Barrie Swaine/Swaine & Humphries Saddles

sjp1

sjp1

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I am looking for a 16 or 16.5" either GP or WH for a friends daughters pony.

I love the Humphries and Swaine WH that I have, it is the only saddle that does not move on my flat backed with a bit of a wither appy and has been the only saddle he has not bucked in which is fab!!

My back lady who recommended the saddle to me and who has helped me loads with chiropractic issues that my horse had, has recommended a small version for small fat pony on the yard who has damage from a previous saddle, but the little saddles seem to be like hens teeth to find!!

Can anyone help?
 
they are truly wonderful saddles, I have one that is about 27 years old and still looks new. And several others I have used on my horses. If you want one you can give Barry Swain a call in Walsall, or try Kay Humphries at her saddlery in Beaconsfield. Ebay has some one there occasionally too
 
Pity you don't want a 17", I have one in my tack room, made to measure 10 years ago for a horse that died a few weeks after having his new saddle. I have advertised it a couple of times with no interest at all.
 
I don't think my friend wanted to pay full whack new saddle price, but I guess it might be worth ringing both of them to find out if they have any second hand ones coming in.

They are absolutely fab saddles - another lady at my yard had my back lady - her horse was pretty much crippled by various well known saddle makes 'fitted' by saddle fitters and hers now has a Barry Swain saddle - different horse - actually tracks up now after a couple of weeks which he never did!
 
AdorableAlice said:
Pity you don't want a 17", I have one in my tack room, made to measure 10 years ago for a horse that died a few weeks after having his new saddle. I have advertised it a couple of times with no interest at all.
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I wish that small fat pony could squeeze a 17" onto its little back!! Sadly it can't!! I am amazed no-one was interested, but I guess loads of people like the shiny well known makes. I think its a massive shame his saddles aren't better known really - I personally would never use another make again.
 
They are great saddles. I too have one needing a new home but mine is an 18'' GP I had for my Welsh cob and I lost her last summer. The half panel and wool lining is so good for their backs. I hope you find what you need.
 
I've got a Barrie Swain semiflex dressage on one of my boys. According to the saddler if doesn't fit but he goes so much better in it than his Amerigo which is a good fit. Check out Saddles Direct and Preloved to try and find one.

I believe that Kay's shop in Beaconsfield has closed ?
 
eggs said:
I've got a Barrie Swain semiflex dressage on one of my boys. According to the saddler if doesn't fit but he goes so much better in it than his Amerigo which is a good fit. Check out Saddles Direct and Preloved to try and find one.

I believe that Kay's shop in Beaconsfield has closed ?
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I think that most saddlers fit to the shape which isn't good - a saddle that fits tight doesn't help the back come up and just compresses it and causes it to become narrower and narrower with more and more wastage - think horses say better than saddlers!!

Have tried Saddles Direct, Specialist Saddles, Preloved and Ebay!! Didn't know about Kay's shop.
 
Borderreiver said:
They are great saddles. I too have one needing a new home but mine is an 18'' GP I had for my Welsh cob and I lost her last summer. The half panel and wool lining is so good for their backs. I hope you find what you need.
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Another friend is also looking for one for her oldie if it isn't too expensive - he doesn't go out huge amounts!! PM me if you like and let me know what sort of money you would be looking for for the 18"
 
Funny that this has just been posted, my saddle fitter has literally just recommended for me to buy one so am doing a bit of research on them as never heard of them. Not seen any little ones though sorry!
 
Friend thinks they don't actually make 16 or 16" inch ones because we have not been able to find one - for months!!
 
Barrie swain saddles are great. Really comfy and the leather is superb quality. Mine had quite short panels in relation to the seat size.
 
Bosworth said:
would be worth measuring a 17" without gussets as my 17 inch comes up smaller than a lot of 16 inches that have large rear gussets
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I am confused now, I didn't think they had large rear gussets - sorry, showing my ignorance here!!
 
I bought a BS saddle from my YO who had had it from new for her now-retired boy. I asked my saddler to reflock it and when he took the panels off he condemned the saddle as it was very poorly made inside and all the straps were wonky and badly stapled. I was so shocked as I had always heard of BS's good reputation.
 
That is a great shame - did you send it back to the makers to confirm that was the problem? Mostly it seems to be the well known makes that are bench made rather than hand made that have those issues.
 
I used to have a BS jumping saddle & loved it, but it needed to be sent to BS (the man himself) for alteration when I got a new horse. BS was *vile* to my saddler, who was a lovely person & wouldn't ever have done anything to prompt such a torrent of verbal abuse, so I sold the saddle virtually as soon as I got it back & would never have another one. His treatment of my saddler totally ruined the saddle for me & made me feel uncomfortable using it. I now have a WOW which I love even more, so every cloud & all that.

T x
 
When I was considering BS semi flex saddles a little while ago, I was surprised at how many were advertised as having a recently replaced tree. Many of the saddles were't very old, so why did so many need to have their tree replaced? Put me off them.

Catembi, I also have heard that BS can be pretty unpleasant.
 
Barrie is quite well known for being difficult but he is a fantastic saddler and the only one I would buy from. I'm a big fab of both Kay and Barrie; their saddles are worth negotiating their eccentricities. It's worth noting that Graham that works for Barrie is also an amazing saddler. Alternative saddlers whose work is very much in the same vein are Rachel Bayliss and Nick Dolman.
 
I understand he can be difficult, but very good at what he does. I agree, I would put up with difficult to get results!!
 
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