Real life adventures in saddle fitting at Panther Run Saddlery
Thursday, February 17, 2011
East Crow Saddlery - Patty's Web Site!
Just wanted to let everyone know that Patty Barnett of East Crow Saddlery, my friend and mentor, has her web site up and running: East Crow Saddlery. Take a look - it's a great resource!
Really enjoy the blog, I have just finished reading it from the beginning. I am just starting out as a saddle fitter/saddler and have some firm beliefs about how saddles should and shouldn't fit, what do you do when you have a customer that insists that they know more about saddle fitting than you do and want you to fit the saddle 'their' way? I am thinking about a customer of mine at the moment who is insistent that it is fine for her saddle to go beyond the last rib and seems to want me to confirm that for her (which I won't).
Kaede, glad you like the Leder Combi - I love the stuff.
Barefoot Basics, there's really only so much you can do when a customer decides they know best (I touched on this issue in http://saddlefitter.blogspot.com/2010/06/self-appointed-experts.html). My M.O. is to tell the customer what I think and what I see, and what I think the outcome of their methods might be, and pretty much leave it at that. Sometimes I'm proved wrong, and sometimes the customer comes back in a few weeks or months, sadder but wiser. I know other fitters who refuse to work with people like that, and I can see why - gods know I've wanted to let loose on more than one know-it-all. That said, my feeling is that if I "leave the door open" for the customer to come back, it may be of more help to the horse.
Months ago I asked about the best way to clean REALLY DIRTY tack and you suggested Effax Leder-Combi, I tried it out yesterday. Worked like a charm.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoy the blog, I have just finished reading it from the beginning. I am just starting out as a saddle fitter/saddler and have some firm beliefs about how saddles should and shouldn't fit, what do you do when you have a customer that insists that they know more about saddle fitting than you do and want you to fit the saddle 'their' way? I am thinking about a customer of mine at the moment who is insistent that it is fine for her saddle to go beyond the last rib and seems to want me to confirm that for her (which I won't).
ReplyDeleteKaede, glad you like the Leder Combi - I love the stuff.
ReplyDeleteBarefoot Basics, there's really only so much you can do when a customer decides they know best (I touched on this issue in http://saddlefitter.blogspot.com/2010/06/self-appointed-experts.html). My M.O. is to tell the customer what I think and what I see, and what I think the outcome of their methods might be, and pretty much leave it at that. Sometimes I'm proved wrong, and sometimes the customer comes back in a few weeks or months, sadder but wiser. I know other fitters who refuse to work with people like that, and I can see why - gods know I've wanted to let loose on more than one know-it-all. That said, my feeling is that if I "leave the door open" for the customer to come back, it may be of more help to the horse.
And BB, I forgot to mention: good luck in your saddle fitting journey! If I can be of any help, please feel free to contact me!
ReplyDeleteYour horse is sticking his tongue out at you! how cute.
ReplyDeleteThat pretty much sums up her attitude, Rachel ...
ReplyDelete