Buying second hand saddles?

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misskk88

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Would you buy them, or would you avoid them?

Horse is out on loan at the minute, but has muscled up in a little over 2 months. Back lady visited her for a second time the other week and mentioned saddle still fits (the one I sent with her) but not as well. Loan home monitoring situation, but as her work will be continuing at a similar pace once she is back with me I am going to keep an eye out for a new saddle (which they can possible use when needed too). I have another GP one I could try on her from my old horse, but no promises it will fit or even suit her shape.

I cannot afford a new one with recent house move, so where are the best places to look for second hand stuff (besides local facebook groups!), and how do you check that it is in good quality, or that it will be the right fit for your horse, especially as it isn't made to measure? Any tips would be lovely!
 
I buy second hand saddles from ebay and local ads. Always right at the bargain end of things, and frequently with visible defects, as I don't care what they look like. I have a reasonable idea of the shape of my ponies, and try to judge not just the wording of an advert, but the cut of the saddle, as well as I can make it out from the ad. Experience helps, but it's still a pig in a poke, and occasionally what you get fits nothing, or has much more wrong with it than stated! If you're not experienced, you need someone to look the saddle over, and check the fit.
I can often repair or adjust the flocking in a saddle once I have it in my hand, and splitting an old saddle apart at least means I get a good look at the condition of the tree.

I think at the bottom of the market, if you can accept that you're going to occasionally buy a dud, then you'll do OK. I would be wary about spending £'00s on a second hand saddle (unchecked). It could just be a better looking lemon.
 
The best saddle I have had was a 2nd hand Albion.

My saddler told me what to look for, and then came out once I'd purchased the saddle to check its fit, and to adjust where necessary.
 
Just don't buy from anyone asking you to bank transfer or paypal using the gift option, there is a very notorious scammer around who uses various girl's names.....
 
I'm in same position as OP. Have spent an absolute FORTUNE on saddles and saddle fitters and have been totally let down by shoddy workmanship and appalling/non-existent customer service.

So am totally skint and basically am STILL not sorted!!! :(

Have tried the cheapest & cheerfullest option available, i.e. synthetic, but am not totally happy with that solution and now looking around for something which might be more suitable.

Yes would love a new saddle made-to-measure but just can't afford it! So a decent used saddle the only option.

I have had someone look at my horse's back (who knows their job) and she's given some suggestions as to saddles which might fit, so this has given me some idea of what to look out for.

I went to an equine car boot sale recently and took my home-made template (made with a wire clothes-hanger) with me - which was actually useful in that it ruled out a lot of the saddles I saw there - however the problem I have with my boy is that he's got a ridiculously short back and also a very flat back, and its really hard to judge whether a saddle has too much "curve" from pommel to cantle; I've not figured out a way of making up anything which I could take with me when I go to auctions/boot sales etc.

Dunno if anyone has any ideas in this regard???
 
My fave saddle was second hand - it was a returned saddle so almost new but it was the only dr saddle the saddler had at the time that fitted my boy - that was 20 years ago and it's still in daily use. If I can get the saddle I want 2nd hand I will - it means I can get a3 grand saddle for 1200 or so I see this as a big result... Buy a known make and you can get a new saddle 'fitted' and unless your horse is a weird shape u can buy a second hand one that size from somewhere on line...
 
I have read a few people praising Albion saddles. What are the GP ones like? I will definitely get a saddler local to me to check over anything I buy and to ensure it fits properly. I can fit a saddle- but having confidence in something second hand, when you don't have an eye for miniscule defects or any repairs needing doing is another matter!

Also have read about saddles with a changeable gullet- any good, or are they a bit gimmicky to have, rather than of quality?

I just worry with Ebay etc that I don't currently have much spare money, so to buy dud would wipe out the money I had for a saddle!

On that note, does anyone know a good saddler in the Bury St Eds area, and what kind of prices do saddlers usually charge for a fitting?
 
littlecoblet said:
Just don't buy from anyone asking you to bank transfer or paypal using the gift option, there is a very notorious scammer around who uses various girl's names.....
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Is she on any facebook groups by any chance? I have seen names crop up and people say she has several aliases!
 
Huge fan of albion saddles (I have 4 at present) tbh I've had them on welsh cobs, gypsy cobs, warmbloods and Heinz 57 and never had a problem with fit. Albion do do adjustable gullet saddles but I've never had one of those so can't comment. I am a believer that you are better off with a second hand quality saddle than a new cheaper saddle - I find that they fit better as the panels are longer thus wrap round more and don't just balance on the horses back. They are fairly flat treed that suit short backed horses which may be why they for my brood so well - I don't buy long backed horses...
 
I only buy second hand saddles through preloved or similar if I can go and see them first and then I will pay for them on collection, I wont pay for anything through paypal for that amount of money without looking at it first too many scammers about.
 
I've just bought a used Albion GP on eBay but waiting for it to arrive! There are loads and Albions are lovely saddles.
If you pay with PayPal you are often covered if the seller has duped you in any way but I believe the majority are genuine. Saddles Direct is also good. Lots of used and new available for trial.
Used are great - you don't have to spend ages oiling them and you can get a decent saddle for a lot cheaper than new!
 
I used saddles direct, they are very professional and you can borrow saddles to try with a fitter, I ended up buying a new version of the 2nd hand one I tried because my Gma took pity on me but do recommend it.

MiJods have you tried taking an inverse template of the curvature (or lack thereof) of your horses spine. Do your template (front to back along spine as well as wither profile) then put against some card and trace it out so that you can put it against a saddle and see how the curve fits in its most basic way. You can even criss cross 2x bits of car so you in effect have a VERY basic 3d model (along and across)
 
(QUOTE) MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

I went to an equine car boot sale recently and took my home-made template (made with a wire clothes-hanger) with me - which was actually useful in that it ruled out a lot of the saddles I saw there - however the problem I have with my boy is that he's got a ridiculously short back and also a very flat back, and its really hard to judge whether a saddle has too much "curve" from pommel to cantle; I've not figured out a way of making up anything which I could take with me when I go to auctions/boot sales etc.

Dunno if anyone has any ideas in this regard???[/QUOTE]

Develop an eye for a flat seat. The flatter seat saddles are more likely to be on a flat tree and the deep seated saddles more likely to be on a curved tree. Take a good long look at your horses back from the side view. When you find a saddle, look at the saddle side on, placed level on something so its not leaning to one side or the other. Then turn your head or rotate a photo so you can put the saddle level from front to back and try to imagine your horse under there. Think of line of horses back versus line of panel and where pommel and cantle will be. Not very scientific! But usually works for me.


OP I dont know what kind of life you lead but I can tell you that I've only ever met two horses who had a made to measure saddle. It was because they were weird shapes and nothing fitted. Most horses will never have a made to measure saddle and many will never see a new saddle (unless a very cheap brand) either. Get someone to show you how to check for a broken tree. If buying through the post you have to take a chance on that. I've rarely had a problem though, most people are not selling their second hand saddles because they have a broken tree or to rip someone off in any other way.
 
Batgirl said:
I used saddles direct, they are very professional and you can borrow saddles to try with a fitter, I ended up buying a new version of the 2nd hand one I tried because my Gma took pity on me but do recommend it.

MiJods have you tried taking an inverse template of the curvature (or lack thereof) of your horses spine. Do your template (front to back along spine as well as wither profile) then put against some card and trace it out so that you can put it against a saddle and see how the curve fits in its most basic way. You can even criss cross 2x bits of car so you in effect have a VERY basic 3d model (along and across)
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Ohhh.......... righto! - thanks for this; am gonna try it.

Another poster has mentioned Albion; this is the brand my trusty "back lady" has recommended too.......
 
I think you have to have some idea of what you are looking for before you go shopping depending on what tree shape suits your horse as you want one that will be better than current saddle if you are going to spend money.
 
Saddles for Sale and Wanted group on Facebook is very active so worth a try

I bought a new synthetic a while back as it was the only saddle in the fitter's van that fitted, he explained why each other one wouldn't fit as he went through them eg this brand has a tree that is too curvy, this brand fits short backed horses but the front is too much for your pony etc etc. He didn't push me to buy any of the saddles and so perhaps its worth paying for a saddle fitter to come and look and give you advice on which brands to look for

The saddle I bought before that I bought and sold about five from Ebay, I never spent more on one than I thought I could achieve by selling it on
 
ester said:
I think you have to have some idea of what you are looking for before you go shopping depending on what tree shape suits your horse as you want one that will be better than current saddle if you are going to spend money.
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Loan home has a lovely lady who also helped fit their other horses saddle.Will be stealing her for advice on horses changing shape and possible recommendations :) will take a look at saddles direct too!
 
I think most good fitters who have fitted all makes will have an idea of what will suit and can suggest what to keep an eye out for. :)
 
I have done it once and I am so pleased I did as it worked out well, however, I have heard some spectacular horror stories!!

I bought a saddle that was worth about £1000 for £600 on eBay. (It was valued at that by my saddler when he came out to check it over and check the fit. It was a prestige saddle).

I did um and ah about it, but as I was paying via PayPal I thought I was covered it all went wrong, and I insisted on having postal insurance.

I think you have to be careful and limit how much you spend. Useful if you can go and see it before too.
 
I also think it's a good idea to be selective about the type of saddle- ie one that can be adjusted slightly or one that will sell on easily if it can't be adjusted to fit!
 
misskk88 said:
I have read a few people praising Albion saddles. What are the GP ones like?
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Mine was a a GP - K2 Legend. Big knee blocks and so comfortable.

BUT it was the saddle recommended for my horse by my saddler because the make was such a good fit for him (essentially a TB). I couldn't afford a brand new one from him, and he didn't have any second hand ones at that time.

I found one on ebay, it was the right size, and my lovely saddler was very happy to come out to check the fit etc.
 
Thanks everyone, going to get together some measurements and recommendations and start browsing. Her saddle is okish at the moment, but a few more weeks of the work she is doing and it will need changing, so will be peeking at your suggestions too!
 
I'd always rather buy via a saddle fitter as I don't think I understand enough abut saddle fitting to be totally sure I have one that fits. Of course so many saddle fitters in the area are all desperate to sell you a new saddle for £1k rather than a second hand saddle. Luckily we've found a lovely saddle fitter who is happy to fit second hand and synthetic saddles. She could easily have sold me a new leather saddle when she came out to us last month but instead advised a second hand, good quality synthetic for £250.
 
I've bought several second hand saddles but always from my saddler, I pay a bit more but I'm confident they fit and they are always in very good condition. I've recently sold 2 saddles via ebay, a Fieldhouse pro event that was in excellent condition sold for £120 then the buyer didn't pay for it!! Fortunately a friend wanted it. I also sold an albion dressage saddle for nearly £200, it was again in very good condition and the purchaser is thrilled with it Both saddles were real bargains but I had no further use for them. I've also sold a Jaguar saddle via Saddles Direct, I found them really professional to deal with and I got a good price for it. My saddler isn't keen on checking saddles he hasn't supplied either new or secondhand and I really value him (also he's always really busy) that's why i personally don't buy secondhand from other sources.
 
Bought and sold a few 2nd hand saddles, via ebay, preloved and facebook with good success. I always chat to my saddler about them before I buy them as he knows my horses shape and saddles very well, I also get a rough valuation off him so I don't pay over the odds or if taking a risk I know I can sell it on. If local I always try and ask if I can try it on the horse first. Have never paid more then £200 and have had albions, lovatt and rickets dr saddles and GFS, the girls at the yard are always impressed with my bargains :D I always then get it checked and fitted by my saddler
 
I have Bought from eBay, only one bad experience when seller did not send saddle because she did not like the price, paid with PayPal so no issues with getting the money back. I have usually bought on the advice of a saddler or from a saddler. My last big purchase from a saddler caused huge issues for my horses back so sometimes not even that is safe. A few months ago I bought a Heather Moffatt treeless saddle.......:D......now that was my best purchase. I would prefer to have a fantastic saddler who worked with me to fit my saddles not try and sell me new ones but they are like fairy dust.....rare or nonexistent.
 
I put a wanted ad on our riding club facebook page & was inundated with saddles I could try for our new boy. Spent all of yesterday collecting them ready for saddle fitter this morning only fir the best fit to be my old cobs saddle.
 
I think it is fine to buy them second hand as long as you know exactly what youneed! A poor fitting saddle can do lots of damage and unless you're a qualified saddle fitter you really cannot tell if the saddle will be perfect for your horse or not as it's a complex thing.
If I were you I'd have a good saddler come and see your horse and take measurements etc. They should be able to tell you the exact size and make you will need so you can look for it. When you get a saddle also get the saddler back out to make sure it fits well.
 
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