GFS XCH saddles, market?

[ElleSkywalker]

I have two GFS XCH S2 cob saddles, I got them both new and have hardly has any use. I'm looking to sell them to get a treeless each instead but seems they are only worth about £300!

Am I missing a trick is there somewhere I should be advertising them? A special FB group or are they really that bad that arent worth anything 2nd hand ?

 

[Michen]

They have been replaced with a newer model so yep afraid that’s about right. I sold a GFS Monarch (more popular I think) GP for £400 last week.

 

[ElleSkywalker]

They have been replaced with a newer model so yep afraid that’s about right. I sold a GFS Monarch (more popular I think) GP for £400 last week.

? that's heartbreaking!

 

[I'm Dun]

I got £330 for my highland and cob 17.5" saddle a few years ago. It was almost brand new but did have a scratch in the flap.

 

[IrishMilo]

I’m looking for one of these! What size are they?

 

[ElleSkywalker]

I’m looking for one of these! What size are they?

17" brown one darker than the other

 

[ElleSkywalker]

I got £330 for my highland and cob 17.5" saddle a few years ago. It was almost brand new but did have a scratch in the flap.

I've just sold a 16.5" H&C for £450 because I flatly refused to let it go for less, took well over a year to sell and is now in Germany I believe ? So sad when quality saddles like Ideal are going for peanuts

 

[sbloom]

Used prices should be pretty high right now as there are supply issues for new saddles across the board (varies between companies slightly of course).

I run this group, good place to list specialist cob type saddles - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1641386762817197

 

[ElleSkywalker]

Thanks Sbloom. Have no idea how to price them TBH, I'd have liked them to be at least 800 each as had from new and had very little wear but that seems to be far to high! Very sad

 

[sbloom]

I've just looked up the price of them, I'm shocked to be honest. I think that's the issue, that GFS is not seen as even a mid range saddle, which is kind of where it seems to be priced but instead would be seen as a Kent & Masters type price but not quite as well known so people wouldn't know it if might fit in the same way they might with the K&M.

 

[ElleSkywalker]

I've just looked up the price of them, I'm shocked to be honest. I think that's the issue, that GFS is not seen as even a mid range saddle, which is kind of where it seems to be priced but instead would be seen as a Kent & Masters type price but not quite as well known so people wouldn't know it if might fit in the same way they might with the K&M.

Heart breaking isn't it. They aren't badly made and the leather is good, certainly better than my solutions saddle leather (which is shocking!) AFAIK they are english made ones. But now guessing worth about £400 each on a good day they were £1650 each new 3 years ago were used and kept immaculate for about 6 months each.

 

[sbloom]

But three years ago that's what you could get a top quality simply styled (ie a similar looking saddle) English bench-made saddle for, whereas GFS are Argentine and not bench made in the same way. That's then the other issue, that they don't try to wiggle around the rules to brand themselves as British/English like some others!

 

[Asha]

I had a GFS event , fab condition as it wasnt used much but had been sat in my tack room for years. Id advertise every now and then and nothing. So advertised again at £250, sold it last month. Buyer delighted with it, and im happy to finally have it gone. Attempting to sell daughters Albion dressage saddle, seems we are in the same boat this one as everyone seems to want adjustable.

 

[ElleSkywalker]

Asha they are adjustable

 

[onemoretime]

Used prices should be pretty high right now as there are supply issues for new saddles across the board (varies between companies slightly of course).

I run this group, good place to list specialist cob type saddles - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1641386762817197

Hi SBloom. would I be able to advertise my Kent & Masts 17inch dressage saddle on your site please. It has been up for sale for a little while on Face Book. Im asking £575 but would accept a sensible offer, its in very good condition. I wanted to ask you first rather than just put it on your site. Thanks.

 

[sbloom]

Hi SBloom. would I be able to advertise my Kent & Masts 17inch dressage saddle on your site please. It has been up for sale for a little while on Face Book. Im asking £575 but would accept a sensible offer, its in very good condition. I wanted to ask you first rather than just put it on your site. Thanks.

If it's the cob yes, we have very clear rules which you can find on the page

 

[sbloom]

AFAIK they are english made ones.

Sorry, I missed this. To my knowledge it's a long time since they've been made in the UK but I stand to be corrected.

 

[ElleSkywalker]

Sorry, I missed this. To my knowledge it's a long time since they've been made in the UK but I stand to be corrected.

Me too, I thought they were uk made but could well be wrong. Either way they are nice enough saddles, better I'd say than the K&M as you aren't perched so highon them and they dont tip me forward and leather quality is better, but as you say aren't well known so people aren't going to be paying decent money for them

 

[sbloom]

Me too, I thought they were uk made but could well be wrong. Either way they are nice enough saddles, better I'd say than the K&M as you aren't perched so highon them and they dont tip me forward and leather quality is better, but as you say aren't well known so people aren't going to be paying decent money for them

It was that in the mind the branding is on a par with K&M, although Monarch is actually the brand that GFS have that competes directly against K&M. I can see from what I found online that the GFS are nicer in all ways, and probably the pricing is now about right (£1650-1700 now was what I found), three years ago that was maybe above what the market would bear. However if it fits your horse and it's what the fitter has it's hard to quibble on price!

UK made saddles always shout about it (as I say, even when they're seriously wiggling around the rules) so if you can't find info on where they're made then you have to presume they're made abroad.

 

[FlyingCircus]

Its a shame but seems to be the way with most second hand saddles mid-range...a bit like how new cars lose value as you drive them off forecourt

 

[Baywonder]

UK made saddles always shout about it (as I say, even when they're seriously wiggling around the rules) so if you can't find info on where they're made then you have to presume they're made abroad.

This a million times over! I always say read what saddle makers are not telling you when they advertise. Saddles truly made in the UK will tell you precisely that in their advertising.

 

[sbloom]

This a million times over! I always say read what saddle makers are not telling you when they advertise. Saddles truly made in the UK will tell you precisely that in their advertising.

Lots will tell you they're made in the UK when 90% of the saddle isn't!

 

[sbloom]

Its a shame but seems to be the way with most second hand saddles mid-range...a bit like how new cars lose value as you drive them off forecourt

They do because they want the assurity of having it fitted and a new warranty, so if they can spend a bit more and get new they'll do that, understandably, so a used saddle has to be a good chunk cheaper. There's one of ours for sale at the moment with about 10% off the new price and it'll never sell.

 

[onemoretime]

If it's the cob yes, we have very clear rules which you can find on the page

Ah ok thanks, I dont think its the Cob, but it has an xw gullet in it. The stamp just has DR 17" on it. No problem its on FB so hopefully it will go eventually.

 

[sbloom]

Ah ok thanks, I dont think its the Cob, but it has an xw gullet in it. The stamp just has DR 17" on it. No problem its on FB so hopefully it will go eventually.

XW headplate (I have a pet hate of "gullet" as it can mean headplate or channel) doesn't mean the tree or panel is cob or native specialist/typical/suitable, hence we have a rule that says "just because it fitted one cob..."

 

[MintyK]

Long shot I know but do you have these saddles still? I'm searching for a secondhand one as it's the only thing that'll fit my new horse, can't find one anywhere!

 

[ElleSkywalker]

Long shot I know but do you have these saddles still? I'm searching for a secondhand one as it's the only thing that'll fit my new horse, can't find one anywhere!

So sorry I sold both in the end, however Milners saddlery at John O'Gaunt near Melton had one the same I think they put it on eBay a few times. Might be worth you contacting them?

 

[Cowpony]

Long shot I know but do you have these saddles still? I'm searching for a secondhand one as it's the only thing that'll fit my new horse, can't find one anywhere!

If you're in the South contact Matt Crippen. He sold me a GFS dressage saddle which fitted the horse beautifully but I just couldn't get on with it as I'm very short. He swapped it for a second hand Ryder which I absolutely love, but he may still have the GFS. I think he has a few in stock.

He's a good fitter too, and won't sell you one if its not needed.

 

[MintyK]

Brilliant, thanks very much. I'm not far from Melton so I'll give Milners a ring and if not, try Matt Crippen