Smartpak saddle trial?

[Lunabear1988]

Has anyone done this? Looking at getting something adjustable to get my young horse through the next few months. We had a saddle fitter out in the spring. She fitted him to an Ideal Savannah but honestly it’s a little pricey for a 4-year-old horse. I would totally be down to get one later though. She also said an older Prestige worked.

I then scheduled another fitter out but I kept having to cancel for various reasons including my horse being injured. The saddle fitter then stated that she would prefer to come out once he’s in full work because he’s going to change a lot.

Anyways, I need a saddle to ride in to get him in shape! So am thinking about a thorowgood since that is what the trainer is riding him in now. But he’s leaving that trainer so we need to find something. Just curious if anybody has done the trial program the SmartPak and how it worked out?

[Mercedes2]

I haven’t had a saddle out on trial before from SmartPak but I was looking into Thorowgoods a while back and found out you can order a trial saddle through Hastilow USA. They make Thorowgoods and they have more options besides just the GP saddles SmartPak carries. Just wanted to let you know!

Saddlery | Hastilow Competition Saddles USA, LLC. (hcsusasaddlery.com)

[Lunabear1988]

Oh thank you. But it does look like smartpak also carries the dressage ones too. But good to have options and they might actually be more helpful and recommending something.

[tulachard]

Yep, I got one on trial through Smartpak. It didn’t work out, so sent it back. The process was very easy and Smartpak refunded my credit card quickly.

[Lunabear1988]

Great to hear thank you!!

[Xanthoria]

Well I would NOT do a saddle trial from Dover right now. I ordered two saddles from them to the tune of $7300 on 7/8/21. I returned them less than a week later. Two calls, and almost two months later, still no refund… the last call it was apparent they had not initiated the refund at all, contrary to what the rep said on the first call…

[OfCourseItsAnAlter]

Dover is horrible about processing returns of any kind. I’ve returned several items of apparel over the past couple of years and every time it took forever, like months, for the credit to show up on my Visa statement.

I don’t order anything from Dover anymore unless it’s something I know I won’t need to return.

[petesperson]

I ordered a Thorowgood dressage saddle on trial from SmartPak a few years ago. It wasn’t a good fit, so I returned it. SmartPak refunded the cost immediately, as I recall. I’ve always had great customer service from SmartPak!

[Lunabear1988]

That’s horrible!!! I’m so sorry. Thank you for the heads up!! Ugh

[OTTBs]

I got a western saddle on trial from SmartPak in May I think. Sent it back…guess I need to make sure I did get credited, but my last 2 bills seemed normal size/think the extra $1050 would have been noticed. I thought I needed a 17 inch; now the wait is 25 weeks if I order one!

[arbeegirl]

I have done saddle trials with Smartpak. They are great and the process is very easy.

[Gardenhorse]

Can’t comment on the SmartPak saddle trial, but I bought a used saddle through Hastilow USA and was very happy with them and the process.