Desperate saddle search!

S

shadowboy

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2006
Messages
4,754
Visit site
I only have £700 which is proving to be a massive problem ( I thought it was a decent amount) I've tried ebay and preloved with no luck. Are there any other saddle sale websites that have a decent selection where people sell?
 
A saddler fitted a Kent and Masters saddle to my mare before she came to me and I am really pleased with it for several reasons
1) It is within the budget you mention.
2) It has a changeable gullet for future shape adjustment
3) it is really comfy
4) It is lighter than my Stuben and much easier for me and my horse on a day to day basis.

Aly
 
Wide 16 or 16.5 inch. Flat seat. So something like the ideal vsd, native pony saddle; saddle company cob saddle etc. I want to do WH but also dressage so a little knee roll would be nice. Not fussed on colour etc. I've been without a fitting saddle for 12 months but due to impending wedding can't save any more money!!!!
 
I've just bought a brand new Patrick Wilkinson working hunter saddle which cost just under £700 including fitting.
 
Try the perfect saddle fitting kit and you can take measurements of your horses back and measure them against any saddles in amy shop. Some may need restuffing to be balanced.
 
Whereabouts are you? Near me we have the most amazingly old school saddlery that has millions (ok minor exaggeration) second hand saddles, just has to wipe off the cobwebs :D
 
Thanks folks its given me loads of ideas! Got ANOTHER fitter out on sat so will see what they say. I've spent enough on call outs to buy a decent secind hand saddle- obviously my boy is 'unfittable' at the moment!!!
 
Where are you shadowboy? I know a great place near Shrewsbury that has a*shipping*container full of good quality saddles, none of which cost more then £450.
 
We had an Ideal VSD xxw for my daughters percheron x cob, that was just over £800 new and fitted her a treat so you should be able to get something 2nd hand in your budget, daughter then got a wintec vsd for everyday riding, which, whilst not as smart as the ideal was still a good fit all round and under £500.

I have also just got an Ideal VSD for my new little cob, however he is soooo flat and wide the fitter recommeded a hoop tree, which don't come in 16 inh (He is short backed too) so had to have it made to measure at £1200:( Lovely saddle though.
 
Where are you? Perhaps someone can mention somewhere. We have somewhere similar to above that has loads of really well priced second hand saddles for sale.

Personally, I wouldnt use Bridlepath.
 
You should be able to find one online; it depends if you want to buy privately or trial it with the option to send it back. I've bought 2 Ideals second hand; one for £275 (was older) and one for £450 (not so old!). Our local saddler had a second hand Ideal WH in for £500 before xmas - it was a proper bargain as it looked immaculate (just didn't fit my horse!).

Also; try the for sale section on the Horse Gossip forum - plenty of showing / WH saddles for sale on there.

Edited to add: echo the kent and masters; look at the pony long leg saddle for adults on cobs / natives. I think RRP is about £650 brand new (and they have a changeable gullet)
 
Last edited:
Starry_eyes said:
Try Saddles Direct (not sure if I'm allowed to post a link but google is your friend!) decent second hand saddles and a good selection :-)
Click to expand...

I bought a saddle from there for 550. It's a saddle company and nearly new. They also do saddle fittings if you were to take your horse up there.
 
thanks folks!

Heres the history
Saddler 1- August 2011 bought brand new Kings Saddle from Master saddler paid £800 within 3 months could tell no way it was fitting. bought rear riser to try to help- but horse not happy.
Saddler 2-May 2012 bought a Fylde Haydon saddle from a different saddler as found saddler 1 had poor reputation but as I was new to county did not know this. Saddle flapping over back and pinching over withers as found by saddler 3 (saddler 2 never returned calls to check fit)
Saddler 3- December 2012- tells me current saddle doesnt fit- which I sort of knew but then doesnt have anything available to fit him- at least she's honest! 6 weeks later and still nothing. Says current saddle will never fit so I sell it.
Saddler 4-Jan 2013 - I try further saddlers as getting desperate- gives me a GFS pony saddle to trial for a fortnight. Seemed fine at first but when having more intensive schooling sentions with instructor or our hacking always slips to right hand side. Tried an anatomical girth/limpet pad etc no luck. Saddle seems to fit in all others ways- no flapping at the back, no pinching over the wither, good clearance etc etc. Called saddler 4 but she has nothing else WITHIN my price range.

I've looked on ebay but who knows if they will fit.
Would love a Native Pony saddle but new they are out of my price range and been looking since 4th december nothing in my required size has come up. Saddler 3 recommended an ideal VSD so keeping eye open for that also!

Have rung round no-one seems to have any stock suitable within my price range. I know I can get them cheap off ebay but by the time a call a saddler to check fit £60. Added ebay selling fees/commission on the sale of re-selling the non fitting saddle im back to square one but with less cash.

Im getting married in August so genuinely have no more cash I can get hold of as the wedding is expensive! so total and absolute max including fitting/call out/adjustments etc is £700.
 
shadowboy said:
Thanks folks its given me loads of ideas! Got ANOTHER fitter out on sat so will see what they say. I've spent enough on call outs to buy a decent secind hand saddle- obviously my boy is 'unfittable' at the moment!!!
Click to expand...

More people need to know this! I'm a fitter for Native Pony and the number of people that come to us only after a long saga of losing money on unsuitable saddles, they'd have SAVED money if they'd gone for a specialist new saddle to begin with. I know it doesn't help you at all, when cash is tight. I'd never encourage borrowing money but obviously most companies will take credit cards :eek::rolleyes:
 
Funnily enough sbloom it's a nps fitter but he's got a range of brands as well so I have my fingers crossed. Part of my reluctance to use the nps saddles initially was because I wasn't a fan of them comfort (seat) wise when I saw some in a saddlers in the IOW on holiday and for the money £1000 plus I wanted a bit of luxury. But I don't care about that now- just want something that is secure on his back!
 
I don't have a credit card but decided to take out a tesco interest free one to pay for half my saddle. It's interest free for 16 months. It meant I could get the saddle I wanted without having to save up :o. As long as I pay it back on or before time, then its not going to cost me any more :)
 
I know but I can't warrant owing money in the current financial era- you just don't know if you will still have a job round the corner. For me I couldn't handle the worry plus I did it when I was at uni for my horse at the time and I can't go down that route again- ended up selling horse to pay off credit card. I have a mortgage that's enough debt on my shoulders!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top