Buying saddles from ebay...

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Lurky McLurker

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Would you buy a saddle off ebay without being able to try it on your horse? I wanted to buy one from a saddler so it could be professionally fitted, but he doesn't have many second hand saddles and I can't afford a brand new one, so I was wondering if I could buy one from ebay and then just get the saddler out to check the fit and make any adjustments (eg. reflocking) as necessary. I'm thinking that would probably work out cheaper, as long as the saddle does fit and he doesn't tell me to ditch it and buy a new one, as most ebay sellers don't do returns!

Either way, I want to end up with a professionally fitted saddle that will be comfortable for my horse - but if I can do it for less money, that would be all the better! How likely is it that I would end up with a saddle that doesn't fit at all, even with adjustments, and end up having to buy a different one? I will obviously measure my current saddle to make sure I get the right size, but I don't know how much variation there is between styles that might mean saddles of the same size could fit differently. I've never bought a saddle before - my horse came with his included in the price - and I'm worried I'll do something wrong and end up wasting lots of money! :o
 
Oh that's a good idea, I hadn't thought of asking him beforehand... although that would mean calling him out twice... why are horses such expensive pets? :p It's a good thing I love him! (The horse, not the saddler...)
 
I have only bought a Wintec and a Collegiate Adjustable off ebay. The likelihood of my saddler being able to get them to fit was high (being adjustable!) and I knew if they didn't then they would sell quickly again on ebay!!

In fact I sold the Wintec for £50 more when I sold it 18 months later!! (had it while I broke in a youngster)
 
You can buy a measure for your horse for about £5 first and you should have an idea what size seat you need based on whatever you already have.
It may be worth having a saddler out try on a few saddles see what you like then buy one off ebay and get it fitted.
I have bought 2 off ebay no probs at all.
 
I bought the most perfect saddle for my boy off horsequest. I had looked at many on ebay and knew exactly what makes were likely to fit but the HQ one came up first. I was lucky to be able to email any 'possibles' to my saddle fitter for her opinion too. I think you can get lucky (I would probably have looked in my local tack shops for years without finding such a good saddle) but be prepared to have to sell them on yourself. My saddle fitted like a glove but saddler would (and will) happily tweak it if needed.
 
Interesting thoughts here. I know someone who got a saddle off EBay and it was perfect for her horse. Im thinking of putting my Dressage saddle on there to sell so it will be interesting to see what happens with it.
 
I've sold saddles on ebay, but I always tell people to get a professional saddle fitter to check it. I've had people email asking for measurements from D ring to D ring and I always advise them that different manufactureres may fit D rings at different levels, so that won't always help. As a previous poster said, if you buy it off ebay cheap enough and it's doesn't fit, sell it on. Good luck.
 
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If he came with a saddle that you think fits, why are you looking for another saddle? Isn't it worth getting your saddler out to check your current saddle. Ignore my comments if you are looking for a different type of saddle to what you already have (eg. you have a dressage saddle but are looking for a jump saddle).

I have bought Wintecs and Albions off ebay because I know exactly what model/size I need for my horse. If you don't know what you want/need it might be more cost effective to speak to another saddler who holds a bigger stock of second hand saddles.
 
eggs said:
If he came with a saddle that you think fits, why are you looking for another saddle? Isn't it worth getting your saddler out to check your current saddle. Ignore my comments if you are looking for a different type of saddle to what you already have (eg. you have a dressage saddle but are looking for a jump saddle).

I have bought Wintecs and Albions off ebay because I know exactly what model/size I need for my horse. If you don't know what you want/need it might be more cost effective to speak to another saddler who holds a bigger stock of second hand saddles.
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The saddle he came with doesn't fit any more as he lost a lot of weight, and I'm now using a borrowed saddle which fits him really nicely but isn't an ideal situation because I'm sharing it with its owner, so if she's riding I have to go bareback, and I can't take it away to shows in case she needs it while I'm gone. I wish I could just buy this saddle from her, as it's really lovely, but unfortunately she loves it just as much as I do!

Thanks for all your suggestions, I will look into all the options you've given me and hopefully horse will have his very own saddle soon. :)
 
I bought both of mine off of ebay :)

Got saddler out/phoned her (as she knows him pretty well) and asked her which style/type would fit. Bought (for a fraction of the price in very good condition!) and then she came back out and fitted :D

So chuffed!
 
I got the fitter out and tried loads, then bought the one which fitted off ebay second hand but mint condition. even paying for the fitter it was still cheaper. I also bought one for £75 on ebay which didnt fit as well as I liked, I reflocked it, oiled and Grand Prix glossed it, gave it a good write up and got £50 more than I paid even with the flock. I bought a Bates Caprilli adjustable off ebay, it didnt fit well despite the gullet so I sold it on, on there. If you are careful you cant really go wrong. Sell in the spring buy in winter is best!
 
Can work out well if you are familiar with the brand of saddle.

Can anyone tell me it if royal mail are good at deliverying saddles (with insurance of course]. Saddle would be coming to me in Ireland so perhaps courier might be better?
 
I just have to say... be v careful
when buying off ebay.

i bought a saddle advertised and stamped as MW but the seller had had the tree widened so it was a W. cost me over £100 to get it sorted!
 
Have sold off ebay and recently purchased a Wintec which fits perfectly! May need to change gullet once pony in proper work as I hope she'll thin out! What I would say is read descriptions carefully, it's often what ISN'T said on them as much as what is.Ask questions if you need to.
People have collected the saddles I have sold, so postage wasn't an issue, and I also collected the Wintec one. I just searched a 50 miles radius of my postcode, as I was happier to collect than wait for delivery too.Just my personal preference though.
If your friends saddle fits well, can you not try to look out for one the same, or was it a made to measure for her?
 
i have purchased a number of saddles from ebay .i have a really definate plan on what i want with regard to make,size etc for the pony i am fitting. i do have knowledge and experience of both saddlefitting and the range of saddles out there so probably better chance of success. i still have some super saddles via ebay that would have been well beyond our reach otherwise~~~~one pony is kitted out with whittaker saddle (almost new £300) and every other item of matching tack at a fraction of the price. another has a stubben eidelweis (think thats spelling) pony size almost new and usually a grand but ebay £275. a couple of ours have gfs saddles less than £200 each and really nice saddles. i do tend to stick to the makes i know and like which helps.

i notice generally a lot of cheap,illfitting saddles on ponies/children and usually muse that they have probably been purchased for much more than the ebay ones of mine.

oh almost forgot ~~~one of our first games ponies a little round pony with no wither purchased with nasty little saddle that needed anchored with a crupper~~which pony hated. i tried every saddle i had on her with no success but got a feel for what would fit. hello ebay and for £77 a super little english half panel show saddle,lovely dark chestnut nicely cut little saddle. 5 years later still looks great always fitted with no crupper looking like it was made for pony. also been lent to people for similar difficult to fit ponies and for £77 its one of those fit almost anything saddles. result thanks to ebay!!!
 
maletto said:
I just have to say... be v careful
when buying off ebay.

i bought a saddle advertised and stamped as MW but the seller had had the tree widened so it was a W. cost me over £100 to get it sorted!
Click to expand...

If you had a saddler confirm this you could have filed a 'item not as described' claim and got your money back. I have done this a number of times and always got a refund. If you know how to use eBay really well and what checks and measures to take it works well. I always track anything I sell, I always carefully research and compare anything I buy.
 
I'd get the saddler to find a saddle type/make which fits your horse, then shop for that on ebay or similar in the same dimensions. Thats how i did my first saddle. My saddler was away of the situation, and was happy to help me.
 
maletto said:
I just have to say... be v careful
when buying off ebay.

i bought a saddle advertised and stamped as MW but the seller had had the tree widened so it was a W. cost me over £100 to get it sorted!
Click to expand...

Also be careful because that is where stolen tack can end up. Personal experience - my stolen saddle ended up on Ebay - I was able to get it back, most won't be so lucky.
 
I bought a saddle from ebay and it is such a bargain, nearly new its cliff barnsby luckily most saddles fit my horse, it was a perfect fit, I measured my old on flaps d rings to - d rings etc, checked for the same measurements and bingo got it for £250.00
 
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