Saddle Moving Forward Conclusion

[baymareseven]

I posted about my saddle moving forward and received alot of constructive ideas. I tried some of them and it did not stop the forward migration. I purchased the Eco-Gold saddle pad as the fitter recommended. It is a very nice pad but the saddle still migrated.
For those that are not familiar with my scenario: I purchased a County Fusion ($3800) in February. I rode in a demo for 2 weeks before ordering. Saddle fitter input throughout the entire process. In March, I realized that the saddle was migrating forward and just touching the withers. My friend also trains my horse and it did the same thing with her. Following saddle fitter recommendations and some on Coth, still did not correct the problem. My mare was stabled other than home after the saddle was ordered. Since my mare tends to be heavier than she should, she lost weight at my friend’s barn. She was in very good tone when I brought her home from the winter stable. Then I started to notice the saddle situation. Which I concluded saddle did not fit her because of the weight loss.

Saddle fitter came back yesterday to do another tracing and sure enough the mare had drastically changed size. Today I will send the saddle back to England to change the tree size from large to medium. That will cost another $350. I am told that I am lucky in the sense that after 6 months the tree change would cost $750.

I don’t know what lesson I have learned from this. Your thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.

[ESG]

IME, a horse shouldn’t lose a tree size, when they lose weight. A properly fitted saddle addresses the topline far more than the barrel size. Topline countour/size changes with work and muscling, not with weight loss or gain. Or, at least, not so drastically that there would be a need for a different tree.

Is the saddler who came out yesterday, the same one who fitted the mare before?

[baymareseven]

Saddle Fitter

Yes. Same saddle fitter. This is the third time she has come out. Last time, she reflocked a bit.

[ESG]

PM me.

[neVar]

SOME horses will loose a tree size when they loose weight.

Especially ones with a more mutton wither shape, or ones who carry their ‘fat’ pockets in their wither. ITs not common- a TB for instance i would be much more hesitant if heard that then say a ‘pony’ or a arab. WHo tend to be more of a fat pocket there.

I’ve fitted TWO in my life that this was a truth for-. One being my connemara pony- the other being an arab. BIG FAT POCKETS right there. And yes (both in adjustable wintecs) went down one size (or vice versa my fat lil pony went up) one tree size…

[baymareseven]

Losing weight affecting saddle fit

I was hoping NeVar would post. Thank you again for your information

[ESG]

Yes, but if one had been working with a saddle fitter throughout the buying process, one should think that a saddle should fit longer than two months. Unless, of course, the saddle fitter is inept. IMVHO, that is the case here. The OP bought the saddle in February. In March, she was having issues. 'Nuff said. :no:

[pintopiaffe]

Geesh, I’m sorry for your saddle trauma. It definitely bites the big one.

But my first thought was–but what if the mare gains the weight back? Or when she begins muscle development with work??

Or is she really now at the ‘right’ place and was quite out of shape before?

My stallion went through 5 saddles in 3 years going from TL to showing First/working in 2nd. I truly thought I was off the hook when I found the Fhoenix treeless. Would fit him through any more development, was GREAT for me… and then we started 3rd level work, and he got even bigger in the back. And I lost 70lbs and the combination… my hips just could not take it any longer, and the whole damn drama began again. For now we’ve a combo we’re both (mostly) happy with–him far moreso than I.

It sucks. I truly believe the next generation of saddles, with traditional seats, waists, and twists will use modern material trees or psuedo-trees to address this somehow. I hope so at least. :dead:

[ec412]

I had a similar situation with a saddle fitter in Wisconsin. He had to come back every month or so, the saddle got worse and worse. I was told by the fitter that the horse was compensating and changing so dramatically he could not be responsible for that. I rode in two clinics with previous olympic riders that noted the poor fit. I had to often get off and readjust the saddle, I tried all sorts of gimmicks to help make it stay put. After a year, and the fitter not being able to make it right, I tried to get my money back. This problem also created problems in my horse, sore back etc. which required chiropractic and massage. He never made good on the saddle, and stopped returning my calls.

I found a new reputable fitter who fit my horse with the Albion and we had to use a mattes pad for one year until the muscling developed behind the shoulder at near the wither. I am happy to report that the saddle just was adjusted after one year, and we are now able to lose the mattes pad, and my horse is doing wonderfully, although I have a “custom” saddle collecting dust.

I don’t really have any suggestions other than get a second opinion if you can. I regret not doing that earlier and causing problems for an entire year. Changing tree widths seems dramatic, unless the original tree width was not correct.

[HoochieMama]

I am the “friend” that rides this mare and she was measured for the saddle prior to drastic weight loss. It arrived about two months later and the mare continued losing weight while she was stabled at an indoor for the winter.

She has a low wither and is prone to fat deposits everywhere you don’t want them. She was, IMHO, obese prior to the weight loss (sorry BM7;)). The weight she is in now is correct and healthy and BM7 is trying to maintain her at this weight.

It certainly sucks the BM7 has to fork out more money to change the tree and it could have been done immediately had the fitter re-traced the mare when the saddle was delivered. Possibly at no cost at that point as it could have been better argued that the fitter made an error.

My problem with the situation is that the fitter was very blase about the problem. This saddle was moving a good three inches forward. It shouldn’t have ever been suggested that BM7 dump $160 on a saddle pad to correct a saddle that just didn’t fit.

[Ambrey]

@HoochieMama;3202092

My problem with the situation is that the fitter was very blase about the problem. This saddle was moving a good three inches forward. It shouldn’t have ever been suggested that BM7 dump $160 on a saddle pad to correct a saddle that just didn’t fit.

Yep, I don’t understand why the fitter didn’t re-trace the horse when the problem first presented. It seems that if the saddle is slipping that badly, there’s a fit issue somewhere.

My horse’s saddle does slip forward- but not 3" (well, unless I were to put it 3" too far back). The saddle likes to sit in a spot that is kind of over the shoulder, so now I have a short/flexible point treed saddle so his shoulders can move anyway. Mutton withered fat horses are just a pain to put saddles on

eta: $350 is actually pretty cheap for the refit, and it’s better than having to get a new saddle! It would be nice if the fitter would eat it just to be nice, but it’s not as bad as the poster above with the custom saddle gathering dust

[ESG]

@HoochieMama;3202092

My problem with the situation is that the fitter was very blase about the problem. This saddle was moving a good three inches forward. It shouldn’t have ever been suggested that BM7 dump $160 on a saddle pad to correct a saddle that just didn’t fit.

Exactly. Why should a custom fitted saddle need a pad to make it fit? Especially immediately after purchase? Nope, fitter is inept/uninterested/incompetent and OP should try to get her money back.

Sorry you’re going through this, BM7. I had hoped for better than this from the saddler for you. :sigh:

[Bugsey_2007]

Sounds like it doesn’t fit. I’m not sure if you meant the horse lost weight after you bought the saddle though.

If so she must have had fat deposits over her withers.

You might need to get her a new saddle if that’s what happened.

[Truthiness]

I am the proud owner of a nearly exact County saddle story. Lucky me. In the end, my custom saddle never did fit and I finally sold it on and took a loss of nearly $1500. Hope you get resolution, BM7.

[Ridge_Runner]

I got sick of saddle fitting nightmares also and ended up in a Fhoenix…no tree points and essentially without a tree. I have never been happier nor has my horse. I’ve used it on a variety of horses now and all have gone very happily in it. I went through all the nightmares you are now and still had a sore unhappy horse until I found treeless saddles. Certainly they are not the answer for everyone but I think we can say fairly definitively that they can be a wonderful solution for some.

As for sliding forward. It will on a table backed horse. I trained a draft cross mare for someone and she is the only horse to date that it would move forward on but she has a flat back and round barrel…and I think any saddle would have moved forward. I bought her a crupper and life was then good. She was happy and I was no longer dealing with a forward moving saddle every time she cantered.

[baymareseven]

BM7 horse anatomy

My mare is Hannoverian/Saddlebred cross. She is table-backed somewhat and round in the belly. While my tree is being repaced by County, I am riding in a friend’s very old County. I only rode twice to date but those two rides were the best that I can remember. I rode in this saddle before and that is why I went to County. County does not offer the same saddle but I thought that County would offer something similar. I have never been through this before. It is so worrisome. Previous to this mare, I owned a TB that fit into almost anything. When he retired, I purchased this mare and bought the saddle that was used by the previous owners - Windsor Greenline. I was a bit green to saddle fit then and my trainer told me it was too tight on her withers. Therefore sold it for half the price (only ridden in 30 times). Onto the Roosli. Semi-custom and very nice saddle. As I progressed in my training I found myself fighting the tack. Saddle fit the horse but not me. Sold it for a better loss than the Windsor. Onto Bates Caprilli… looking for that open seat with a fit for the mare. After a about a year of just OK in the gaits. The Bates fit was not quite right for her or for me. Changing the gullet didn’t help. The saddle still dropped down onto her withers.
So after owning a TB for 27 years and no saddle fitting problems (maybe my ignorance was bliss) and now owning this mare for five years and going through this many saddles, it has become quite tedious. Please keep your fingers crossed that the new tree will make the difference. If not, I will get a second opinion and then ESG, I will ask for my money back.
Thanks,
BM7

[stoneymeadow]

call county directly

I have had nothing but good experience with County and just had my third custom saddle arrive save and sound. All three came out of the box and fit each horse perfectly. Most recent was the Fusion. My County rep has been diligent, thoughtful, professional and accurate. If you have not had the same experience, go directly to County, not the saddle fitter. Sorry you have had such problems and hope you the best with finding a solution.

[ESG]

@baymareseven;3203937

Please keep your fingers crossed that the new tree will make the difference. If not, I will get a second opinion and then ESG, I will ask for my money back.
Thanks,
BM7

Jingling hard that County comes through for you. :yes:

[AMDressage]

[QUOTE=Truthiness;3203803]
I am the proud owner of a nearly exact County saddle story. Lucky me. In the end, my custom saddle never did fit and I finally sold it on and took a loss of nearly $1500. Hope you get resolution, BM7.[/QUOTE]

Truthiness, how is your saddle that you ordered special, any different from the similar misfitting issues I’m having with my Trilogy?

[Truthiness]

[QUOTE=AMDressage;3205128]
Truthiness, how is your saddle that you ordered special, any different from the similar misfitting issues I’m having with my Trilogy?[/QUOTE]

The situation may in fact be the same. What I take issue with, Amanda (aka Beau_Cheval_Rouge aka essentialEQST aka ACMiller… and these are only the names I know ) is your representation of the facts. You are a revisionist—which is a nicer word than liar.

Here on Coth, you state that you hate the saddle, that they sent you the wrong saddle, that it never worked for you, that the saddle fitter misled you, and that you cannot get help from the sales rep or the company.

However, your experience was described rather differently on the UDBB. From the day you took a test ride until the day it arrived, you raved about the saddle and the buying experience. One test ride, and you immediately started whoring it out on the boards as the best saddle EVER! You started your own threads with the sole purpose, it seemed, of recommending the saddle, the saddle fitter, the entire purchase experience. Ad nauseum, you posted about your love affair with the saddle. Then the saddle arrived and you posted again, gushing about how it changed your riding. You even gushed when you Trilogy brand leather products arrived. “Proud user of Trilogy Saddles” is an amusing signature line considering how you “hate” your saddle. I also recall that you posted on your own website that you were considering repping the line yourself.

Anyone can have a bad saddle buying experience. I’d guess most of us who have purchased big ticket tack have a similar story. But most of us don’t misrepresent history to online audiences and then get huffy when someone notices discrepancies in the story.