Buying a saddle second hand and then getting it fitted

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10wardd

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Does anyone do this? Say buy a saddle off the internet and then get your saddler to fit it to your horse? I know in some cases it can go horribly wrong but what are people's opinions on doing this? It means a better saddle can be bought for the money as well
 
If your saddler is happy to do this, then no problem. Of course you could run the risk of buying something with totally the wrong tree for your horse and chucking your money down the drain!
 
I have done it but I will only buy second hand saddles if I can see them before I buy so will only look at any fairly local ones advertised, I bought a lovely brown ideal jessica dressage saddle a few years back from a lady who had it sitting in her garage, it was old but hardly used and was only £200 unfortuately it didnt fit either of my horses so I advertised it and got £350 for it so it didn't turn out too bad after all.

It helps if you have a good idea what type and make of saddles fit your horse or even maybe buy a newer version of what you have, other than that there is a good chance the saddle will not fit and then your left with having to sell it and can loose money.
 
Last edited:
LovesCobs said:
I've done it on the knowledge if it doesn't fit i can sell it on for about the same price. luckily they both fit. I've also sold 3 saddles this way that the buyers were really happy with (two had adjustable trees though)
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It works better if you have as many likely saddles as possible - beg borrow etc from friends (everyone has friends of friends with saddles for sale too!) and have saddler out and ask them what tree shape / size / style would suit horse, using borrowed ones as examples.

Armed with this, either get one of the borrowed ones for sale fitted, or get hold of one of the makes you and saddler like second hand, then get saddler back to fit it.

I wouldnt buy second hand blind without getting to try it on (so through local people or friends) or without recommendation of width and make and model from my saddler.
 
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