saddles... what to do?

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noodle_

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So my horse needs a new saddle.... (quickly i have nothing..)!

Have a few options though....
1. ask a reputable saddler out round my area (used them before)... cost is almost £70 for callout only.... cheapest saddle is £470 for a synthetic...

2. buy saddle off ebay that i really want for half the price of said ^^ saddler...and have them adjust/flock it to suit my horse (heritage ones for £700 made to measure.....)

3. buy cheap leather saddle from other saddlers which cost £30 callout, howver reputation is (in fairness) hit and miss.....

Im leaning towards option 2. I have no saddle i can ride in... I have two now up for sale to fund new saddle and some to put to (upto £700max.)


Also take into consideration - current donk is only 5 and a chunky monkey (warmblood x) who i am assuming hasnt finished filling out - however is definately a wide (i have tried on numerous makes of saddles i have borrowed inc my own - shes defo a wide)

help???
 
Check out a saddler - my secondhand barnsby was £500 fitted. I had a choice of 4 different makes of saddles in the end for my friesian, who was tricky to fit after saddle fitter went through his van load.
At least you know it fits and there wont be associated probs with badly fitting saddles.
 
I was in the same predicament as you!

I've got two saddles for sale.

I had the saddler come and 'fit' all the saddles on our yard (about 15 in total :o ) My YO's Black Country GP and the Sue Carson DR fit my horse the best

So, I was trawling through eBay and managed to pick up a lovely Black Country saddle for less than half what the saddler would charge - had the saddler back out to flock and check et voile!!

(not got the Sue Carson yet... need my July bonus for that one!)
 
My yard sharer and I have just been through all this, so don't envy you. In the end you get to the point where you just don't know who to trust anymore; you get fed up with being told one thing by one person, then another thing by the next one .... and so on.

I've PM'd you with a website address - which I can heartily recommend. Good luck!
 
thanks for the replies... :)

im not being a tight arse but the saddlers are mostly rip offs :o

i have see an ideal jessica for £550 - saddlers are £700 + (not inc fitting..........)

i really want a nice dressage saddle - but obvs cant afford the most fab one - 2nd hand is fine but the saddlers round here are crap or a rip off!!! :(
 
Im in exactly the same position and looking into heritage saddlery which you've mentioned. Every saddle Ive tried does not fit so dont want to risk ebay.

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite- could you send me the link for the website too?
 
Hi there, I'm also in the same situation. I have a young Welsh Section D who is currently being backed in a treeless as she is such an awkward fit. Plus I don't want to end up spending lots on a conventional saddle at the moment as she's going to change shape :rolleyes:



MiJodsR2BlinkinTite- please could you possibly add me to your list for sending the link for the website too? Thank you x :)
 
I bought a brand new Thorowgood T4 Cob, got my saddle fitter out (£10 cos shared call out) and he advised on which gullett and changed the stirrup strap's. So happy me. I'd get a good 2nd hand Thorowgood with changeable gullets and get your fitter out. My saddle guy said they are the best 'cheap' option and should last me the life of my horse.
 
I'd get the saddler out first for a chat and disucuss which makes/models and fittings your horse is likely to require, they all differ even if they are th same size and fitting, plus not all saddles can be adjusted to fit unfortunately, sometimes it's not just a case of the flocking, it's the tree as well so it may save your time and money in the long run having a good fitter out first to see which saddles you should watch out for on ebay, last thing you want is to be buying and selling loads of saddles that are no good to you.

Have you thought about The Saddle Company saddles?, they have trained fitters and will always be able to alter the saddle for you.
 
I've just been through all this with my pony!!! He's had a total of about 12 weeks off as I had his saddle refitted and this buggered his back big time. 2 weeks off then new saddle, about a million saddles later back buggered a second time. I got in touch with a very good friend. Who just happens to be a masster saddler, based in Walsall. I measured my pony then sent him all the info and pic's, one phone call later he put my saddle into production. I rang him this morning, he's posting it today :D So I now have a made to measure hand made saddle on it's way :D :D Lucky me.

I would get saddler out then see if you can find what you want on ebay, then get that fitted :) good luck I know how bad it can feel.
 
thanks all :)

Im looking on ebay at the moment as ive found one for half the price it is at the saddlers (and its one that will fit her as i have tried my friends exact same one on)....

Will still call the saddler though - ive found a made to measure one on ebay for £750ish but its heritage and i really dont like the look of it :o
 
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