side saddle restoration

[conniegirl]

I may have accidentally gotten a bit tipsy (self medicating for pain via Gin) and put an online bid on a side-saddle that was at a local-ish auction.
I do not ride sidesaddle but it is something I've always wanted to do.

It looks in desperate need of restoration but I didn't pay much for it at all.

Can anyone recommend someone who can tell me what I've got, how much it will cost to restore and if it is worth restoring?

I'm in Hull area if it makes any difference but I'm happy to post it to someone who is recommended.

 

[druid]

Make contact with the area secretary of the Side Saddle Association for your area and ask for a local recommendation. Expect a full rebuild to cost in and around a thousand pounds though!

Link to Side Saddlers List <- a list for SSA side saddle specialists. If there's someone local on there maybe try them?

The only one in the UK I have personal experience of is Coralie Chung in Suffolk who is excellent.

 

[asmp]

Probably no good to you as she is down south but I would recommend Clare Barnett, a master saddler who has a big interest in side saddles

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Sorry this is a bit of a daft reply, as I cannot for the life of me remember her name but if you check the list mentioned above and find a saddler in W.Yorks with a Dutch surname, I can thoroughly recommend her! She travels all over the world renovating side saddles.

I will try to remember her name and let you know, i think it might be on an old phone.

 

[Topgreyhound]

www.sidesaddlefitting.co.uk

 

[Pearlsasinger]

www.sidesaddlefitting.co.uk

Yes that's her!

 

[conniegirl]

www.sidesaddlefitting.co.uk

Thanks, will contact her. If it is total rubbish then at £20 it&#8217;s no great loss!

 

[druid]

Thanks, will contact her. If it is total rubbish then at £20 it&#8217;s no great loss!

You'll recoup that and assessment cost by bunging it on ebay with a frank advert of it's condition!

 

[conniegirl]

You'll recoup that and assessment cost by bunging it on ebay with a frank advert of it's condition!

It was in a general house clearance sale from a none horsey auctioneer, I&#8217;d spotted it earlier in the week in thier catalogue but decided not to! Obviously whilst drunk I thought differently

 

[druid]

It was in a general house clearance sale from a none horsey auctioneer, I&#8217;d spotted it earlier in the week in thier catalogue but decided not to! Obviously whilst drunk I thought differently

If it's a good make (Mayhew, Owens, Champion and Wilton etc) you're on to a winner

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

Be prepared to spend hundreds if not £1000+ on restoration too. Ask me how I know... I've never had a "cheap" side saddle (and I've had a fair few side saddles!!). Each one has had it's own unique thing that I've had to get repaired. My two offside side saddles both have busted trees so those are currently sat at my saddlers getting plated up. I'm dreading how much that is going to cost....

 

[conniegirl]

Well it has arrived and it is a champion and Wilton, however I think the slugs have been at the leather.
I&#8217;m prepared to pay hundreds but if quotes start going over the £1000 mark I think it will be going on eBay with a description of condition etc

 

[cremedemonthe]

I would charge in excess of a £1000 for that sort of work as there's A LOT to do!
Some are well and truly past it.
Oz

 

[conniegirl]

I would charge in excess of a £1000 for that sort of work as there's A LOT to do!
Some are well and truly past it.
Oz

I don&#8217;t doubt that if the quote was over £1k that the cost would reflect the time, materials and skill of the saddle, I just do not have over £1k lieing around so it would have to be moved on for someone else to have restored.

 

[Chuffy99]

Karen Lewis in Essex does a lot of side saddle restoration, pm if you need her number

 

[druid]

Well it has arrived and it is a champion and Wilton, however I think the slugs have been at the leather.
I&#8217;m prepared to pay hundreds but if quotes start going over the £1000 mark I think it will be going on eBay with a description of condition etc

Please share some pictures!

 

[druid]

Be prepared to spend hundreds if not £1000+ on restoration too. Ask me how I know... I've never had a "cheap" side saddle (and I've had a fair few side saddles!!). Each one has had it's own unique thing that I've had to get repaired. My two offside side saddles both have busted trees so those are currently sat at my saddlers getting plated up. I'm dreading how much that is going to cost....

I'm on the hunt for an offside saddle currently - hen's teeth spring to mind