a kind, gently way about him. I wish him well and hope he’s okay; the life of a F/T saddle fitter is a stressful one - especially after a certain age. )

[Frivian]

Susie is not retired. She’s seen my horse twice this year!

[Twigster]

I’ve used Ann and she was very thorough and educational while assessing saddles for my horse. Two thumbs up.

Clarification: sheltona01 from above of Jacobsens Saddlery

[Dr_Doolittle]

Great to hear! ^^

So Suzy is back in business, yay! Is she Googleable, or do you have contact info on her? (I haven’t been in touch with her for almost 20 years so no longer have her phone number…)

[sandycrosseventing]

Michael Stokes is in Appomattox. He will work on all brands. Centaur Saddlery has a website with contact info.

[twostinkydogs]

Susie mentioned trying to narrow the geography she covers during my fitting this summer, I don’t know if she is still thinking that. She definitely has enough clients that she could be fully booked up in Montgomery county alone. She is wonderful.