TERMS & CONDITIONS The terms and conditions are applicable for every appointment undertaken by Sam Pommells - Saddle Fitter.   Horses are unpredictable animals, the decision to wear protective equipment (hat, body protector, gloves etc) during the saddle fitting session, remains with the client who accepts full responsibility in the event of an accident or injury.  Payment for all consultations are due in full on the day of the fitting.  I require 48 hours notice for cancellations. Appointments cancelled without the required notice will be payable in full.  Horses must be caught in, clean and ready for the appointment on time as any delay will mean that you appointment may be cut short as I generally have other appointments to attend on the same day.  Adjustments, flocking, repairs and alterations will incur extra charges.  A 50% deposit is required for all made to measure or custom made saddles and your order will not be processed until this is received. The final balance is due on delivery of the saddle and any balances not paid will result in the loss of your deposit.  All alterations, including flocking of a saddle provided by Sam Pommells - Saddle Fitter, should be undertaken by myself.  I accept no responsibility for any works undertaken by a third party, including subsequent issues such as fitting or repair.  If you are experiencing any issues please contact me first.  Pads and shims may be necessary, especially in the case of remedial fit, this will be discussed at the time of fitting. You should not add or remove any pads without discussing with me first as this can alter the fit of the saddle.  Your horse’s clinical history must be fully disclosed as some conditions can affect saddle fit. On occasion, I will request to contact your vet or physiotherapist to discuss your horse's physical condition before fitting a saddle.  If your horse appears lame or unwell at the time of the appointment, I will decline to continue with the consultation.  The animals welfare remains the whole responsibility of the owner.  All veterinary, farriery, physiotherapy and other remedial needs are at the owner's full cost and responsibility for any reason.  New saddles or saddles which have undergone a full reflock will need time to bed-in during which time the flocking will settle. A follow up appointment should be scheduled for 6 weeks for which a charge will be payable.  Saddle fit must be monitored and maintained and responsibility remains with the client. It is the client’s responsibility to maintain their saddle and book regular saddle checks as and when necessary.  This includes (but not limited to) when a horse changes workload, diet, environment or experiences any lameness or other illness.  Many factors can affect the fit of the saddle so regular monitoring of the horse’s weight, condition and soundness is essential for optimum long term fit.  Sam Pommells - Saddle Fitter will offer saddle fitting appointments at the earliest possible time which can vary from 2-4 weeks. If the client is experiencing issues with their saddle fit, they must wait for Sam to reassess the fit and adjust as needed.  Saddle tree alterations are carried out entirely at the owner’s risk and responsibility. Altering the width of the tree may invalidate the manufacturer’s guarantee and the costs may be considerable. I thoroughly recommend that alterations are carried out by the manufacturer and I am happy to help you to arrange this. The only exception to this is saddles with an injection moulded tree which are specifically designed to be adjusted.  You do have the right to cancel your contract within 14 days without giving reason apart from items custom made to order to your specifications or personalised items such as saddles and bridles made to a template. Fitting services are subject to a consultation fee which is non refundable.  If you cancel your contract, deductions will be made for wear and tear and the rate of £40 per week in addition to any outstanding visit fees.  The cancellation period will end 14 days after the delivery of the product after which time, refunds will not be offered.  Excluding warranty claims (within the manufacturer’s warranty period) any complaints must be raised within 14 days of sale for all saddle sales and consultations.  What to expect from your Saddle Fitting Consultation At your saddle fitting consultation, my aim is to gather a thorough picture of the horse, rider and saddle requirements. I will look at build, condition and confirmation of the horse as well as gait analysis in walk and trot. I believe that looking at the whole horse is essential for assessing saddle fit as any asymmetries can have an effect on the fit of the saddle. Static Saddle Check I will assess your current saddle, including a safety check before looking at it whilst the horse is standing still. If your current saddle is generally a good fit for your horse then I will advise if any adjustments such as flocking, gullet bar change etc is required. The Ridden Test Ridden work and assessment will be subject to any existing tack fitting well fitting enough to proceed. If your existing saddle is considered to be unsuitable and cannot be adjusted on site to an acceptable fit, a ridden consultation will not be offered. To give the most accurate ridden assessment, it is best if the horse’s usual rider is present for the assessment.  Riders must be suitably dressed , with correct boots, riding hat etc In the event that a ridden assessment is not possible due to lack of suitable space to ride or rider not present, then only observations in the static assessment can be given and this will be recorded on my notes.   This is not ideal as to ensure an accurate fit I need to observe the dynamic structures of the horse in motion.  If you have no menage to ride or paddocks are too wet in winter etc, then it may be possible to bring your horse to me for an additional charge to cover arena hire.   What if your current saddle isn’t suitable? I will always try and make your existing saddle work if I can and I promise to never sell you something you don’t need, however sometimes it’s just not possible.  I can supply various brands of new saddles and I also carry some good quality second hand saddles.  If I don’t have anything to fit in stock I can also sometimes source a 2nd hand saddle for you, please be advised however, that there is a charge for each additional call out. Please note that 2nd hand saddles carry no guarantee and this is the risk that you will take when buying a used saddle. I take all possible steps to ensure that all used saddles I source are sound and in good condition. I do offer an adjustment service for most saddles but there is a limit to how much alteration can be achieved.  If the tree is old it can be brittle, therefore I cannot be held responsible for damage during adjustment with a re-templating machine. If in doubt, it is best not to attempt adjustment of older trees and I can arrange for them to be sent back to the manufacturer to adjust.   Follow up appointment  I recommend having your saddle checked every 6 months, however, if your horse is likely to change shape or you have your saddle reflocked/buy a new saddle then I recommend an appointment in 3 months (or sooner depending on the amount of hours ridden) as flocking can bed down and will need to be topped up.