How Old Is Your Saddle?

Got my ideal VSD in 1996 and used it for 6 years on my first horse. Then have used it more or less on a daily basis on my current horse. It had flair fitted shortly after I bought it, and it gets checked every year, It has been a fabulous saddle. The stitching at the back was starting to come away the other week but my saddler managed to fix it and the repair only cost £15. (Great service from Stirlingshire Saddle Fitters).
 
My Inches Xenophon (made by Andy Foster of Lauriche) was pretty old when I bought it 20 years ago. I don't know for sure, but its at least 30 years old, and quite possibly older. Still used every day, and it's one of those fabulous "fits everything" saddles. Still looks pretty good as well.
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Cheshire Chestnut said:
As the title really?

I've just bought my instructor's very well looked after Antill saddle and it's wonderful, very lovely and comfy. It's about 12 years old and just had it all checked with the saddler yesterday and it's had a full bill of health :)

So, it got me thinking... do you all have an older saddle you've kept for years and just looked after, or do you replace yours after a while?
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Both mine are ancient, as in one is from the 70's!!! That's a Zaldi dressage. The other not quite so old but at least 15-20, a Kent Leather very forward cut jump saddle with the curving rear panels. Both in not bad condition esp considering age. Love them both - wouldn't swap them!
 
I have a few 1950s pony saddles but my saddle I actually use I bought second hand, but pretty new, didn't look used! Somewhere between 3 and 10YO I guess :p Only used about once a fortnight so only about 30 times in it's life though :o looks shocking for it- too much riding in fashion jeans :o
 
I love this - thank you everyone for your answers! I'm so glad I stuck with it and looked for the 'right' 2nd hand leather saddle and didn't go with a quick fix synthetic one.

I really do love my new saddle and the pony does too, although it being around 12 years old somehow doesn't feel old now after reading some of these posts! ;)
 
khalswitz said:
Both mine are ancient, as in one is from the 70's!!! That's a Zaldi dressage. The other not quite so old but at least 15-20, a Kent Leather very forward cut jump saddle with the curving rear panels. Both in not bad condition esp considering age. Love them both - wouldn't swap them!
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OI! I was born before that and don't quite call myself 'ancient' yet! (Am not in bad condition for age either, so may be on ebay soon :p)
 
Mrs B said:
OI! I was born before that and don't quite call myself 'ancient' yet! (Am not in bad condition for age either, so may be on ebay soon :p)
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Sorry!! ;) being a nineties child myself it seems prehistoric ;)

For a saddle though I think forty odd years is not a bad age - and knowing that mine and my horse's combined age is still no where near my saddle's age is not bad!!
 
I have a very old jefferies saddle and a newer one (but much prefer the old one) has had a full service and is in very good condition, it fits my horse well and is very nice to ride in.

I wonder if anyone can tell me it's age roughly if I post a photo ?

I bought it second hand without any info at all.
 
For the first time ever, I actually have nice new saddles. I've always tended to have older second hand ones but treated myself this year. My jumping saddle is an Ideal AST which is probably 18 months - 2 years old now, bought that when it was 12 months old. My DR saddle was brand new this year, bought it directly from Barrie Swain and had it fitted by them. I loved being able to ask for the flaps to be short (I have short legs) and the girth straps to be under the flap instead of long straps, which I don't like :)
 
sidesaddlegirl said:
Heehee, I've got a side saddle that is from the 1860's and still ridable (it's at the saddlers currently getting new girth straps), my showing side saddle is from 1898 and my hunting side saddle is from 1900- 1908. :D These saddles are every day working saddles too as I don't ride astride anymore.
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Wow that is wonderful - just goes to show that quality pays. I have never regretted buying good saddles, but have sold on a few as "horse fit" has required me to replace them. My once in a life-time dressage saddle is an Albion SLK which bought four years ago. It cost more than my car, but I love it. My other two saddles, an Albion K2 and a Fenmore Citori are both second hand, but will last forever with the right care.
 
Many years ago when i bought my first pony, i had a 2nd hand saddle for him that i bought from a friend, I paid to have it reflocked for him and also re-webbed, as when the saddler took it apart the insides had disintegrated, she said and im not sure if she was pulling my leg that the saddle was getting on for 100 years old, it was beautifully worn and incredibly comfortable, then some rotton barstud broke into the tack room and stole it :(
 
I don't know how old my saddle is, I bought it second hand about a year ago and had a lovely note from the seller saying what a wonderful saddle is was and how well it had served them, from the sound of that they'd had it a fair while!
It's an Albion 5000 jump saddle, with suede knee rolls. I'm sure it's no where near as old as some of the saddles on here but would be nice to know.
 
Joyous70 said:
Many years ago when i bought my first pony, i had a 2nd hand saddle for him that i bought from a friend, I paid to have it reflocked for him and also re-webbed, as when the saddler took it apart the insides had disintegrated, she said and im not sure if she was pulling my leg that the saddle was getting on for 100 years old, it was beautifully worn and incredibly comfortable, then some rotton barstud broke into the tack room and stole it :(
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That's awful, sorry to hear this :( there's some rotton souls about. x
 
Loved this thread so I'm bringing it back up!

A childhood friend of mine is selling her mum's saddle and it's stamped with 1926 - want to shout at her not to sell it!! It's such good condition, so well looked after and still very rideable! :)
 
Jump saddle (Albion) is about five years old, dressage saddle is a Spalding (veeeery comfy) and must be at least 10 years old, and GP is five years old. All in good nick, all well looked after, all still going strong.

P
 
Which one???? I have several, my newest is just over twelve months odl but been used for just one hour as my filly broke beyond repair. The others are a couple of years old, plus the one I have on loan which is many many years old. None are in use now.
 
When O H set up on his own in 1974, he bought 4 saddles- we still have 2 of them - a Podhjiski dressage and a barnsby GP. The latter has been used on dozens of horses when they ve come to be backed. The last brand new saddle I bought was in 1982, bought as a pressie for O H -a Jeffries event saddle, which we still have and use. My favourite saddle is an 80 s Antill. I really dislike modern saddles , I think only the ones around £2000 are made to last the way saddles were made up until the 1980s. I blame the synthetics for making the saddle makers cut corners to keep the price down!
The original Antills are lovely saddles and can be bought off ebay. Avoid the modern ones - they are not made in UK and are rubbish! I had an early 1900s side saddle, recently sold- its amazing how they have kept their value .
 
I have been selling all my older saddles over the last year I think I had twenty five saddles and it was getting silly .
They all sold well many for the same amount they cost me .
They where all good saddles and well cared for .
I have one left , the saddler is coming today to sort out the new horse and I am sending my last spare to be sold .
I am left only with saddles for the horses I have .
Including some summer and winter saddles for the hunters.
I am getting old and preparing for the inevitable day that I give it all up.
 
My stubben jump saddle is 17year old and it wasn't new when I bought it as a teenager for £60 best bargain ever lol, if you buy quality and look after them they'll last well
 
I still have my Sandon Saddlery Falcon that was bought with my 14.2 pony 40 yrs ago. Oh god that makes me feel old ( well I guess I am!) lol used on and off over the years and I am hoping will fit the 14hh Few Spot Appie when we back her later this year!
 
Does anyone mind if i revive this very old thread?

I am cleaning my all time favourite saddle today (which doesn't even fit a horse I own at the moment!)
It's a Barnsby GP. I bought it with a hunter, in 1986 but i have no idea how old it was then.
I'm told old Barnsbies put you into a "chair seat" & are therefore bad but I refuse to dislike it. After 50 years of riding it is still the most comfortable saddle I've ever sat in!

Anyone else hoarding tack they no longer have a horse/use for?
 
my bridle and saddle came with my horse previous owner bought the saddle and bridle when my horse was just broken to ride. it’s in perfect condition 11 years old (2012) I also have the bridle that perfect condition I only had to change the rains. My horse is 14 years old it will do another horse because it’s in perfect condition I always said I would sell it when my horse is retired.
 
Cheshire Chestnut said:
As the title really?

I've just bought my instructor's very well looked after Antill saddle and it's wonderful, very lovely and comfy. It's about 12 years old and just had it all checked with the saddler yesterday and it's had a full bill of health :)

So, it got me thinking... do you all have an older saddle you've kept for years and just looked after, or do you replace yours after a while?
Click to expand...
My Jefferies Falcon Event Saddle that I used to compete elementary dressage in was bought in around 2012 by my beloved late Father. It's at home now but I am totally praying it fits another horse as it was Baileys for 11 years and never fitted Lari and I love it.

Then I bought an £800 Ideal ex demo saddle for Lari and I also have an Isabel dressage saddle that's been used a handful of times.
 
Goldie's mum said:
Does anyone mind if i revive this very old thread?

I am cleaning my all time favourite saddle today (which doesn't even fit a horse I own at the moment!)
It's a Barnsby GP. I bought it with a hunter, in 1986 but i have no idea how old it was then.
I'm told old Barnsbies put you into a "chair seat" & are therefore bad but I refuse to dislike it. After 50 years of riding it is still the most comfortable saddle I've ever sat in!

Anyone else hoarding tack they no longer have a horse/use for?
Click to expand...
Me. I still have my pony saddle although don't like it as it tips me back. It was a budget saddle made by A E Lewins and I think sold new at about £18 in the 60's. I bought mine second-hand in the local saddlers in 1970 for £12. Since then it has been substantially altered, repanelled and relined as originally it was a serge lining. My other saddle is a GP bought by a friend of mine in one of the tack sales that used to be held in conjunction with Melton Mowbray horse sales. That would have been late 80's/early 90's. I bought it off her about 1995. I really like this one and it has been brilliant as it has been used on several different horses successfully. Neither are what people want now so will stay with me despite not having a riding horse any more. I still have my bridles as well dating back to 70s/80's. All in good condition but not in use.
 
Goldie's mum said:
Anyone else hoarding tack they no longer have a horse/use for?
Click to expand...

I have an Albion Legend dressage that no longer fits my horse - need to sell it really, it's just taking up space.

My Keith Bryan saddle is incredibly comfy, but quite old. He was retired when I bought it umpteenth-hand 4 years ago, but the leather is butter soft and it is phenomenal to ride in.
 
I have an Albion dressage saddle which must be thirty-plus years old. Very heavy, and haven't used it for years.
I gave my WoW dressage saddle to a friend who had a new horse but no saddle. She later sold it without telling me and keeping the £££ she got for it, which I thought rather poor form. Oh well.
I've had Ideal Jessica saddles in the past, that went with the horses that they were bought for.
The saddle that I use now is my beloved Christ Lammfelle sheepskin pad. Had it for years and adore it. It has a comforting Jesus strap on the pommel, which I always have my little finger under, given Old Horse's love of paragliding at speed across the school when faced with a rampant leaf on the surface.
It'll see us both out.
 
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