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!
 
I'd ask for a proper written report from the saddler and photos, if they stump up with those tell them to bin it
 
Must admit I'd thought of that. But thought in the spirit of goodwill and trust (?!) I'd go with it! So if what they say is true, would you bother having it back to get fixed?
 
I have had a saddle tree replaced, on a saddle that cost me £200. The tree cost £350 but it was worth it to me as the saddle is now a beautiful fit and I couldn't get that saddle anywhere else. In your shoes though, it's not worth it.
 
What make is the saddle? If it's a good quality brand then it may be worth fixing, but if a cheap and cheerful indian one then not worth it.

The Gullet plates in the Indian saddles are so thin that they break under normal use in the end. I know that the owner of the riding school I took on had some repaired, an additional plate welded on which made them stronger but no more valuable.

From the description it sounds like the saddle was flocked up too much - most likely to try and make it narrower.
 
I'd be cautious, this happened to me and the saddler was one of those who would claim that any older saddles had broken trees so they could flog the person a new saddle

I asked for a second opinion. They dropped their complaint soon after

In your shoes if you don't trust them 100% I'd want to have the saddle back. Some people make a hobby of eBay complaining in the hope they'll get money off or better still get a full refund and the item
 
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Being cynical - it probably isn't worth fixing but you should still ask for it back. As WelshD says there are people on ebay who make complaints in the hope of getting a refund and being asked to keep the item. If you want to keep trust etc then refund them - but get the saddle back. Then either bin it yourself if it really is broken or sell it through something other than ebay if it isn't!
 
Hi. Yes - am going to ask for it back and then will get it to saddle fitter asap for a check! It's an English leather (Kiln Saddlery) saddle in otherwise great condition so I think you're right, worth checking before writing it off...
 
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