FestiveBoomBoom
Well-Known Member
Does anyone have one or had one? If so what do you think?
Barry Swain saddles
- Thread starter FestiveBoomBoom
- Start date
skewby
Well-Known Member
Hi there, I've had two and hated them (bought them as I was strongly advised they were the best thing going for my horse). Big, flat, wide uncomfortable seat, very expensive, not well made, and the whole "semiflex" thing is an old saddler's trick that my new saddler does as a matter of course!
Since getting rid my and my horse's progress has gone through the roof. My new saddle is fitted to me as well as him, and I sit much better than I used to in the BS ones.
Loads of people on here love them though, so each to their own I suppose
Since getting rid my and my horse's progress has gone through the roof. My new saddle is fitted to me as well as him, and I sit much better than I used to in the BS ones.
Loads of people on here love them though, so each to their own I suppose
Bosworth
Well-Known Member
I have 6!!!! Will not ride in anything else and have used Barries saddles for about 15 years. Never had a horse with a back problem or saddle related problems. I have dressage, GPs and Jump saddles all with serge panels and all with half panels. love them!!
FestiveBoomBoom
Well-Known Member
interesting to hear both sides of the coin! I've also been raved to about them, hence I'm wanting to get one. My horse has never gone well in current saddle but I'm a little scared now that he wont go well in BS either and they cost soooooo much!
Bosworth
Well-Known Member
I have never bought a semi flex as to be honest the standard Barry saddle has been perfect for my horses. But of course like any saddle you have to make sure it fits your horse and you. I have standard seats rather than the wide ones which I agree are rather wide. Mine are really comfortable to ride in and my horse has total freedom through his shoulders and back. Two of my 6 are holistic saddle and the other 4 are standard ones.
kerilli
Well-Known Member
i really rate them, they are very well made (well, every one i have ever had has been exceptionally well made) and they are excellent for horses' backs.
skewby, i'd be interested to hear what your saddler thinks the "semiflex is an old saddler's trick" part is - since afaik Barrie has patented it, which he would not have been able to do if the idea had been used for years, i believe.
the semiflex are expensive, but the older style ones come up on ebay sometimes for about £350. there was a semiflex on saddlesdirect a week ago i believe.
i have a med 17.5" jump one you could possibly borrow to try if you aren't a million miles from me, i have far fewer horses than previously so have a few spare saddles.
skewby, i'd be interested to hear what your saddler thinks the "semiflex is an old saddler's trick" part is - since afaik Barrie has patented it, which he would not have been able to do if the idea had been used for years, i believe.
the semiflex are expensive, but the older style ones come up on ebay sometimes for about £350. there was a semiflex on saddlesdirect a week ago i believe.
i have a med 17.5" jump one you could possibly borrow to try if you aren't a million miles from me, i have far fewer horses than previously so have a few spare saddles.
Gillb
Well-Known Member
I have a gp and love it on my Welsh cob, very comfy. I like the serge half panel and it is easy to get them adjusted by Barrie. Mine is second hand but good as new. The leather quality is fab.
kezimac
Well-Known Member
i have two - i am selling one if you after a dressage saddle?
I love them - i have the holistic tree which has lovely wide serge panels to spread the weight bearing area. very comfy and i think well made. I wont get another make now and when it needs adjusting i just pop into walsall and they do it while i wait.
I love them - i have the holistic tree which has lovely wide serge panels to spread the weight bearing area. very comfy and i think well made. I wont get another make now and when it needs adjusting i just pop into walsall and they do it while i wait.
Steeleydan
Well-Known Member
We have a couple of the Barry Swaine and Kay Humphrey saddles nd I really rate them good for the horses back etc, comfy to ride in. Only thing I would say is from Kay coming out to measure the horse to actually getting the saddle took forever.
FestiveBoomBoom
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the offer Kerilli but I'm actually in Scotland, so a little too far away! I'm actually after a GP and have been offered a second hand one for £1200 but it's nearly new, only been used 3 times - does that price sound about right? It's good to know you guys recommend as it's a lot of money, apart from skewby but like you say, each to their own!
kerilli
Well-Known Member
that sounds very good, they're £1880 new afaik. ask if you can ride in it first, i reckon. i have a GP which is very comfy, for horses and me.
qwertyuiop
Well-Known Member
If you do like them, don't get used to it as he is unlikely to be making any more any time soon!
FestiveBoomBoom
Well-Known Member
Cool, thanks for advice. Barry has said that if I buy it, to do a template and if need be he will adjust for free. Can't say fairer than that!
Broken Arrow, whats the goss? Why is he not making anymore??
Broken Arrow, whats the goss? Why is he not making anymore??
qwertyuiop
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Cool, thanks for advice. Barry has said that if I buy it, to do a template and if need be he will adjust for free. Can't say fairer than that!
Broken Arrow, whats the goss? Why is he not making anymore??
[/ QUOTE ]
He's dead.
Cool, thanks for advice. Barry has said that if I buy it, to do a template and if need be he will adjust for free. Can't say fairer than that!
Broken Arrow, whats the goss? Why is he not making anymore??
[/ QUOTE ]
He's dead.
FestiveBoomBoom
Well-Known Member
What!? Since when? I only spoke to him a couple of weeks ago!
Bosworth
Well-Known Member
I hadn't heard he was dead and I was speaking to someone who knows him well only last week. Wagtail - I have the phone number of one of his saddle makers who will do the alteration for you if it is true.
FestiveBoomBoom
Well-Known Member
The lady who is selling the saddle said she spoke to him today re the refit, so I'm very confused! But if it's true then I will take you up on that Bosworth - thanks
Kallibear
Well-Known Member
Since when did Barry Swain die?!?!?
I have one and it's a lovely saddle. The only thing I've found however is the gullets at the front seem to be pretty narrow, with the panels too close together, and aren't wide enough for wide withered horses. However the wide seat and panels are fabulous and so comfortable for the horse. Great for shorted-baked horses who can't take a longer saddle but have a heavy rider.
I have one and it's a lovely saddle. The only thing I've found however is the gullets at the front seem to be pretty narrow, with the panels too close together, and aren't wide enough for wide withered horses. However the wide seat and panels are fabulous and so comfortable for the horse. Great for shorted-baked horses who can't take a longer saddle but have a heavy rider.
kezimac
Well-Known Member
if its a gpsemiflex then £1200 is fine, if its not a semiflex and an older one (i.e. holistic tree) then too much and if normal defo too much. example my holistic tree dr saddle is up for £470 - so £1200 alot but if its semiflex then they are £1800 new. also look on www.specialistsaddles.co.uk
Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
I have two, a GP and Dressage, but they are not the semi-flex tree, just normal.
Nothing else fitted my big shouldered horse and they have given good service, well make and comfortable.
Nothing else fitted my big shouldered horse and they have given good service, well make and comfortable.
ISHmad
Well-Known Member
I've got several Humphries & Swain saddles for our horses. The normal ones, not the semi-flex ones. The horses go really well in them and seem to lift their backs up nicely into the serge lining. I've taken ours to be altered at Walsall several times. Barry is a bit of an acquired taste tbh but he's got a great team there. Damned good saddle maker I hasten to add, just an "interesting" way about him!
Bosworth
Well-Known Member
ISH_mad I know exactly what you mean about Barry being an acquired taste. But he can't be beaten for his knowledge and expertise and the team are brilliant
palomino_pony
Well-Known Member
I have a Barry swain semi-flex saddle and it is fab.
RE: Broken Arrow - Barry Barker died last year, not Barry Swain! (Both W mids saddlers tho)
RE: Broken Arrow - Barry Barker died last year, not Barry Swain! (Both W mids saddlers tho)
kerilli
Well-Known Member
afaik Barrie is still alive and kicking.
he's a funny one, but when he's in the right mood he'll do anything for you. also, he doesn't suffer fools at all, especially fools with horses who have been crippled by crap saddles, so he has quite spectacular outbreaks of tactlessness at times...
BUT, unlike many saddlers and saddle-fitters imho, he truly is in it for the horses, and not for the £££s, so that alone makes me rate him very highly.
he's a funny one, but when he's in the right mood he'll do anything for you. also, he doesn't suffer fools at all, especially fools with horses who have been crippled by crap saddles, so he has quite spectacular outbreaks of tactlessness at times...
BUT, unlike many saddlers and saddle-fitters imho, he truly is in it for the horses, and not for the £££s, so that alone makes me rate him very highly.
ISHmad
Well-Known Member
Couldn't agree more Kerilli. Him and his team have always been great and his saddles for one of our horses in particular worked when nothing else did. In no small part down to the time they took to work with us to make that the case.
Have certainly seen and heard some "interesting" conversations he's had with some mind.
Have certainly seen and heard some "interesting" conversations he's had with some mind.
budatiger
Well-Known Member
I have semiflex and love it. Have been looking for one of the older model Swain saddles for another very short backed pony for 8 months without luck. Need a 16.5 or snug 17" with serge owen panels, preferably working hunter or gp. If any fans of these saddles know where I may be able to source a used one of the above size, please let me know as I'm getting desperate
! They all seem to be 17.5" which are just too big for said pony.
Thanks
Thanks
skewby
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
skewby, i'd be interested to hear what your saddler thinks the "semiflex is an old saddler's trick" part is - since afaik Barrie has patented it, which he would not have been able to do if the idea had been used for years, i believe.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hiya kerilli, I'm not sure either - maybe the same way Monty registered "join up" as a trademark?! Lol. I don't know!
Basically I was cleaning my tack for hunting and realised I had torn a saddle flap (my fault as had sent horse on first through a narrow gate out hacking and he'd caught the stirrup leather). So I took it to work with me the next day, and rang round local saddlers. One guy agreed to do it, and sorted it out for me in my lunch hour, so I saw the inside of the saddle. I saw the two plastic "prongs" and my saddler said "oh I do this on mine" and proceeded to show me one of his own he had sat there, part made. Sure enough the protrusions were there, admittedly in reinforced leather and not plastic, but this to me was just better workmanship really.
The other problem I had with these saddles, was I found the fitters to be extremely expensive, and dreadfully unreliable once my original fitter gave up.
I do appreciate though that loads of people love these saddles - just not for me, and all the hassle I had for such enormous amounts of money was hugely annoying.
skewby, i'd be interested to hear what your saddler thinks the "semiflex is an old saddler's trick" part is - since afaik Barrie has patented it, which he would not have been able to do if the idea had been used for years, i believe.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hiya kerilli, I'm not sure either - maybe the same way Monty registered "join up" as a trademark?! Lol. I don't know!
Basically I was cleaning my tack for hunting and realised I had torn a saddle flap (my fault as had sent horse on first through a narrow gate out hacking and he'd caught the stirrup leather). So I took it to work with me the next day, and rang round local saddlers. One guy agreed to do it, and sorted it out for me in my lunch hour, so I saw the inside of the saddle. I saw the two plastic "prongs" and my saddler said "oh I do this on mine" and proceeded to show me one of his own he had sat there, part made. Sure enough the protrusions were there, admittedly in reinforced leather and not plastic, but this to me was just better workmanship really.
The other problem I had with these saddles, was I found the fitters to be extremely expensive, and dreadfully unreliable once my original fitter gave up.
I do appreciate though that loads of people love these saddles - just not for me, and all the hassle I had for such enormous amounts of money was hugely annoying.