Berney Bros Saddles

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PaulnasherryRocky

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I've seen a saddle that I'd like to try on my horse, but I've not heard of the brand before. I'ts an Irish brand (which is why I've not heard of it) and just wondered if anyone has any experience with them?

From the pics It just looks like a tan brown GP saddle, they are asking for £450- is this reasonable for these saddles or grossly over priced? Looks in good condition, comes with leathers and stirrups.

The person selling is actually the guy I bought my horse from and insists it's the saddle my horse wore hunting when he was in Ireland (though I am aware this is probably just a selling tactic!) But it has made me tempted to try it as he is a bit of a faff to find a well fitting saddle!

I've probably not put enough info for anyone to help, I will ask permission to put a pic of the saddle on here.

Thanks
 
berneybros_zpsc9556469.jpg


Only pic I've got so far but might go and take a look at the saddle this weekend, with the hope of putting deposit down and getting my saddler to check the fit for me.
 
PaulnasherryRocky said:
berneybros_zpsc9556469.jpg


Only pic I've got so far but might go and take a look at the saddle this weekend, with the hope of putting deposit down and getting my saddler to check the fit for me.
Click to expand...

They are a well known brand in Ireland, I remember riding in BB saddles back a looong time ago! I don't know about the more modern versions but they were always considered good quality. However... just because a horse has worn a particular saddle out hunting in Ireland does not mean the saddle fits ;) Where I came from, saddle fitters were not something anybody had heard of, and the same saddle was used on many horses. It's been a good few years since I was back, and on a recent visit I was discussing saddles with a friend and said "what width is it"? She looked at me as if I had two heads - saddles have a width?

This is clearly not the case everywhere ;) but fitting a saddle via a saddle fitter is still much less usual in Ireland than in the UK. Maybe ask for a front on photo, and that way you can at least trace out and expand the angle of the points and compare to a tracing from your horse?
 
It's made by a reputable saddler and like anything some love them and others hate them, I had one before and didn't like the position it put me into, it's very much a hunting position, best would be to try it out for feel then make a decision, 450 a bit steep too, they have a website Berney brothers saddlery, look it up and see what they are new. Loads of them around second hand.
 
My plan is to take my cardboard cut out of my horses withers with me and to test that with the saddle (its very local so I don't mind just going to see it rather than asking for more pics) and if that's okay I will get my saddler out to have a proper look (with horse of course)

So do you think it is at a good price for what it is? I don't want to waste money getting my saddler out for him to say the saddle is worth less than the saddle fitting costs!
 
Brightbay said:
They are a well known brand in Ireland, I remember riding in BB saddles back a looong time ago! I don't know about the more modern versions but they were always considered good quality. However... just because a horse has worn a particular saddle out hunting in Ireland does not mean the saddle fits ;) Where I came from, saddle fitters were not something anybody had heard of, and the same saddle was used on many horses. It's been a good few years since I was back, and on a recent visit I was discussing saddles with a friend and said "what width is it"? She looked at me as if I had two heads - saddles have a width?

This is clearly not the case everywhere ;) but fitting a saddle via a saddle fitter is still much less usual in Ireland than in the UK. Maybe ask for a front on photo, and that way you can at least trace out and expand the angle of the points and compare to a tracing from your horse?
Click to expand...

Things have changed in some places! Just a total lack of qualified saddle fitters. I travelled 8 hr round trip for my horse to be fitted!
 
If I haggled to £400 would this still be overpriced? Baring in mind it will come with the stirrups irons and leathers, as well as reins and matching bridle? (in pic below)

10811480_407042722782382_2096017454_n_zpsad340adb.jpg
 
berneys are a great brand and well made. for years they were the best saddles in ireland. i had once 30 years ago that lasted me 20 years. They have a few different styles, so not all will put you in a weird position. The only downside i found to berneys saddles was that if you horse was in any way a weird shape in their back or withers, then the saddles never fit.

i agree with the other poster that that saddle is horrendously overpriced for a second hand one! The new ones don't cost much more!
http://www.berneybrossaddles.com/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_68
 
If it were me I'd be prepared to pay more because its local and the seller doesn't mind you taking it away for a fitter to check it on the horse and for you to see of you like riding in it. That's not usually something you can do with a second hand saddle unless you're buying it from a fitter, in which case you would pay more than a private sale anyway.

How good are the extras? A bit is 10-25 pounds new for a basic brand snaffle or pelham, decent leathers 20-50 pounds new depending on brand, a decent bridle with reins 80-200 pounds new depending on brand, irons are about 20 pounds new for basic ones. You can buy cheaper leather but it will be poor quality.

It's worth seeing if the cost of a new saddle direct from the manufacturers website includes the cost of fitting or not.

To have a fitter out to look at a saddle you already have costs about 30 pounds plus the same again for flocking adjustments if necessary. A total reflock would cost a lot more.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
If it were me I'd be prepared to pay more because its local and the seller doesn't mind you taking it away for a fitter to check it on the horse and for you to see of you like riding in it. That's not usually something you can do with a second hand saddle unless you're buying it from a fitter, in which case you would pay more than a private sale anyway.

How good are the extras? A bit is 10-25 pounds new for a basic brand snaffle or pelham, decent leathers 20-50 pounds new depending on brand, a decent bridle with reins 80-200 pounds new depending on brand, irons are about 20 pounds new for basic ones. You can buy cheaper leather but it will be poor quality.

It's worth seeing if the cost of a new saddle direct from the manufacturers website includes the cost of fitting or not.

To have a fitter out to look at a saddle you already have costs about 30 pounds plus the same again for flocking adjustments if necessary. A total reflock would cost a lot more.
Click to expand...

I agree here, the bridle that is being sold with it I have seen before (I know the seller quite well) and it is a lovely quality leather, far nicer than the bridle I just paid £50 for! ...just fingers crossed it fits
 
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