Bogus saddle-fitters have been slammed by the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) as being frauds who are damaging the craft.
The cases of an unnamed woman in the Scotland and people in the south-east of England who have merely attended an introductory course, but are advertising themselves as fully qualified, have angered the society.
An SMS spokesman said: “We’ve issued several warnings and will take it to Trading Standards.
“We want to nip it in the bud. If you’ve only done the introductory course, and you say in your advert you are SMS-trained, you are giving a false impression.”
It takes a minimum of three years to qualify as a saddle-fitter. They have to register every year with the society and must attend a refresher course every two years.
The society claims it has the only monitored saddle-fitting qualification worldwide.
This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (26 June, ’08)
