Speak to me of Zaldi saddles...

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OwnedbyJoe

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Spotted one for sale here (Australia). $450 (about 250 quid). From the limited info I can find, that sounds like a bargain if it fits me and the horse. It looks fairly old so I don't think it will be one of the fancy new adjustable ones, but their website sounds like they are all built with the wider horse in mind. I shall go and see it but we are VERY rural so the chances of taking it for a trial are slim - I shall have to go with the good old wire coathanger template method.
Anyone got one? Especially an older one? What do you think?
 
The only Zaldi I have ever come across was a Spanish type saddle that was used on a PRE. The horse was wide and short backed.

That's the extent of my Zaldi knowledge, but hopefully others who know more will be along soon.
 
OwnedbyJoe said:
Spotted one for sale here (Australia). $450 (about 250 quid). From the limited info I can find, that sounds like a bargain if it fits me and the horse. It looks fairly old so I don't think it will be one of the fancy new adjustable ones, but their website sounds like they are all built with the wider horse in mind. I shall go and see it but we are VERY rural so the chances of taking it for a trial are slim - I shall have to go with the good old wire coathanger template method.
Anyone got one? Especially an older one? What do you think?
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I have an old zaldi dressage saddle (at least 20yrs old).

Yes, they are designed for wide and low withered horses. My lad is a high withered TB, but he absolutely loves it, and with a bit of padding it actually fits him lovely and he uses his shoulders well in it.

However, the leather quality on an older model can be dodgy. Some are great, others crap, and the leather on mine is pretty hard, and under the stirrup leathers the black dye is coming out. Also, mine has a very wide twist, which I like but every other person who has sat in it hates. They are also quite heavy.

I love the fact there is next to no knee roll, and the seat is deep but not restrictive. I have done up to novice dressage in mine, and I hack in it is it's so comfy.

My saddler looked at mine for me when I got it, and she said old zaldis aren't worth much as the quality used to be so variable, plus they have very fragile trees so are prone to twisting (get this checked before buying). Mine was estimated at around £100 (I swapped my very old wintec for it so I probably lost slightly on that deal).

If you want I have pics, although not on my phone (will get to my computer).

Hope that helps!
 
I have recently sold my Zaldi jumping saddle as I don't jump my mare any more, but she is a wide, flat backed native pony and it fitted her perfectly. Having said that, it fitted nearly every horse I tried it on. Mine was probably about 8 years old so not an old model saddle but it was lovely quality. I sold my saddle for about £400, so depending on the age of the one you are looking at you could probably try and get it for a bit less than £250.
 
I bought a new Zaldi dressage saddle two years ago and loved it (now sold with the horse). My RI has a ten year-old one that was still in very good condition and not heavy - I'm not sure when the quality issues ran until but based on my experience I wouldn't hesitate to get another.

I also have a Zaldi endurance saddle and a friend has quite a few of these for her riding holiday business. Great little saddles for long hacks!
 
j1ffy said:
I bought a new Zaldi dressage saddle two years ago and loved it (now sold with the horse). My RI has a ten year-old one that was still in very good condition and not heavy - I'm not sure when the quality issues ran until but based on my experience I wouldn't hesitate to get another.

I also have a Zaldi endurance saddle and a friend has quite a few of these for her riding holiday business. Great little saddles for long hacks!
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They used to use 'treated' leather in some saddles to extend shelf life, but it made leather very stiff and uncomfortable, and the horrible orange-tan leather was what was underneath. (This is the case with my saddle). However every review I read saying that they so had that problem was pre about 2006 so I'm fairly sure leather quality has improved dramatically. Even prior to that it wasn't every saddle.

However buying older second hand models it is a risk.

ETA I do love my zaldi as I find it comfortable and my horse loves it, but it is not that great quality!!
 
j1ffy said:
I bought a new Zaldi dressage saddle two years ago and loved it (now sold with the horse). My RI has a ten year-old one that was still in very good condition and not heavy - I'm not sure when the quality issues ran until but based on my experience I wouldn't hesitate to get another.

I also have a Zaldi endurance saddle and a friend has quite a few of these for her riding holiday business. Great little saddles for long hacks!
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I was going to mention having ridden in one at a certain riding holiday! Very comfortable indeed.
 
Well, I bought it... it appears to be solid and of good quality. Then I sat in it and decided it was coming home regardless of whether it fitted the current horse - SO comfortable! We have 5 riding horse plus youngsters coming on - it will fit somebody !It looks like a pretty good fit though from the templates I took with me - has not STOPPED raining here since I got home yesterday afternoon so official try on the horse will be this evening.
 
Just been in the tack shop in Spain and they have some brand new ones in. Couldn't see what the quality was like as they were up high out of the way of random people. Will try and look tomorrow.
 
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