Albion saddle with broken tree-what to do?

[AnShanDan]

Just wondering if anyone had any bright thoughts about this situation:

I have just been told by my local saddlers, who had my K2 jumping saddle in to sell for me, that the tree is broken. Obviously, I had no idea!

Last spring we noticed that the saddle wasn't fitting either horse it was previously used on, had the saddlers out to check and they said re-flock, which was done. Still didn't fit. So, used another saddle last summer and then this Feb. decided to sell the K2 and buy another saddle for main horse.

So, saddlers came out, sold me a nearly new Kontact Lite, which I am pleased with, but was not cheap. I explained to them that I needed to sell my other albion saddle to afford the Kontact Lite. They suggested it would be worth 550 to 600 and they would sell it for me.

Left the saddle with them, and they are now saying the tree is broken, so can I collect it. I phoned Albion myself and a new tree is about £300 fitted, but this has to be done through an albion stockist.

Would I be better just to sell it as it is (obv. saying the tree needs replaced) then someone buying it can have any tree width fitted, or get it fixed and then sell it? Would you buy a saddle like that?

 

[Nicnac]

Having been in a similar situation last year, I replaced the tree on my M2M Jeremy Rudge dressage saddle.

It now fits my horse again beautifully so well worth the investment.

Would I buy a saddle with a broken tree? For £100 maybe.

Worth having the tree replaced and getting full value imo.

 

[ihatework]

No I wouldn't buy a saddle like that and I doubt any private buyer would either.
I suspect the only way a saddle like that would sell would be to someone in the profession, cheap as chips, who would then re-tree and sell on for a decent price.

In your shoes I'd re-tree and then sell on. Luckily the K2s have a pretty good second hand market and tend to sell well.

 

[AnShanDan]

Just wonder if someone buying might be happy to get the tree width they need, rather than just having another M fitted? Lots of horses seem to be in MW trees?

Also, if I sell it on ebay (say) then the more expensive the item the more I pay in fees, so cheaper sale = less costs.

Just mulling it all over! Pretty fed up about it really, no wonder it stopped fitting the horses.

 

[wench]

Why does it have to be done through an Albion dealer?

 

[AnShanDan]

Albion told me this on the phone, I can send it to them but they have to invoice one of their own suppliers, and they invoice me.

They were really helpful, and said it should only take 2-3 weeks to do.

 

[wench]

Would getting it done by a local saddler invalidate a warranty on the saddle ?

 

[Fiona]

How come they have only just noticed that the tree is broken if they have had it for such a long time????

That bit sounds a wee bit suspect to me

Are you sure they haven't allowed it to go out to a potential new buyer on trial and they have dropped it?????

Fiona

 

[AnShanDan]

Would getting it done by a local saddler invalidate a warranty on the saddle ?

Well,it is my local saddlers who have the saddle and they don't seem interested now, just sent me a text to come and collect it as it has broken tree.

How come they have only just noticed that the tree is broken if they have had it for such a long time????

That bit sounds a wee bit suspect to me

Are you sure they haven't allowed it to go out to a potential new buyer on trial and they have dropped it?????

Fiona

I suspect it has been broken for a while. I really don't know why it wasn't picked up sooner, but I had stopped using it, so at least it wasn't on the horses.

 

[CBAnglo]

I would also be suspicious. You can tell when a tree is broken and it is the first check I always perform on any saddle.

If you got it back could you not get the correct tree for your horse fitted and keep the saddle? Otherwise I would def put on ebay but you would be lucky to get more than £100-£150 for it. If it were a size/model in demand then it would probably sell. I would have any problems buying a saddle and then having the tree replaced but I would expect a discount for the time and effort to replace tree as well as the cost so if estimate £500 for saddle and £300 for tree I wouldn't pay more than £100.

 

[AnShanDan]

I would also be suspicious. You can tell when a tree is broken and it is the first check I always perform on any saddle.

If you got it back could you not get the correct tree for your horse fitted and keep the saddle? Otherwise I would def put on ebay but you would be lucky to get more than £100-£150 for it. If it were a size/model in demand then it would probably sell. I would have any problems buying a saddle and then having the tree replaced but I would expect a discount for the time and effort to replace tree as well as the cost so if estimate £500 for saddle and £300 for tree I wouldn't pay more than £100.

I've already bought another saddle, from the saddlers in question, for my horse(s). The whole idea was to get a decent amount back from the K2 to put against the new saddle, the saddlers knew this all along. They don't do px tho' so would take my saddle to sell, hence they are now saying it is broken, and just to come and collect it.

I just don't know if it was maybe cracked way back and this actually caused it not to fit either horse that it had fitted well before. Not straightforward because one mare had been off for 2 years through injury and foal, and the other young gelding might have changed shape.

 

[Pipkin]

Are there any other local saddlers who will buy it off you? Just a suggestion as my OH part exchanged his GFS with broken tree, saddler gave him £350 for it

 

[AnShanDan]

Are there any other local saddlers who will buy it off you? Just a suggestion as my OH part exchanged his GFS with broken tree, saddler gave him £350 for it

yes, this is def. worth a thought. I will make some enquiries.

I hate buying/selling saddles

The new saddle was a lot more than I hoped to have to pay, but it is beautiful and it fits perfectly, so I guess that's the main thing.

 

[Llanali]

Hmmm. So they had it in to sell on for you, and have had it in their possession some time, but never mentioned the tree was broken when they took it from you? Did they not even look at it when they valued it?

Sorry, I think you've got a valid place to suggest its been damaged in their care.

 

[Tanta]

We had a great experience with Albion when we had a saddle with a broken tree. It was a pretty expensive Albion SLK Platinum, bought new via National Saddle Centre. I was well over a year old - probably about 5 years old actually - but in great condition and well looked after. They took it back to Albion for us, they replaced the tree - and we werent charged a penny! No idea how the tree broke - I think something had worked loose rather than actually broken - but I really recommend the service we received from Albion and National Saddle Centre! Glad they did it free as we were expecting a bill of several hundred pounds...

 

[ArcticFox]

Personally if it was a K2 jump saddle I would buy it with a broken tree. But as others have said for £100 and I would then pay for the tree to be replaced with the tree that is suitable for my horse (probably a MW)

I love the albion K2 but can't afford one for my youngster so this would be an option for me and I'd pay to then have the right tree put in it. (I would keep it for a year or so before putting the new tree in as the youngster needs to fill out)

PM me if you are interested in selling it this way!

 

[Jnhuk]

Did they not check for a fractured tree before they agreed to sell it on your behalf? I know the saddlers round here do that before they take saddles on to sell and before valuing saddle etc.... and agreeing upon their commission for selling. I would be suspicious something may have happened to saddle whilst in their care if they did.

Last year, I had one of my GP's tree fracture and got it replaced for £300. I was advised then that if the saddle was insured, it may be worth contacting the insurance company but it wasn't so I didn't. Saddle was valued at £600 so it was worth me doing.

I would check the value of a K2 jump saddle second hand as the ones that I found when recently looking for a MW one around £700-£800 or so dependent on condition so more than worth getting repaired and selling.

 

[AnShanDan]

Personally if it was a K2 jump saddle I would buy it with a broken tree. But as others have said for £100 and I would then pay for the tree to be replaced with the tree that is suitable for my horse (probably a MW)

I love the albion K2 but can't afford one for my youngster so this would be an option for me and I'd pay to then have the right tree put in it. (I would keep it for a year or so before putting the new tree in as the youngster needs to fill out)

PM me if you are interested in selling it this way!

Thanks, I will bear this in mind!! Not sure what to do really, I've got a 2 year old, so you've made me wonder if I should keep it for her maybe?

Did they not check for a fractured tree before they agreed to sell it on your behalf? I know the saddlers round here do that before they take saddles on to sell and before valuing saddle etc.... and agreeing upon their commission for selling. I would be suspicious something may have happened to saddle whilst in their care if they did.

Last year, I had one of my GP's tree fracture and got it replaced for £300. I was advised then that if the saddle was insured, it may be worth contacting the insurance company but it wasn't so I didn't. Saddle was valued at £600 so it was worth me doing.

I would check the value of a K2 jump saddle second hand as the ones that I found when recently looking for a MW one around £700-£800 or so dependent on condition so more than worth getting repaired and selling.

Good thought about the insurance as presumably if it's broken I might be able to claim.

Thanks everyone

 

[cundlegreen]

Thanks, I will bear this in mind!! Not sure what to do really, I've got a 2 year old, so you've made me wonder if I should keep it for her maybe?



Good thought about the insurance as presumably if it's broken I might be able to claim.

Thanks everyone

You should be able to claim on your house insurance if your tack is kept at home. I had a carriage accident at a show, and everything was covered under my house insurance.

 

[TarrSteps]

It's definitely worth a conversation with your insurance but it might be a bit tricky though, as the saddle was not in your care at the time. Tbh, I'd be having that conversation with the saddler . . .when they took it away they thought is was fine (presumably they checked it not only then, but when they were contracted to try to fit it for you) and then after they'd had it for some considerable amount of time it was found to be broken. I think it's actually unlikely they did anything that resulted in the problem but still, from a professional point of view, it's thin ice!!

Do they lend saddles out on trial? There is always at least a risk if they do. I had a saddle with a shop to sell once and, lo and behold, someone turned up to try a horse with my saddle! The horse was being sold cheaply as a behavioural case and, without telling the girl it was my saddle, I ascertained that while she was nominally interested in purchasing the saddle, she had brought it that day in order not to risk her own!!

 

[Alec Swan]

Firstly, are you sure that the tree is actually broken? Without stripping out the panel, there is no way of being certain. There are, quite incorrectly in my view, some very soft trees made, and I've heard others claim a tree to be broken, when a full inspection reveals that it isn't.

That's Point 1. Point 2 is that broken trees are fairly easily repaired, I've repaired dozens over the years, and it isn't expensive. The panel is stripped out, steel plates are cut, carefully bent to shape and welded at the head, and the cantle. When repaired the saddle is indistinguishable from new, except that it takes on a less flexible stance.

Alec.

 

[AnShanDan]

I had a saddle with a shop to sell once and, lo and behold, someone turned up to try a horse with my saddle! The horse was being sold cheaply as a behavioural case and, without telling the girl it was my saddle, I ascertained that while she was nominally interested in purchasing the saddle, she had brought it that day in order not to risk her own!!

OMG!! Makes you think def. but I don't really think they would have done this.

They have told me that the saddle was being valued when the fault was noted. So I have to assume they are being honest with me. It is annoying as I'd never have bought the (pricey) new saddle from them if I'd known my saddle was caput! That was the deal for me.

Firstly, are you sure that the tree is actually broken? Without stripping out the panel, there is no way of being certain. There are, quite incorrectly in my view, some very soft trees made, and I've heard others claim a tree to be broken, when a full inspection reveals that it isn't.

That's Point 1. Point 2 is that broken trees are fairly easily repaired, I've repaired dozens over the years, and it isn't expensive. The panel is stripped out, steel plates are cut, carefully bent to shape and welded at the head, and the cantle. When repaired the saddle is indistinguishable from new, except that it takes on a less flexible stance.

Alec.

No way of knowing how bad the saddle is, true. I think this is the first thing I will investigate, whether it can actually be mended rather than replaced by albion. Got be a lot cheaper.

 

[Jnhuk]

Must admit with my GP when it developed an odd squeak whilst hacking one day, I wanted it checked. Saddler did usual tests and nothing was showing fractured tree but she took the saddle apart - well slit a few stitches and the saddle opened up like a book (bit disconcerting for me to watch/see) but revealed the fracture.

Personally if you keeping the saddle for yourself then a repair maybe fine if you happy riding in it but I wouldn't buy one second hand with a repair. I would rather buy it cheap with the fracture and then get it sorted myself.

I would also be having a chat with the shop re your saddle as well as do think that they have some part in this but suspect that they are just trying to wash their hands of the situation rather than take any responsibility.

 

[ArcticFox]

I agree. You would better to keep it and have the tree changed for your youngster. Unless the K2 drops in price this would give you a lovely saddle for your horse.

Def worth checking house insurance too.