talk to me about secondhand saddles please

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ghostie

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Complete numpty question here.... So, when I bought my boy I biought him a new saddle as he didn't come with one. We have a Kent & Masters high withered GP saddle, so nothing flashy but decent quality. I'm increasingly thinking that I would like a dressage saddle for him, but would really rather not spend £1000 plus on one as he's costing me a small fortune at the moment.

I'm having a complete brain fail when it comes to working out how to go about getting a second hand one. How do people know what model saddle will fit their horse in order to order them second hand? I pressume people buy them and then get the saddler out to adjust the flocking etc, but surely not every saddle can be made to fit any horse? My boy is in a 17.5 inch medium, so I know what size he is, but that doesn't help with the high wither factor surely?

I'd be incredibly grateful for any explanations :D
 
I have been incredibly lucky with purchasing saddles on the Internet/eBay etc. and all have fitted. I have a friend who is a saddle fitter and I get her to check them before I use them. However, I also know of a saddlery who have a huge range of 2nd hand saddles who allow you to take several away 'on trust' so you can see which one you like best. It is in Hertfordshire if any good to you (can't see locations from my phone).
 
Id recommend a FlexEE :) Brand new, stirrup bars in the correct place to enable you to get a wonderful position straight off, will flex to fit your horses shape no matter if they put on muscle or lose weight etc
£350
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http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/flexee_intro.htm
 
What to watch are creases across the saddle and hold the saddle at both ends and make sure you cannot move it. Both signs that the tree has problems.
 
I have just bought a second hand saddle for my daughters horse from www.saddlesdirect.co.uk.
You choose up to 3 saddles from their site and have to pay the courier charge (£15 to £20) for delivery. They take credit card details before they send them. You can then have them on trial for 3 days before deciding if one is suitable. There are pictures and a description of the saddle condition with a little info to help you make your choices. The saddle we bought was described as excellent condition and it certainly was -it looked like new! It cost approximately half of the cost of a new one of the same make and spec.
Would definitely recommend them. They will usually take a saddle in part exchange too.
 
Whereabouts London ish are you? I have an old but decent Lovatt & Ricketts dressage saddle that I might be putting on ebay, it came off a thoroughbredX with high withers if you want to try it on. I am in SE22 if you are near and want a try to see how it fits? It might be too 'tired' for you, but if you are relatively local I'm happy to let you have a try to see if the fit suits your horse. PM me if you think it might suit you :)
 
What about the Kent and Masters dressage???

I swear by the high withered Thorowgood, I was previously a complete 'labels' toff, but seriously these are very well engineered and for the money you can't grumble....
 
I am terrified of fitting my own or trying to buy something to fit - luckily our saddler will also supply secondhand saddles.

I don't agree with getting saddler out then buying of ebay though...we need good saddlers to stay in business.
 
ghostie said:
Complete numpty question here.... So, when I bought my boy I biought him a new saddle as he didn't come with one. We have a Kent & Masters high withered GP saddle, so nothing flashy but decent quality. I'm increasingly thinking that I would like a dressage saddle for him, but would really rather not spend £1000 plus on one as he's costing me a small fortune at the moment.

I'm having a complete brain fail when it comes to working out how to go about getting a second hand one. How do people know what model saddle will fit their horse in order to order them second hand? I pressume people buy them and then get the saddler out to adjust the flocking etc, but surely not every saddle can be made to fit any horse? My boy is in a 17.5 inch medium, so I know what size he is, but that doesn't help with the high wither factor surely?

I'd be incredibly grateful for any explanations :D
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are you sure you want a dressage? I have a 17.5" Medium jeffries falcon hawk event saddle that I am in a bit of a hurry to sell as need to fund a wider saddle, pm me if your interested as can post/email piccies ps.....its very reasonably priced!!
 
Parker79 said:
I am terrified of fitting my own or trying to buy something to fit - luckily our saddler will also supply secondhand saddles.

I don't agree with getting saddler out then buying of ebay though...we need good saddlers to stay in business.
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That's good then as this isn't a good saddler, and paying them for a visit does keep them in business, no different than any normal saddle check. That said, I have bought 3 saddles from them directly and also one brand new from Tom at TDS who is a master saddler.
 
All my saddles are second hand bought through a reputable saddled who part exes and sells ok behalf of customers. I got a lovely second hand KN dressage saddle this way for half the new retail price.
 
I've just bought a second hand Stubben Scandica for a decent price via my local saddle fitter she came out bought lots all different makes models and first fitted to my horse discounting any that didn't fit. Then having had a chat, her seeing how i ride I rode in lots of different ones discounting any that didn't feel right, threw my position, or my mare didnt go well in. By the end i was settled on the Scandica my position was fab, made sitting trot effortless and I had a good light seat, I also had 2 trusted friends 1 my instructor on the ground who knew me, my riding style and my mare there comments we're invaluable.

I purchased the saddle on the basis I had 28 days to return for full refund, so I had several lessons in it and a few comps ....

She charged £30 for call out check of my GP saddle but wouldn't have charged if i dint purchase anything.
 
WelshTilly said:
I've just bought a second hand Stubben Scandica for a decent price via my local saddle fitter she came out bought lots all different makes models and first fitted to my horse discounting any that didn't fit. Then having had a chat, her seeing how i ride I rode in lots of different ones discounting any that didn't feel right, threw my position, or my mare didnt go well in. By the end i was settled on the Scandica my position was fab, made sitting trot effortless and I had a good light seat, I also had 2 trusted friends 1 my instructor on the ground who knew me, my riding style and my mare there comments we're invaluable.

I purchased the saddle on the basis I had 28 days to return for full refund, so I had several lessons in it and a few comps ....

She charged £30 for call out check of my GP saddle but wouldn't have charged if i dint purchase anything.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a good saddler - we have had one really good one,and one so-so out to the lawnmowers; and a good one can make all the difference in the world :)
 
WelshTilly said:
I've just bought a second hand Stubben Scandica for a decent price via my local saddle fitter she came out bought lots all different makes models and first fitted to my horse discounting any that didn't fit. Then having had a chat, her seeing how i ride I rode in lots of different ones discounting any that didn't feel right, threw my position, or my mare didnt go well in. By the end i was settled on the Scandica my position was fab, made sitting trot effortless and I had a good light seat, I also had 2 trusted friends 1 my instructor on the ground who knew me, my riding style and my mare there comments we're invaluable.

I purchased the saddle on the basis I had 28 days to return for full refund, so I had several lessons in it and a few comps ....

She charged £30 for call out check of my GP saddle but wouldn't have charged if i dint purchase anything.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what my saddler did
 
Technique said:
That sounds like a good saddler - we have had one really good one,and one so-so out to the lawnmowers; and a good one can make all the difference in the world :)
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Agree she came highly reccomended to me :) she was prepared to listen and spend time without doing the hard sell she also gave an honest opinion, the saddle I bought was watermarked but cleaned up fine in fact I think she undersold it and was worth double what I paid...
 
thanks for the opinions guys, that's really helpful. I think I will try and find a saddler that will come to me with a selection of second hand saddles as I just don't know where to start trying to find one that will fit him! I did call Saddles Direct to ask their opinion but it seems a bit tricky given he's so difficult to fit.

Thanks to those that pointed me in the direction of theirs - sadly I do really need a dressage saddle rather than an event saddle and I'm too far away from the other poster (sorry, phone won't let me check who it was!).

Thanks lovely people :D
 
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