Saddle fitting by The Fitted Horse

Thank you for choosing The Fitted Horse to look at your horse and advise on your current saddle fitting position.  You are receiving this document as you will be a direct client and I will be supplying the new saddle direct to you and invoicing you for payment.  Your saddle purchase contract is with myself, as your saddle fitter, not the saddle manufacturer or any other third party. 

Whether I am checking the fit of your existing saddle or advising on the purchase of a new WOW saddle, I am at all times trying to help you to get the best performance possible. So you know what to expect from my visit please read the following points. 

• I will be arriving in a Blue Bloomfields 3.5T horsebox. This allows me carry all equipment we might require and also the workshop space to make adjustments to saddle build. Please let me know if there are any restrictions to parking or turning space

• If you ride with a saddle cloth or numnah to keep your saddle clean please tell us so I can advise with this in mind.

• Whilst it sounds obvious, I do require the rider to be present as I only fit and adjust saddles when the horse is mounted.  Please ensure you have normal riding clothes, boots and riding hat.

• I will ask a lot of questions about both you and your horse’s history in terms of performance, health and riding activities.  It helps if you have already thought about this so the facts are right.

• I will expect to be able to template your horse, so obviously need the horse to be clean and not muddy.

• I will examine the horse at stand still and then ask you to run your horse up, whilst dismounted, at walk and trot. This means we do need a flat hard surface for this purpose.

• I will wish to see you ride at all paces in a safe, enclosed area with a good non slippery surface.

• I will make notes on everything we observe and will ask you for any feedback or comments before we leave.

• Normally I would to expect to spend around two hours with you so please budget for this so you are not rushed or pressured into making decisions.

• Please do not make appointments in the late afternoon if you do not have lights, and also not around the horses feed time if at a yard of multiple horses.

• If you are buying a jumping saddle please ensure that jumps are available to use.

• I am often asked if I will take a saddle that is not a WOW saddle in part exchange. I do not offer this service as I feel that you will get a much better price if sold through the local equestrian magazines, network or ebay. 

• I work with different horses in different yards on a daily basis and have to consider the health and safety of both horse and riders I come in contact with. Please note the statements regarding horse and rider health below.

• Finally, I list some areas below which I consider important to a successful LONG TERM relationship with you and your horse.  I am not trying to bore you but want to give you a good service which is dependent on two way communication between both you and me. 

You know your horse better than anyone else 

Riding and working with horses is a dangerous activity for both riders and those working with them on the ground.  Horses are creatures of “Flight” reacting rapidly when nervous and their large size and weight increase the opportunity for harm to the rider and others if knocked, pushed or kicked.

The owners and riders of horses tend to forget that others working with their horse do not know that horse as well as they do and can inadvertently, no matter how expert, do something that upsets that horse. 

You will be asked during the saddle fitting/check to perform a number of movements at all paces and if I ask you to perform an activity that makes you nervous or which you and your horse have not done prior to today you MUST stop and tell us before proceeding.  We all ride at different levels depending on the experience and practice we have and we are not here to judge you, simply wanting you to be confident and happy at all times. 

Please do not consider me an equitation expert. My role is to provide you with a saddle that is suitable and comfortable for you and your horse based on the information you tell me.  You are the expert with respect to your horse’s way of going – no one knows it better than you - so you must tell me if you feel any changes both good and bad.

It is also important that tell me before proceeding the full history of the horse and your experiences with it.  I particularly need to know of any history of back or saddle related problems which might cause an adverse reaction when a new saddle is fitted.  If you always ride with a saddle cloth you should also advise and it should be used when I am fitting a new saddle.

I should also be told of any back, neck or hip problems you have suffered in the past as this can also affect your riding. 

Finally, on the basis it is better to be prepared for any unlikely event, I need to know if you are taking any special medications or need regular treatment for any health complaint.   If in the very unlikely case that you had a serious accident, I should be in the position of being able to advise any ambulance crew of such medications. Please also give me a telephone number of the person who should be advised if you had any such accident.

Confirmation of Health

Please do not ask me to visit or work with your horse if :

• it has been stabled, ridden out with or competed at premises where other horse have had any infectious disease i.e. strangles etc .
• had any skin disease in the last six months
• are using or have been lent tack from stables that have had contact with any infectious diseases.

Saddle checks in the months and years after a saddle has been fitted

Like humans, horses change shape due to work, age, diet, and time of year, so the degree of fit of your saddle will also fluctuate.  This can happen incredibly quickly – within a week, or over a longer period of several months depending on the work you are doing.    If your horse is working better – it is likely that he or she will change in musculature so requiring a change of headplate.  If you do not change the head plate your horse will slowly revert back and not continue to muscle up and develop in their work.  In saddles where you cannot change head plates etc this is what happens.  The horse can also become sore but usually their shape is simply restricted so the work does not improve to the extent it can with a saddle allowing freedom to move – such as a WOW.

The WOW saddle is the most adjustable saddle on the market place so there is no reason for it not to fit but I am reliant on you asking for appointments to change the fit as necessary.  Obviously this can be expensive so I do recommend that you learn to change head plates as this is a very simple procedure and I can show you how to do this. A simple method of checking the head plate is to keep spares ones in your grooming kit so you can place them on the horse on a weekly basis.  If the one in your hand whilst doing this, fits, then the one in the saddle does not.  Alternatively you can use the WOW saddle gauge to check the fit and I can help you understand how to use the WOW saddle gauge if you choose to purchase one. 

Head plates are normally despatched by next day courier and can be purchased on the manufactures, FTE Ltd web site or through myself.

Charges

I do not want you to have any nasty surprises with respect to my fees so these are listed below. Our charges can be found on the Services, Costs & Booking page and in our Services and costs document

Should you decide after buying the saddle that you wish to return the saddle ordered and made for you and I agree to take it back, you will be charged the normal saddle fitting fee indicated above and travel for these visits.

Specification affects your riding and also your consumer rights

I do not hold stock of saddles every WOW saddle is made to order.  Some saddles will be plain in a single colour and others will be highly decorated according to the clients wishes. 

The WOW saddle is made to order from the template of the horse, and the specification list provided by discussion with you, the client and which is confirmed in writing to you on receipt of the deposit. 

• The lead time for production varies according to the time of year and is usually longer than six weeks.   If this is a problem please ask what is possible for you and I will ask FTE to try and accommodate your needs. (I have no saddle situation, important competition on the horizon etc). Time is however “not of the essence” in our contract to supply a saddle to you. 
• I always take a deposit of £1,000.00 which is not refundable, if you simply change your mind after ordering it This obviously does not affect your statutory rights- see below - and in exceptional circumstances (at my discretion) I may choose to return the deposit or vary the specification to suit a different horse.
• You will be requested to sign a Notice of Right to Cancel Contract form and if you do not wish to sign this form then I am unable to supply products to you.  The implications of buying a new bespoke saddle versus a “off the peg” saddle are outlined below.
• If the saddle is made to measure and to a chosen personal specification it is not “off the peg” and it is considered in consumer law as a “bespoke” product.  Normally when buying a product you have to the right to cancel a contract within 14 days of receiving the goods without giving a reason.  However in the case of bespoke/made to measure items, i.e a bespoke saddle - there is no right to cancel the contract for the product.
• Should you have purchased a saddle that is “off the peg” and had it fitted  – i.e from second hand demo stock etc- you have the right to cancel within 14 days of receiving the item, if it has not been used.    If it has been used,  a sum commensurate with the diminished value will be deducted. However, if that saddle was purchased after using our fitting service which comprises a consultation fee and a mileage allowance, the fitting fee is not refundable as it is a cost incurred for services rendered at the time of our visit to you.   In this instance you must inform us of your wish to cancel by a clear written statement to be received by us prior to the 14 day deadline and you will be responsible for the cost of returning the item to our offices. 
• Buying a saddle without using my fitting service, means you have no rights of return and refund.

Forms I have to complete before, during and after selling you a saddle

Sorry but we have to complete a forest of paper work to stay legal…. I will try and make this as quick as possible but just so you know what to expect this is a summary.

• Pre - Visit - Saddle fitting Summary. – contains charges, what I expect from you and what you should expect from me to ensure I can give you the best service
• Pre - Visit - Telephone Questionnaire when confirming time and date for the visit, regarding history of your horse(s) in relation to work and saddle fitting
• On the day – I will take a short video outline the fitting of the gauge and complete a form recording these details – you will be provided a copy. I will also complete a general saddle fitting check list to ensure they have completed all checks we require.
• On the Day - I will take three identifying pictures of the horse to add to the template forms and film a very short video of you riding your horse in the saddle in walk, trot and canter with a voice over identifying you and your horse, the date, specification and the adjustments made.
• On the Day – I will ask you to sign a “Notice of Right to Cancel Contract” form, if your visit is within 14 days of when the appointment was made.
• You will sign a GDPR form to opt in to our keeping your records in accordance with my privacy policy. You are deemed to have seen the privacy policy but have to actively opt in on our visit.
• On the day - Saddle Fitting charge sheet as receipt on day for money paid.  This is always followed up with an invoice .. 
• After the purchase - Various Information Leaflets – these are supplied by the manufacturer, with a new saddle giving you information on the care of the saddle and also on saddle fitting issues.

Communicating with me

Please note that all communications with respect to saddle fitting are by either telephone 07359 205538 or by email to emma@thefittedhorse.co.uk

You will make our day if you send me pictures so I can see how you are doing and your successes – be they a great day with your horse on the beach or winning in your chosen discipline at whichever level you are competing at.

I like to be able to show these pictures on my face book page and forward them to the manufacturer, FTE Ltd to show on their facebook page and also on their news pages on their web site.  Pictures and happy riders encourage others to do more with their horses and enjoy themselves