Saddle with broken tree - is it worth fixing?

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Scot123

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Hi. Please help!A while ago I bought a lovely wee English leather saddle second hand. Unfortunately it didn't fit my pony so I sold it on via ebay.

I've just been told by the buyer that they had a saddle fitter check it and in their words: "the break in the tree is just behind the pommel and the additional plate seems to have been the cause of this break as it sits right at the front of the pommel and seems to have been screwed in with three prominent screws on the top and then welded into place. The plate is oddly quite small and doesn't actually reach the skirt which has, we believe, probably caused the break and further distressed to the tree itself. It has also been flocked (padded out) quite extensively which has unfortunately made the gullet exceedingly narrow at the seat of the saddle. With the breaks and distress to the tree at the front of the saddle (and the plate we have discovered as potentially the cause for this damage)."

So... do you think it's worth me paying to have the saddle returned and see if I can get it fixed? Or just cut my losses and get them to bin it? It 'only' cost me about £150 in the first place.

Thanks!
 
Depends on whether or not it is a well known, fairly expensive brand. A new tree and reflock could set you back a few hundred, plus the 150 you bought it for, you have to work out if fixing it allows you to sell it and recoup all your losses because if not, you'd just be wasting your time and possibly increasing your losses. For a plate to have been welded to the front arch I'd suspect that was done as an amateur repair to a broken tree in that place, I can think of no other reason why someone would do that.
 
Hi and thanks. It was made by Kiln Saddlery which I don't think is a very big outfit? In all other respects it's really really well looked after, no scratches, soft leather, girth straps in excellent condition etc etc. But probably will never recoup the cost of £150+. However - if I DID get it reflocked & a new tree then it would probably fit my pony (main trouble was the narrow gullet and lack of good saddler to get hold of) and be a great wee saddle!
 
Sorry you have had this bad luck. If you could get it repaired with a tree which suits your pony that sounds like a good solution. I know little about saddle brands. Do the makers still exist? I am assuming you would need them to put in the new tree. You would have spent a bit more but have a good quality, well cared for saddle which fits. Compared to a brand new one it would be a bargain I think. Better to spend a little more and have something useful than throw away what you already spent. That is my way of looking at it.
 
I'd probably see if you can give them a call and discuss repair options with the saddler who's checked it? It would definitely be worth double checking before writing the saddle off.

You could also ask Kiln Saddlery what such a saddle would cost new.
 
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