Market for Barrie swain saddles

Frumpoon

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As above really?

Just wondering if there is a market for second hand saddles or if it's too niche?

Also the price seems to vary wildly, any thoughts?
 

sbloom

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There's a market for every saddle, the price needs to be right though of course, that's the key. Completed bids on ebay is the only sure fire way to see what they're selling for, saddle fitters can value them but until someone puts their money down it makes no odds.
 

pansymouse

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It's a specialist market but yes they are desirable. I'm just about to buy one second-hand but will get it via Kay Humphries who will buy in a suitable one and get Barrie to adjust it to her fitting.
 

AdorableAlice

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I have been trying to sell a dressage saddle for years with no genuine interest. It is specific in that it is a half panel and buffalo hide. It was made for a heavyweight hunter with massive shoulders. I hadn't finished paying for the saddle before he died and the saddle has been sat in the tack room ever since.

There must be other big moving horses that need a saddle that does not block their shoulders but as yet it is not sold.
 

Bosworth

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trouble is they are not heavily advertised, have no budget or PR for advertising, but hell they are in my opinion and experience a superb saddle. Far far far superior to a lot of the expensive rubbish that is popular. However as a result the resale market is small and really limited to those people who have experienced the results from these saddles. Ive had BarrieSwain saddles for over 25 years, my first was fitted by Kay to a horse that had serious damage done by a well known make fitted by a well known saddler. That horse changed his way of going the very first time the Barrie saddle was put on his back. And 25 years later i still have that saddle and it still looks new despite being ridden in daily for 20 of those 25 years. Every horse I have had since has had a Barry half panel saddle, some new some second hand off ebay and refitted to my horse, and I have never had a horse with a bad back, or a rub from the saddle. And they all look good years on. I know Kay did source and sell second hand Barrie saddles so it would definitely be worth talking to her.
 

eggs

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Love my Barrie Swain semiflex dressage saddle on my humongous shouldered horse. When I've got the money I will be on the hunt for another one as two of my horses share it.
 

AdorableAlice

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trouble is they are not heavily advertised, have no budget or PR for advertising, but hell they are in my opinion and experience a superb saddle. Far far far superior to a lot of the expensive rubbish that is popular. However as a result the resale market is small and really limited to those people who have experienced the results from these saddles. Ive had BarrieSwain saddles for over 25 years, my first was fitted by Kay to a horse that had serious damage done by a well known make fitted by a well known saddler. That horse changed his way of going the very first time the Barrie saddle was put on his back. And 25 years later i still have that saddle and it still looks new despite being ridden in daily for 20 of those 25 years. Every horse I have had since has had a Barry half panel saddle, some new some second hand off ebay and refitted to my horse, and I have never had a horse with a bad back, or a rub from the saddle. And they all look good years on. I know Kay did source and sell second hand Barrie saddles so it would definitely be worth talking to her.


Very true. The difference my saddle made to my enormous horse was amazing, 6's to 8 and 9's for medium trot. This is the saddle made for my horse, half panel in buffalo hide. I was still paying the credit card off when the horse died just 6 months after the saddle was made for him. The saddle is 12 years old now and not been used since 2004. I tried it on Ted The Twit but it did not fit, he is half Shire and a totally different shape to the RID it was made for. So disappointing.

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katherine1975

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I bought a Barrie Swain saddle on eBay for £250. It is an amazing saddle with a memory foam seat, it fits my cob perfectly and she moves really well in it. My instructor commented on the change it has made. I would definitely buy another one.
 

Bosworth

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adorable alice, why dont you get hold of Barry and get the saddle adjusted to Ted the Twit? ive had several altered, and had trees replaced when a horse went over and snapped one. And ive bought second hand Barry Swain Saddles with french panels and had them altered to half panels. Im an absolute fan of the french panels, had them on a ID, a warmblood x tb and currently on my TB. the half panels really free up the shoulder and allow full movement.
 

AdorableAlice

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adorable alice, why dont you get hold of Barry and get the saddle adjusted to Ted the Twit? ive had several altered, and had trees replaced when a horse went over and snapped one. And ive bought second hand Barry Swain Saddles with french panels and had them altered to half panels. Im an absolute fan of the french panels, had them on a ID, a warmblood x tb and currently on my TB. the half panels really free up the shoulder and allow full movement.

I tried, he never returned my messages. Maybe I should try again.
 
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