Posted by nicole m on 4/24/2012, 9:10 am 99.185.42.80
Who do you reccomend? Besides rest and getting some soft tissue manipulation my horse needs a saddle that truley fits her. Shes an arab so she has that typical build. I am willing to spend what it costs but I would prefer to not have a fitter pushing some custom 3000+ saddle on me. Used, new, english, western endurance. Doesn't really matter to me. We do trails. The only real concern for myself I have about the saddle is that it fits my small butt, short legs and I can lift it lol. 25 lbs is my max out.
where?
Posted by rustyrider on 4/24/2012, 9:41 am, in reply to "Saddle Fitter"
Where are you nicole?
Re: where?
Posted by nicole m on 4/24/2012, 11:31 am, in reply to "where?" 99.185.42.80
until the 14th palo alto. then felton in the santa cruz mountains
Re: Saddle Fitter
Posted by Baylore on 4/24/2012, 1:20 pm, in reply to "Saddle Fitter" 76.230.131.171
I highly recommend April at General Feed (831.476.5344) in Santa Cruz, close to Felton, she will come out to your horse and fit saddles that she has in stock from the tack shop, she has years of experience and has a solid knowledge of many saddle brands, over the years she has fitted our Arabs, QH, Paint and TB, and the fitting is complementary, if you find a saddle that works, then you can purchase it. They also have consignment saddles so lots to choose from.
I second April
Posted by angelmom on 4/24/2012, 5:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Saddle Fitter" 166.250.46.110
April did a terrific job fitting both of my horses.
Re: Saddle Fitter
Posted by mustangdeb on 4/24/2012, 2:17 pm, in reply to "Saddle Fitter" 76.102.63.31
I like David Gilpin. While he can custom make a saddle for you (about half what most cost) he won't push it on you and would rather re-flock your saddle to fit or help you find what you need. He should have a few saddle with him to try.
I've also heard good things about saddles that fit and they always have a large selection of saddles on hand.
Four Seasons Equine Wellness Equine Craniosacral Therapy and Massage
Re: Saddle Fitter
Posted by nicole m on 4/28/2012, 6:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Saddle Fitter" 97.210.174.246
About how much roughly does it cost to have him make you a saddle?
Re: Saddle Fitter
Posted by mustangdeb on 4/28/2012, 7:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Saddle Fitter" 76.102.63.31
you'll have to ask him directly. I THINK it was around $1500 back in 1999. I came very close to going custom but found a used saddle that fit perfectly. The same saddle brand new didn't fit. David came out to re-stuff the used saddle for me (first time i'd used him) and he told me the reason nothing would fit my horse's shoulders was because there was way too much flocking for his build. since the saddle i found was used and the wool was smashed down it worked. the tree size was spot on he just needed to adjust how much wool was in there. He's a wealth of information and I picked his brain while he was working on my saddle.
Four Seasons Equine Wellness Equine Craniosacral Therapy and Massage
David Gilpin - he is not a saddle SELLER, he is a Master Saddler
Posted by Fancy That on 4/24/2012, 4:10 pm, in reply to "Saddle Fitter" 144.49.131.1
I highly recommend David Gilpin. He is a Certified Master Saddle and Saddle Fitter with the Society of Master Saddlers (UK based)
he is from the UK and comes out here to the Bay Area about once a month.
Equine & Pet Portrait Artist http://www.elainehickman.com ***Morgans Do It All*** Gilroy, CA ============================
I highly recommend
Posted by Gail Ivey on 4/26/2012, 8:52 am, in reply to "Saddle Fitter" 66.245.25.244
Gail at 123 Saddle Fit. She has no saddles to sell at all, but is a very good saddle fitter with tons of education on the subject. She's been able to spot ill fitting saddles that were passed by other popular saddle fitters, but were obviously causing problems for the horse. She's not horribly expensive, either. Since she doesn't sell anything but her services, she focuses all of her energy on that. She can do both English and western saddles, too.
"Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for." - Socrates
Nicolem -
Posted by Tauna on 4/26/2012, 9:47 am, in reply to "I highly recommend" 63.249.97.149
If you have her out after you move your mare to Felton, let me know. I might get in on that with you and have her check over our saddle fit.
btw - I sent you a pm about another boarding option.
Santa Cruz Mountains, Ben Lomond http://ironfreehrs.com/
Re: I highly recommend
Posted by nicole m on 4/27/2012, 9:41 pm, in reply to "I highly recommend" 68.32.68.52
Maybe a dumb question... but I have never had a saddle fitter out before. Can a saddle fitter fit a saddle without a saddle to fit? I know all three of my saddles do not fit.
Is it really bad if the saddle fitter sells saddles? I understand the logic behind hiring someone that is not out to sell you something, but also I would like to get to ride sooner rather than later lol
Sometimes
Posted by Gail Ivey on 4/27/2012, 10:35 pm, in reply to "Re: I highly recommend" 66.245.25.244
A good saddle fitter will look at the ones you have that don't fit and make suggestions as to what you can do to help them. For example, does it just need to be restuffed? Maybe move the stirrup bar? Saddles can be major investments, so keeping one you already have could be a good thing. On the other hand, if you want to go with a saddle fitter that sells saddles, bear in mind that they may be depending upon saddle sales for their income, not the fitting. Saddles That Fit are good folks and don't push any saddles on you, but they carry a good selection and will help you find one you can live with. They are pretty expensive, unless you can set up a saddle fitting clinic with 3 or 4 people, then they're very reasonable. And there are no guarantees they will have the saddle your horse needs. The companies that make the saddles they carry will ship the right one to you, but I've had three students return them due to them not fitting. That doesn't mean the saddle you tried out of their truck didn't fit, it means no two saddles are made exactly the same, so the exact same brand saddle with the exact same tree may not fit your horse, just because the one on the truck did. Things get complicated when that happens. "Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for." - Socrates
Re: Sometimes
Posted by nicole m on 4/28/2012, 8:02 am, in reply to "Sometimes" 68.32.68.52
oh man... sometimes I forget how complicated horses can be! I have a very expensive county saddle but its my aunts on loan... I don't think she would like it I had it altered. The other saddle is a POS and I rather just get a better one. The third saddle in a wintec dressage with CAIR and I was under the impression only a wintec person could fit it. HAHA is it possible to get a saddle fitter out at the same time as one that "fits" and sells saddles. That seems like the best option.
Thanks
Posted by nicole m on 4/29/2012, 10:15 am, in reply to "Saddle Fitter" 68.32.68.52
Thanks for all the replies. I forgot how much I love getting info off this board. Everyone has something to offer and it helps get my mind rolling in the right way. I called a few saddle fitters. Chrissy at Revere Saddlery and David Gilpin and will have one of them out. I am going to have al three of my saddles looked at and see if one can be reflocked to fit her better. If I have to go the custom way, I will but at this point I think lets take an inbetweeen step.
Sheila Arney
Posted by codymustang on 4/29/2012, 11:17 am, in reply to "Saddle Fitter" 76.253.4.145
at Arneys crow canyon ranch. She does a great job; as bad saddle fit his her per peeve! Also has a lovely selection and all the accessories!
Re: Sheila Arney
Posted by nicole m on 4/29/2012, 11:33 am, in reply to "Sheila Arney" 68.32.68.52
