Arena saddles

[nedzy]

Hi,

Has anyone bought or ridden in the Arena saddles? I believe they launched last year. They look nice, European leather rather than British. I’ll be looking for a new saddle for my cob and they make a cob saddle but I can’t find any reviews of them anywhere

 

[Aleka81]

Great saddle! Lovely leather and I know a few people who have them who love them.

Such a bargain as well!

 

[nedzy]

That’s great news! I was wondering as they seem such a great price!

 

[sbloom]

They're the same family as Bates/Wintec, so Australian in terms of ownership, pitched in price and materials in between, and made in Vietnam as far as I know.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I think I did a blind consumer test on these saddles two years ago. If they are the same ones they were really well made and the leather lovely.

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

I did some research at your horse live. Seemed in similar league to Kent & masters quality wise

 

[sbloom]

That's exactly where they're pitched in terms of marketing, though I believe they're part synthetic (from another fitter, may be wrong). SO Bates competes with Fairfax, Arena with K&M and Wintec with TG.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

The synthetic ones were so good you couldn’t actually tell they weren’t leather and it produced much debate amongst the people testing them. The top end saddles were really nice, much nicer than my K&M.

 

[sbloom]

The synthetic ones were so good you couldn’t actually tell they weren’t leather and it produced much debate amongst the people testing them. The top end saddles were really nice, much nicer than my K&M.

I think they've probably changed since you tried them as they have one level of finish which is leather top and synthetic panel https://arenasaddles.co.uk/pages/about-us

 

[Somewhat Off The Way]

Resurrecting this thread - anyone else have or tried an Arena saddle? Any further experience from previous posters?
Thinking about buying one...
Thanks!

 

[BSL2]

Daughter has just bought one for her beautiful (very wide) Welsh d mare. Mare comfortable and free, going really well in it and daughter says lovely to ride in. Perfect as far as we are concerned. Hope you get sorted. Such an important, expensive bit of kit, that is so hard to get right for both horse and rider.

 

[Somewhat Off The Way]

Thanks, it's absolutely important which is why I'm fretting a bit. Not heard anything bad about them yet so tempted to go for it. Good to hear it fits a wider shape!