Help pricing a used dressage saddle (not an ad)

[reefy]

I have never sold a saddle in my life and this one isn’t mine. It belonged to a dear friend who passed away and her husband asked me to help sell it.

It’s a used Niedersuss dressage saddle (a Symphonie maybe). I’m sure she purchased it between 10-12 yrs ago and it was used then. The plus: it had all brand new billet straps ~ 2 years ago (a birthday present I gave her, since she was riding one of my horses at the time and I wanted her to be safe - old billets were not at all safe), so those are in EXCELLENT shape, lol. It wasn’t used a ton after those were replaced because my horse got laminitis and was off for a year. After the year, she was really too sick to ride him.

The bad - I have no idea what size it is (probably a 17 or 17.5 seat), what model (Symphonie looks right in the picture comparisons), it needs reflocking and there are some wrinkles in the seat (one has an almost tear across it but it’s still not an actually tear - hard to explain).

Other than that, it’s serviceably sound! I’ll get it cleaned up and give it a good conditioning. There was a high-end seat saver with it but that’s gone missing (I’ll check around the barn again) that would be included.

So having never sold a saddle before - any suggestions on a fair price? I’m glad I’ve got something to do to help her husband but I’m a bit clueless where to put it. I’m going to put it on our local FB tack sale page.

Forgot a question - how do I measure the width of the saddle?? Looking on ebay, there are some used ones and they seem to have the measurement on the flap. These flaps are well-worn and there is a faint ‘brand’ mark and ‘Sattlemeister’ on one but that’s all I can make out.

[Gardenhorse]

You can search on eBay or on other used saddle sites to see what price similar saddles are being offered at. But keep in mind that the condition of the seat likely means you’ll have to lower the price compared to others in good condition.

Does the saddle have a serial number on the flap? That may give you more information on it, such as year made, seat size, etc.

Also, this website tells you how to measure seat size: https://marystack.com/blog/how-to-measure-an-english-saddle/

[Posting_Trot]

I think the OP was asking about how to measure the treewidth, and the answer is it’s hard to do.

There are no standards across saddle brands as to where the treewidth is measured, and often saddle manufacturers don’t use a measurable number as an indicator of width anyway (it may be “A” “B” or “C” width for example, or just X-wide).

The best bet might be to compare the saddle’s tree width with another brand of saddle that fits that horse. If you know the width of that saddle (even if it’s just something like “medium”) you can advertise the saddle as “fitting like a medium.”

As far as pricing goes, go to one of the bigger online tack stores and see what they might be charging for a used Niedersuss.

Good luck.

[reefy]

The seat size measurement was helpful - looks like we have a 17" seat! Thank you both!!

[Gardenhorse]

Yes, good point. The serial number might give some info on tree width also.

[outerbanks77]

Given the price of a full re-flocking, it is not likely to be worth much. Older used saddles are really hard to move right now. There is a nice one ending soon on eBay at $400 shipped and no bids.

Very sorry for the loss of your friend.

[reefy]

@outerbanks77

Given the price of a full re-flocking, it is not likely to be worth much. Older used saddles are really hard to move right now. There is a nice one ending soon on eBay at $400 shipped and no bids.

Very sorry for the loss of your friend.

Thank you - 2021 has actually sucked more than 2020 at this point.

I think I’ll put it on our local page for $500. I can go down from there but might as well be ambitious about it. Maybe this will be easy and then I can sell my own saddle next - it’s a dust collector now (Antares jumping saddle and the horse it belonged to has been gone a LONG time)!

[reefy]

@Gardenhorse

Yes, good point. The serial number might give some info on tree width also.

It’s worn off so I can’t see anything but a faint brand mark/Sattlemeister. It was used when she she bought it, too, so has been well loved.