Anyone selling a semiflex saddle? Please Help!

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neighneigh

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I'm desperately looking for a second hand Barry Swain Semi flex saddle for my mare who has had a lot of back problems.

Ideally I'm hoping to buy a black, 17.5 inch, GP but would consider a dressage saddle or a brown GP.

Does anyone on here have one for sale, or know someone who does?

Where would be the best place to look for one of these types of saddles or is there anything similar out there?
 
Wow... £250 !? :eek: I wasn't expecting to only pay that! You did very well there! :)

I don't mind paying more than that, I just can't afford a brand new one as I've paid out so much on vets fees, physio and training. I've also paid out £960 since September, just trying to get a saddle that she will feel comfortable in.

She tries her absolute best but has struggled with the fit of many saddles in the past. I think the semiflex will be the most suited to her (from all the research I've done and after trying many others), I just need to find one now so I can try it!
 
neighneigh said:
Wow... £250 !? :eek: I wasn't expecting to only pay that! You did very well there! :)

QUOTE]

I did indeed ;)

One was listed on Ebay where the seller didnt realise it was a BS. They tend not to have maker's stamps on some of them, but it stood out a mile to be a genuine one!.

The other is about 15 years old according to Kay Humphries, so it's well used but still incredibly smart :)
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if you do look on ebay make sure you get a semi flex and not just a normal barry saddle, - semi flex you will not usually pay any less than £8 -900 even second hand as they have been around for only a few years. - It must have the semi flex mark on it - or it wont be a semi flex tree.
such as the pic in this one ,.....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Semiflex-...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item20c609e169


Also the holistic tree is NOT a semi flex, it doesnt flex at the shoulders.

try it first as well if you can - barrys saddle are flat trees and not alot there to support rider - after i had a deep seated dressage saddle my BS was a shock to begin with - soon got used to it!
 
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Hi Kezimac, yep, know what you mean!

I have a BS holistic flexitree saddle at the moment but feel a semiflex would be better.

So many are described as semiflex and don't turn out to be!
 
Have you looked on www.specialistsaddles.co.uk

It seems to be THE place to look for this type of saddle... And they offer a trial facility on most of the saddles which are being sold privately. Yes, it's more expensive than ebay, but I guess at least you know what you are getting and can try more than one saddle?? (and no, I'm not affiliated with them, I just came across the site when I was investigating getting one of these saddles!)
 
Thanks crockshard. I've been trying to get in touch with some of the sellers on the specialist saddles website with no luck so far. I'm going to try to call them when I get a second later as I haven't heard anything back from filling in the enquiry forms or emailing.

What made you decide not to buy one in the end and what did you buy instead? (If you don't mind me asking!?)
 
I've chatted with the lady who runs it - I found that leaving a voicemail meant she called me back fairly promptly.
My experience with a "KH" saddle (admittedly not a BS semi-flex) was not great - I found it was too banana-treed for my youngster (it had a good 2" clearance at the back between her skin and the panel!!) and when I had a fitting from KH herself, she then fitted this xw saddle to my other, high-withered mare who can be described only as MW, with a multitude of pad and gamgee (sp?!) to block up the front - suffice to say that although I persevered, it slipped forward and pressed onto her withers and shoulders all the time and I was fed up with being bucked with. So I sold it.
The saddle that KH was going to be making or finding for me and altering for my youngster, who is wide and flat, never materialised even after many phone-calls. Not impressed AT ALL!!!
Anyway, that doesn't detract from the fact that some people get on really well with these type of saddles, but it's definitely a case of suck-it-and-see!!
I also had similar problems with LM saddles, which I liken the fitting of to be buying a size 10 pair of wellies, and wearing 13 pairs of ski socks to compensate for the fact that you have size 6 feet. I rate LM herself, but but not some of her fitters....
I have 2 Wow saddles now that I am very happy with, although the mare who's saddles slip fwd, still has that problem at times (mostly if she roaches or humps), much helped with the fore-girthing option. If it hadn't been for Wow though, I'm not sure my xxw flat youngster would have a saddle at all! I've been through about 6 or 7 saddles in the last 2 years, and all I can say is that you have to try these things and find out what works for the horse and you, rather than necessarily buying based on a brand or concept, and that the follow-up support from fitter in the most important part, as everything needs tweaking occasionally!
 
crockshard, I have the same thing with my mare. She is fairly high withered and her saddle slips forward (mostly if she roaches or humps too). The panels end up on round her shoulders. That's why I'm thinking that a semiflex might be good as it allows the shoulders to move.

I’ve tried so many different saddles (high withered, flexi treed etc.) to find something that will let her move properly. I’m on my 6th for her now which in itself isn’t good. I’m desperate to find one that suits her and then we can keep everything consistent and she can get used to it and how it feels on her back. I wish I’d have just bought a new semiflex for her in the first place, I’d be better off now! Mind you, as you've said, you don't know what suits them until you've tried it a few times.

My horse is going to the vets in a few weeks time for further investigations and a scinitgraphy to find out what is causing her mild KS. The vets say she needs to be in work as the more muscle she has, the stronger she'll be and the muscle will support her joints, bones, spine and any other weaknesses there may be.

The vet suspects that the KS may be a secondary problem to a neck, wither or shoulder issue so I need to find a saddle that is comfortable for her as soon as possible really so a saddle problem won't cloud the medical issues.

I don't know much about the WOW saddles to be honest. Was is it that you have for your mare? (Am I right in thinking that they come in various parts?)
 
I have 2 Semiflex but sadly I dont feel able to part with either of them. However if you already have a half decent saddle you could do what I did with one of mine and ask Barry to strip it and remove the rigid tree and replace it with a semiflex one. Mine took a week and cost me around £1000 which is half the cost of a new Semiflex saddle and about what you would start thinking of paying for a second hand one....if you could find one!
 
Neighneigh. What width are you after? I've got a wide fitting black dressage semiflex saddle spare at the moment as one of my horses has a 'curvy' back which is better suited to an Amerigo
 
Hi eggs, My mare is a medium at the moment. They are fully adjustable aren't they? She's only just turned 5 so will change shape a lot I think (I hope!).

Thanks spaniel, that is a good thought but I must admit that if I'm going to spend £1000 then I would want it to be as ideal as possible. The saddle I have at the moment is quite foward cut and brown and I would prefer something straighter for her and black, as she is black. Obviously if a good-priced second-hand brown one came up I'd go for it as the most important thing is that she is comfortable (and that it doesn't bankrupt me!!)
 
I have Nisk Dolman Semi Flex dressage saddle for sale if youre still looking for one?

fabulous saddle, it comes with the 1/4 serge panels and i have a set of full serge panels too! Nick can come out and fit it and adjust it for you with no problems.

its 17.5inch and in fantastic condition. it cost over 3000 new, but as i lost my beloved horse recently, and have another 2-3 years to wait before i can get on the next one it needs a new home.

let me know if you're still interested! i need the space in my lounge lol:D
 
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