Saddle hire - a possibility??

[spacefaer]

I'm currently looking for a jumping saddle for my chunky coloured chap - hes had a bit of a summer break and the cob in him has meant that my usual saddles are WAAAY too narrow, including the one that he was wearing before his break!

He will however slim down with some work, and by the autumn will be looking for a m/w saddle.

I'm not feeling the love for buying a wide wide wide saddle for him which won't fit him in 3 months time.

So my question is..... Is it possible to hire saddles for an interim period?

 

[Red-1]

When I have that issue, I buy a secondhand well known brand. When it comes to selling I send it back to the Saddle Bank or Sheepham Saddles or similar.


You lose a bit each time for the commission, but not more than I hire fee would be, I don't suppose.

 

[Auslander]

Yes - one of my liveries has a company which does that. www.saddlerentals.co.uk
My last two saddles have been rented from her. I told her what I wanted, she sourced them bought them and rented them to me.

 

[spacefaer]

@Auslander thank you. I will have a look.

Not sure my OH would take well to me buying multiple saddles and selling them at a loss ??

 

[Red-1]

@Auslander thank you. I will have a look.

Not sure my OH would take well to me buying multiple saddles and selling them at a loss ??

I guess it depends on how long you hire them for. One saddle I had for 6 months and sold for £150 less. One for a bit longer and sold for around 350 less. That is actually cheaper than the hire ones.

 

[spacefaer]

@Red-1
But less capital outlay!

 

[saddlesore]

Solution saddles are awesome and you can hire them but they’re not cheap.

 

[Wheels]

I agree that it would be best to buy something 2nd hand of good quality that you won't lose much on

or if you're really set on renting then you could try these people - I don't have personal experience but came across them the other day

https://saddlerentals.co.uk/

 

[spacefaer]

@Wheels they look interesting but seem to have very limited stock.

It was just a thought - finding appropriate 2nd hand saddles is such a minefield with most people being unable to measure or describe their own saddles adequately.

The ubiquitous D to D measurement drives me insane!

 

[MissTyc]

@Auslander thank you. I will have a look.

Not sure my OH would take well to me buying multiple saddles and selling them at a loss ??

The last three saddles I sold for more than I bought, so it's not always a loss!

 

[spacefaer]

Solution saddles are awesome and you can hire them but they’re not cheap.

I've just had a look at them. Very much not to my taste, but thank you.

 

[conniegirl]

I just sold my show saddle for more than i bought it for so a good quality second hand leather saddle Should hold its value well

 

[spacefaer]

I just sold my show saddle for more than i bought it for so a good quality second hand leather saddle Should hold its value well

I was referring to Red-1's comment regarding losing money by selling on commission. Not something I've ever done, as I've always sold surplus saddles myself. And yes, usually for as much as I paid, if not more!

 

[Shay]

When Connie 1 was young we knew he would keep growing out of his saddles (although he did eventually grow out of one more than I planned!) I bought bespoke from Black Country and sold them on through my saddler each time as he needed a new one. Overall once he finally settled into his current sadddle I had only "lost" £200 on the practice which had gone on over almost 3 years - far less than hiring. You do need a bit of disposeable cash as you have to pay outright for the first one, but the sale of that funds the purchase of the second etc. and a willing saddler who agrees with the plan and will sell on.