Second hand v new saddle advice please

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Luckylocalian

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Hello - I need some help to buy my horse a new leather saddle! At the moment I am riding in a Thorogood which I bought new and had fitted to him abut 6 months ago. However after a couple of really nasty falls off it it when jumping I have been told that it pitches me too far forward therefore losing stability and as it doen't really have any knee rolls I would kill myself cross country in it! I would therefore like to buy a leather jumping saddle but need some advice as to brands and cuts and prices.

My horse is a 5 year old warmblood - is it worth getting one made to fit or is he going to grow out of it too soon? Also where can I get reasonably priced saddles -I know people buy off ebay but how do they then get them fitted and how do you know what to buy? Sorry if these seem like daft questions but any help gratefully appreciated!

Finally can anyone recommend any saddlers in the Epping/Essex/East London area?

Thanks!
 
A lot of jumping saddles are close contact now so don't have much of a knee roll, the albions- k2 jump and legend xc have large knee rolls if that is what you want. If you want a second hand saddle from martin wilkinson always ask a price range lower than your maximum as both times they showed me and I have ended buying saddles £100 more expensive than i asked for! For second hand saddles I normally go get some saddles, take them home and try- if I like one and think it has a chance of fitting I then get the saddler out to check and adjust, saves paying for saddler if they have nothing that fits at all or you don't like. Wouldn't buy off ebay as the chances of getting something that fits are so slim!
 
Thanks for advice. Have not bought a new leather saddle for £10 years and it is a bit scary as so much money and seems like it's just an endless pit at the moment! I don't even know where to start to be honest and don't have the £1000 that I have just been told I am going to have to pay to get a jumping saddle!

How do the close contact saddles help with stability when jumping? Are they better than ones with knee rolls? Can you recommend a good jumping/xc saddle?
 
I love my Albion K2 Jumping saddle. It has big knee rolls and a tigh roll making me secure in the saddle. It is very comfy too.

If you want to try a few contact sara and saddlesdirect she is great. You can try a few saddles that she posts to you for about £20 then send them all back if no good or keep/ trial the one you want. It is a great way and I have bought a dressage saddle from her recently.
 
Do what I did - I bought my second hand saddle on eBay then had it fitted/adjusted by a saddler. The whole cost was about £110 - vastly cheaper than a made to measure one!!! I rang round local saddlers in the yellow pages until I found one that was available and would fit/adjust a saddle rather than try to sell me a new one - as I took the horse there rather than have them come out there was no call out so it was even cheaper
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