Saddle shopping - aaaagggghhhh!

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thespanishmane

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Now have another horse, and naturally need new saddle! Tried on my horses saddle to just get an idea of size, but too wide. So have been shopping for a reasonably priced vsd type or not very forward cut GP. What a minefield! I am so glad I have spent time doing some on line reasearch, as what I saw did not necessarily compare with the blurb written about it!

Why are so many new leather saddles made of leather like cardboard, with a shine on it? So slippery too! Wouldn't want to put one of those on the new boy whose habits are as yet unknown! I think it would take months to get them to soften, if ever. I have seen many made out of bits of unmatching leather too, and I have to say these were saddles in the £800 - £1200 range! I seriously expected better. I was also disappointed to find that the second hand saddles were terribly expensive too- and of the same poor quality.

I'm not going to name brands but there was some synthetic ones giving the others a run for their money too. I had set my heart on a particular brand & when I saw it, it was a huge NO!.

So, back to the drawing board. I had my own saddle made to measure four years ago, but no way can I afford that sort of thing now

Just having a whine really!
 
You're right...total minefield...love my Bates saddle - very reasonable too. If you want a slightly sticky seat we are all buying the acavallo seat savers, very nice and just the right amount of 'stick'!

Wont be as nice as custom made...which area are you? our master saddle just built a show saddle for £1200. Don't know your budget.
 
Parker79 said:
You're right...total minefield...love my Bates saddle - very reasonable too. If you want a slightly sticky seat we are all buying the acavallo seat savers, very nice and just the right amount of 'stick'!

Wont be as nice as custom made...which area are you? our master saddle just built a show saddle for £1200. Don't know your budget.
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I'd vouch for bates as well. They seem quite "cardboardy" for the first couple of days, but in my opinion the leather is lovely and supple.
I have to say the Cliff Barnsby saddle I bought used a couple of months ago is also great. It's about 3 years old, I have to say the older saddles are better. ;)
But yes... total minefield, with plenty of bombs! :rolleyes:
 
Had a Bates Isabell in the lovely nut brown some years ago, which broke in quite nicely. We also have a comfy Barnsby (that doesn't fit either)

I still like the Bates though, but is going a little over budget ( horse is on loan with view to buy)

I'd like to do some of the ROR classes as he is an ex-racer who has also evented! (and funnily enough, is a bit lazy!)
 
thespanishmane said:
Had a Bates Isabell in the lovely nut brown some years ago, which broke in quite nicely. We also have a comfy Barnsby (that doesn't fit either)

I still like the Bates though, but is going a little over budget ( horse is on loan with view to buy)

I'd like to do some of the ROR classes as he is an ex-racer who has also evented! (and funnily enough, is a bit lazy!)
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I've seen a few Barnsby's about for a half decent price recently, was browsing preloved and this seems like a great steal to me!
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/105505372/barnsby-saddle-gp.html

-wouldn't fit mine though!:rolleyes:
 
I keep seeing loads of secondhand bates saddles - which one is it that you want? I might even be selling mine as mare is retired...was hanging onto it to try on the new boy...but i dont think it will adjust enough for him!

I have the 17''GP Bates Cair with the medium gullet...one of the original ones...it does have that annoying 'shiny' saddle flap. Really lovely saddle though
 
Barnsby do a saddle hire scheme for 75/month. The money you spend on hiring it comes off the price if you decide to but it and you get free care/maintenance/reflocking whilst it breaks in.

There isn't anything about it on their website but are very helpful if you ring them.

It means you could try a few
saddles in your hire period until you find something you like? Good luck!
 
Blythwind said:
Barnsby do a saddle hire scheme for 75/month. The money you spend on hiring it comes off the price if you decide to but it and you get free care/maintenance/reflocking whilst it breaks in.

There isn't anything about it on their website but are very helpful if you ring them.

It means you could try a few
saddles in your hire period until you find something you like? Good luck!
Click to expand...

this is what ive just done, amazing service and i now have the most beautiful barnsby saddle, brand new and supple leather too!
 
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