Side Saddle in Attic?

[mellie_rc]

I was wondering if anyone could think of a good place to start looking for an old side saddle. I am ideally looking for a "project" one, so one that has been stuffed away at the top of an attic or hidden in a tack-room would do the trick.
Just like veteran horses they go on for ages if loved and used, but shrivell up if neglected so am looking for something that needs some TLC!
Any thoughts . . . .?

 

[Peacelily]

some saddlers might have second hand ones? or at a tack and saddlery auction? ebay?

 

[Dubsie]

Try Freecycle, it's the sort of odd thing people might think isn't even worth posting on Freecycle.
Come to think of it the previous occupants of our house left some sort of harness up in the loft (along with loads of other non horsey junk, still there behind ours). The harness is definitely pony sized .

 

[Sugarplum Furry]

http://users.tinyworld.co.uk/sidesaddlelady/For%20Sale%20and%20Wanted%20List.html

This might be of interest to you. or how about contacting some of the more rural auctioneers, the type that hold auctions of farm and household goods? They might be able to help.

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

Haha, no offence- but good luck!

With the rising prices of side saddles, people tend to keep them and get them restored to use themselves or sell on.

Also too, with neglected ones, you have to becareful that the tree hasn't become brittle. Not nessessarily been dropped, but with temperature extremes in lofts or basements, the glue which was made from natural sources (i.e. animal bones) can deteriorate over the years causing it to become brittle.
Laura Dempsey wrote an article about antique side saddles coming to the end of their lifespans and the problem with the old glues used, in a SSA newsletter a few months back.

Restoring ones is costly too, my saddle is coming back from the side saddlers next weekend from having a Whykham pad put on to replace my old panels and it's going to cost me £££'s and my saddle wasn't even in that bad condition to begin with either!

I don't want to put you off as I believe that side saddles should be restored but you have to know what you are doing and the costs involved as it isn't cheap.

You can sometimes find "neglected" saddles on Ebay and they only go for about £100 or so but be wary if they have broken trees.