Saddle Fitting & Sales Terms & Conditions

Consultation:
What to expect from your consultation: The first consultation can take between 1-3 hours. During the consultation we will look at the horses build first and how the shape of the horse influences saddle fit. Then evaluating your horses’ back for discomfort, and look for possible causes, including assessing if the pain is related to saddle fit.  We will take a look at your existing saddle, evaluate fit and see if it is possible that a change in saddle pad would benefit the fit at all. If your saddle does not fit, or you need a new saddle, this is where we will try on and assess new and/or secondhand saddles and/or trees. Once we have found a saddle or tree that is a basic good fit then we will turn to pads to get the fit tailored to your horse.  I bring a wide selection of different types of pad and I carry a few cinches.  If you would like me to bring headstalls, reins, DVD’s etc. please let me know, before the consultation.

If no saddle or tree that I have with me is right, then I will shape a template and take photos of your horses back.  If a template is taken, then you will be responsible for getting packaging and sending it to the chosen wholesaler in Germany. I will get in touch with you once I hear the results (this can take between 2-6 weeks).

The other option is that I can take an Equiscan template (see here). That incurs an extra cost of £150.00 incl. VAT. With that I can almost instantly upload the results to all saddle companies so they can check their trees to see if any are a good match. The other option is that a tree can be custom made to fit your horses shape and fitted inside a Top Saddlemaker saddle. 

First consultation will cost £135 incl. VAT plus travel at £1.00 incl. VAT per mile each way.  I do not charge for time traveling. EVERY time I come out to you, you will be liable for the travel costs.  You can bring your horse to me, then there will be no travelling or consultation costs payable.  The local arena I have used (which also has an indoor school) is The Fortune Centre near Bransgore, Dorset, or we can meet in a local New Forest carpark.

Service provided – I WILL NOT sell you a saddle that does not fit.  As a result you will save on physio/vet/training bills.  Your horse should be a safer and happier ride due to helping to minimise pain due to poor saddle fit. My aim is to make the horse as comfortable as possible, to allow him/her to do his/her job to the best of its ability.

After sales service: 
If you have any concerns or feel something is not right during the initial period of using the saddle, I will not just leave you to sort it out yourself. You will not be liable for further consultation costs relating to the original fitting issue, but will remain responsible for travel costs (unless you come to me), shipping costs and any applicable collection or delivery charges.

Western saddle fitting, particularly where customisation or alterations are involved, can occasionally require further refinement once the saddle is physically reassessed on the horse. This does not automatically mean the saddle is incorrect or unsuitable. In some cases, additional adjustment is simply part of achieving the best final outcome for the horse and rider.

My aim is always long-term comfort, balance and function for the horse, and I will work with clients through the fitting process to achieve that outcome wherever appropriate.

I will keep coming back until everyone is happy.

Fitting records and technical information
Fitting notes, measurements, templates, photographs, tree assessments, saddle specifications and other technical records produced by The Western Saddler Ltd as part of a consultation remain part of TWS’s professional fitting records. Copyright and other intellectual property rights in TWS documentation, templates, assessments and specifications remain with The Western Saddler Ltd where applicable.

These records are produced for the purpose of providing TWS’s fitting and supply service and are not supplied for use by another saddle fitter, retailer, supplier or manufacturer to select, specify or order a saddle unless TWS agrees otherwise in writing.

This does not affect a client’s right to receive any report or information expressly included as part of the consultation service, or any legal rights they may have to access their personal data.

Where a client chooses to purchase a saddle through another fitter, retailer or supplier, that party must carry out their own assessment and accepts responsibility for their own fitting recommendation, saddle specification and supply.

Templates and manufacturer assessments
Where a physical or digital template, tracing or other measurement is taken as part of a consultation, it forms part of TWS’s professional fitting records and is used by TWS to assess suitable saddle and tree options.

Where appropriate, TWS may provide a template, tracing, measurements, photographs or other relevant fitting information to a saddle or tree manufacturer for the purpose of obtaining technical advice or specifying a saddle to be supplied through TWS.

Any manufacturer assessment obtained through this process forms part of the TWS fitting and supply service. Templates, fitting information, tree assessments and saddle specifications produced or obtained through TWS are not provided for use by another saddle fitter, retailer, supplier or manufacturer to select, specify or order a saddle unless TWS agrees otherwise in writing.

If a client chooses to purchase a saddle independently through another fitter, retailer or supplier, that party must carry out its own assessment and take responsibility for its own fitting recommendation, specification and supply.