Zaldi saddles?

[sweets123545]

Does anyone have any experience with these saddles? I have seen some for sale in Spain and have been speaking to their UK distributor. They seem lovely but are fairly cheap for what they look like or are described to be. I paid over £1000 for a brand new John Whitaker saddle and these look extremely fancy compared, especially for the same sort of price?!

The look of the saddles remind me of the fancier brands such as FairFax, Harry Dabbs, Amerigo etc but for half of the price! I understand the quality might not be the same as those brands but I love how they look. I was wondering if anyone had any experience?

Thanks!!

 

[Frumpoon]

If I was going to have a zaldi it would be an older one

 

[sweets123545]

If I was going to have a zaldi it would be an older one

Ahh okay! Fair enough! Is there any particular reason this may be?

 

[Frumpoon]

So they are foam panel close contact saddles like the ones you describe but they are made in Spain instead of France/Italy

I am not so familiar with the quality and types of Spanish leather so I would rather buy a second hand saddle that already done a fair amount of ageing to see how it fared, rather than a brand new one that I had no idea how it would look in 2-3-4 etc years time

 

[TheMule]

I bought a second hand Super Kent dressage saddle for £200 a few weeks ago and I love it- I was specifically looking for something close contact but without a big knee block and this saddle suits me very well.

 

[sweets123545]

I bought a second hand Super Kent dressage saddle for £200 a few weeks ago and I love it- I was specifically looking for something close contact but without a big knee block and this saddle suits me very well.
View attachment 65405

That’s very nice and looks super comfy!

 

[TheMule]

That’s very nice and looks super comfy!

I'm not going to lie, it is not a very comfortable saddle, but it does let me get my position as good as it can be as it just sits me right and doesn’t block my legs from being where they need to be. I'd say it's on par with the Devecoux/ Butets that I've ridden in

 

[Goldenstar]

I would not buy a saddle with a foam panel at any price .

 

[sweets123545]

I would not buy a saddle with a foam panel at any price .

I appreciate your feedback . Can I ask why you wouldn’t?

 

[hock]

I saw the zaldi saddle on eBay and saw it’s adjustable etc. When I looked them up I think they were about £400 new. I got as far as reaching that they’re glued rather than stitched and thought nope. They do look really super and expensive though.

 

[TheMule]

I saw the zaldi saddle on eBay and saw it’s adjustable etc. When I looked them up I think they were about £400 new. I got as far as reaching that they’re glued rather than stitched and thought nope. They do look really super and expensive though.

You can get them second hand for that as they're not very popular over here, but certainly not new!

 

[hock]

You can get them second hand for that as they're not very popular over here, but certainly not new!

The one I saw on eBay was second hand and £300.

 

[sweets123545]

I saw the zaldi saddle on eBay and saw it’s adjustable etc. When I looked them up I think they were about £400 new. I got as far as reaching that they’re glued rather than stitched and thought nope. They do look really super and expensive though.

The ones I’m looking at are over £1000 but i think they are foam panelled. After some research I think I might stay away from foam panneling

 

[sweets123545]

I’m just not sure if it’s too good to be true for this price. I know £1000 is a lot of money but compared to other saddles and other brands it’s not a lot in the saddle market compared to other saddles

 

[sweets123545]

Some of the saddles I have been looking at

 

[hock]

The ones I’m looking at are over £1000 but i think they are foam panelled. After some research I think I might stay away from foam panneling

I’ve no experience of foam panelling. I have just sold 6 saddles on eBay and was hunting around and looked at them but have bought a Gareth Fairfax now. I’m hoping to slowly move all my horses over into them as they seem to suit me. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[sbloom]

You get what you pay for in most cases. Search on US boards like COTH, they have more Zaldis there I think. The one in the photo with the white stitching has all the typical issues of close contact saddles that we discussed in a thread recently, have a search, it was maybe a couple of weeks ago.

Slightly concerned that fit for the horse hasn't been addressed in this thread....much better to have a saddle that fits, of any half decent brand, no matter how old or unfashionable, than wondering about a particular brand especially where you have no idea if they have models that may suit your horse.

 

[sbloom]

I’ve no experience of foam panelling. I have just sold 6 saddles on eBay and was hunting around and looked at them but have bought a Gareth Fairfax now. I’m hoping to slowly move all my horses over into them as they seem to suit me. Good luck on your hunt.

But one saddle won't fit all your horses? It's not just about having a different width headplate in each of them...

 

[sweets123545]

You get what you pay for in most cases. Search on US boards like COTH, they have more Zaldis there I think. The one in the photo with the white stitching has all the typical issues of close contact saddles that we discussed in a thread recently, have a search, it was maybe a couple of weeks ago.

Slightly concerned that fit for the horse hasn't been addressed in this thread....much better to have a saddle that fits, of any half decent brand, no matter how old or unfashionable, than wondering about a particular brand especially where you have no idea if they have models that may suit your horse.

There is no need to be concerned about it fitting my horse . If I was to ever purchase this saddle, I would have had it fitted by a fully qualified saddler - I would never, in a million years put something on my horses back which is NOT a good fit!!. I have been speaking to the UK distributor and I have a phone call scheduled for today and obviously I will tell her my horses shape/fit and see what they recommend. They have several designs to suit all different horses and riders.

The purpose of this post was to find out more about how the saddles wear after a few years etc and how riders find them to ride in and general opinions. Not to have a virtual saddle fitting over a thread lol.

 

[sbloom]

There is no need to be concerned about it fitting my horse . If I was to ever purchase this saddle, I would have had it fitted by a fully qualified saddler - I would never, in a million years put something on my horses back which is NOT a good fit!!. I have been speaking to the UK distributor and I have a phone call scheduled for today and obviously I will tell her my horses shape/fit and see what they recommend. They have several designs to suit all different horses and riders.

The purpose of this post was to find out more about how the saddles wear after a few years etc and how riders find them to ride in and general opinions. Not to have a virtual saddle fitting over a thread lol.

It was as much that no-one else had mentioned it, great that that's all taken as read, so often it's not even taken into account by the poster.

 

[Cortez]

I've ridden in Zaldis for years, both in Spain and here at home (I have a couple of the dressage models). They don't fit every horse (like any other saddle), but are well made and the leather, stitching, etc. are lovely. I prefer them to some other makes, but everyone will have their own preferences (I don't, in general, get on well with Stubbens, for instance). My friend sold hers, but I think she bought the wrong seat size so can't blame the saddle for that.

 

[hock]

But one saddle won't fit all your horses? It's not just about having a different width headplate in each of them...

It’s not been mentioned because it’s a pretty obvious requirement that a saddle suits your horse.

 

[sbloom]

It’s not been mentioned because it’s a pretty obvious requirement that a saddle suits your horse.

Sadly it's not. Still not sure how that matches moving 6 horses into the same model of saddle but of course no problem if it fits all 6, and also, of course, none of my business, but I try and spend my time here helping, both posters, and people that will read the posts further down the line, who may not know that it's obvious that the saddle should fit the horse, and that changing the width doesn't make a saddle fit any shape.

 

[hock]

I don’t have 6 horses, I have just sold 6 saddles. 6 saddles that have been used on one horse as he’s changed shape throughout the years.

You really shouldn’t make so many assumptions as you may well be very knowledgeable but unless you can deliver the advice in a non patronising way you’ll just turn people off.

 

[sbloom]

I got the 6 wrong, apologies, it was "all my horses". And thank you for the advice.

 

[tristar]

i had a lovely black zaldi on a show jumper, some years ago, i was very impressed by the quality of leather and manufacture and would certainly consider another in the future

 

[IrishMilo]

I assumed Aldi had just launched their own range and we'd be seeing it down that weird middle aisle some point soon between the feather boas and the banana slicers...

 

[Frumpoon]

I don’t have 6 horses, I have just sold 6 saddles. 6 saddles that have been used on one horse as he’s changed shape throughout the years.

You really shouldn’t make so many assumptions as you may well be very knowledgeable but unless you can deliver the advice in a non patronising way you’ll just turn people off.

Little bit harsh

Steph is a really nice lady who gives lots of good advice and guidance on here free of charge

 

[hock]

Little bit harsh

Steph is a really nice lady who gives lots of good advice and guidance on here free of charge

I’m sure she does amd is very knowledgeable no doubt but I found her reply patronising.

 

[Frumpoon]

I’m sure she does amd is very knowledgeable no doubt but I found her reply patronising.

I think it was meant to be tongue in cheek...Steph works v long hours and I reckon she’s probably quite tired by the time she comes on here...so much tone and inflection is lost in the written word

Good choice on the Gareth though, they are nice saddles