Cost of saddles.

[Sussexbythesea]

Agree price doesn't guarantee fit.

I've had one made to measure that cost £1350 but I never really got on with it. My second-hand Kieffer GP bought for £600 fitted fits both me and my boy. He goes better in that than the made to measure and others I've tried in the past.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Had a cheapie synthetic wintec which cost about £300 new, fitted R really nicely and never caused a problem. Decided to change to a leather saddle mostly for aesthetic purposes and my comfort (the wintec wasn't the best fit for me) and got a second hand albion k2 which I think we paid about £450 for. Henry has the most expensive saddle, a Bates GP which cost £800, reduced from £1400 as it had some marks underneath the flaps (which you couldn't see anyway). He was incredibly difficult to fit a saddle to, and of the 15 I tried this was the only one which didn't slip/roll/bounce and which my legs didn't fling over the front in canter. It was quite a lot over what I wanted to spend, but the cheaper and second hand alternatives available just weren't working for us. He also has a second hand Bates Isabelle Werth, the fully leather version, which I paid the grand sum of £0 for because it was given to me by someone I dressage wrote for who wanted it out of her garage! Have always had all saddles checked regularly, and horses have always seemed happy in them. If I thought a more expensive saddle fitted better I'd go for it, but by going for second hand I've generally been able to find saddles that fit well and aren't too extortionate.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Remember, just because you pay a lot of money for a "branded quality" saddle doesn't mean it is good!
I have seen supposedly top brand saddles once stripped down to have the most awful cheap workmanship and materials imaginable.
Some of the best saddles I have seen, quality in the materials and the workmanship, have been what some people would see as cheap.

 

[Goldenstar]

The brand is not relevant it's about what suits you and the horse .
Some saddle fitters for get about the rider but to be safe your jumping saddle must fit you as well as your horse
I know exactly the jumping Saddles that suit me so I just have them sorted for all my horses of course I tend to buy the same type of horse so it's not surprising the same types of saddles suit .

 

[mynutmeg]

it depends whether you're talking new prices, second hand etc. My current saddle I paid £200 for about 6 years ago, bought appropraite pad for £100, and about a year ago I had the panels replaced at a cost of £200. This is one of the best saddles I've had and my mare goes really well in it with no problems etc (it's a treeless).
The saddle I want and plan to buy next year once I'm qualified and earning a nice amount is approx $1800 so by the time I convert to £ and pay import taxes will end up about £1400 ish I think - also treeless.

Again for treed it depends so much on getting a good fit and a good fitter. I had an absolutly lovely second hand treed saddle I paid a whole £100 for, no idea how much it would have been new. Although lovely and I found it super comfy it didn't suit my mare so I didn't keep it long. Nothing wrong with the saddle and it went to a friend who's horse it fitted really well.

 

[nikkimariet]

To be honest, price shouldn't be an issue as long as it works for both the horse and the rider. And that can be done with a budget saddle and a top of the range.

And top of the range isn't 'all that'. There is a saying 'Butet Back'...

I do have a compromised back so I am slightly limited in my choice. My long thigh bone also means some styles do not suit me, and I can't ride effectively in a saddle that doesn't support me (which is likely to put the horse out of balance and thus create an issue anyway).

Fig and Nova both have the Prestige Helen Mono, which is near the £3k mark. Worth every penny. This is the best my back has been since I was about 18yo and both of them love it

I have an incredible saddler too, who really listens to the horses. Fig likes his saddles a little further back than they should technically sit and I have no problems with them shooting forwards due to his shape either. I don't know what I'll do when he retires, I've never had a horse with a sore back!

 

[CMcC]

Don't think price has anything to do with fit/quality.
I have a WOW I paid £2,500 for because my pony is so wide and flat had to have something made for her. Just paid £850 for a Kent and Masters for newly backed Section D and have an Ideal Grandee I paid about £250 for and came as part of package when I bought my New Forest.
The Ideal is my favourite to ride in!

 

[honetpot]

I buy good quality second hand and do the fitting myself. I have seen some very poor fitting done by supposed saddle fitters.
I do back and wither templates, narrow down the fit and then try a selection. Most saddles I see that are poorly fitted are too narrow, sit too far forward, or are too long in the back. All easy to spot.

 

[tallyho!]

I don't go for "brand" - means nothing to me. A well made, well fitting saddle (for both horse & rider) costs what it costs.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Both mine were second hand and I had a budget of £500 both cost over at £600 and £650 as they were the best I found fit and quality wise without spending a fortune.
Luckily for me my mum contributed to both!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I've spent anything from £100 to £2.5K, I have tricky to fit horses and I am very short through my leg, so we give fitters a great challenge .

I have found that I've needed to spend more for the tricky horses, though mainly because I would struggle massively to find one second hand that would fit them, so new has been the only route...

My best bargain and I'm really kicking myself for selling it was a Lementex jump saddle that I bought for about £100, was brilliant to jump in and I miss it now .

 

[sbloom]

Price has no relation to fit, however if your budget is bigger you have more choice, and if you are hard to fit, have a horse that is hard to fit, or need a saddle NOW, then a limited budget makes things even tougher. Sadly price has no relation to quality either, read reviews thoroughly.

 

[Theocat]

Given how much my horses have liked to change shape, I always stick to about £5-600 as top whack, and go for second hand leather or new synthetic. I did once buy a new leather saddle from a local saddler, which was still less than £700, and I adore it.

I do like the look of some of the much more expensive ones, but I can't imagine how peed off I'd be if it stopped fitting four months later!

 

[acw295]

My mare has had 2 new saddles so far in 9 years. First one cost just over £1k with fitting, replacement (same make - slightly narrower and flatter tree) was about £1400 I think. Horse changed shape with age, work and better management of diet. Both were what is now known as AH Saddles (mine came under the previous name).
We have never had a day of saddle issues and never had a day of saddle related pain. If I could have got the same saddle for £200 or £2000 it wouldn't make any difference, I'd have paid it. Saddles that fit are vital and you should spend what it costs to achieve the best fitting saddle for the horse, whether is is a little or a lot. I could possibly have got one second hand but they are a bit like rocking horse poo and I lack patience! Instead I opted for cash donations from family for birthday/Christmas and the power of Visa.