How much does one need to budget for a decent saddle nowadays?

[talkofthetown]

I’m really just pondering because it’s raining outside and I’m stuck at work and I always enjoy following the “which saddle for what shaped horse” threads. Is it possible (or realistic) to get a cheap, quality saddle these days?

Obviously there are so many factors that play into this…What is cheap? How nice is “nice”? What area/discipline/size etc? There’s always a chance of stumbling across a used oldie-but-goodie for a decent price. But for conversation’s sake, I’m referring to saddle shopping for a jumping saddle, newer (newer than the 30+ year old Stubben*) but used. The typical “I’m saddle shopping!” thread. Nothing fancy, just a good fit for horse and rider.

The more threads I read, the more I think that I’m not entirely up to speed with the saddle market. Rarely do I see a saddle recommendation for something less than $1k. And usually they are well over that amount. I understand that you get what you pay for (sometimes), but am I completely naive for wanting to find a good saddle in the $300-$500 range? And by good I mean that it’s going to fit well and not fall apart in two years. I’m sure you could eBay or google and find saddles for that price, but I never see recommendations for those saddles. I guess that’s my point…sorry for rambling. Is there any saddle that eventers would recommend that comes with the lower price tag?

*Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the old Stubbens…not saying that I wouldn’t buy one. I’m just curious if there are other options out there.

[beowulf]

plenty of good saddles that will last longer than you in the $500 range. not just stubbens – courbette, kiefer, ainsley… the problem is they are older, without new technology/shape, and honestly, not in style.

i would set aside at least 2k. see, I had that set aside and must have tempted fate… and then had 2 ER vet visits from 2 different animals (horse and dog) in one week. back to the scrimping board for me.

i’m personally leaning towards an older stubben - I like the Zaria a lot.

[LadyB]

I do think its unrealistic to think you can find a decent used saddle for that amount. Any real good quality saddles, used, is around $2500 (in Canada).

I think budgeting for something around $2k is a much better plan. You can get a used great quality saddle for that. Or you can find the low end of a good quality saddle maker.

I bought a prestige, I like their saddles but couldn’t afford the higher end, so purchased their lower end. I would LOVE an Amerigo, but their trees do not fit my horse. Finding a good quality saddle would be best.

You can get a Bates, Collegiate, Santa Cruz, M. Tolouse for around $1500 new, but you get what you pay for, used you can find them for $800 easily.
I had a Santa Cruz, their trees can handle dressage but not Jumping, they snap easily with the landing impact. M. Tolouse is of the same brand as well.

All depends on what you’re truly looking for. I say fork out the money for a used good saddle over a new low end saddle.

There truly is a lot to factor in though.

[fordtraktor]

There are plenty of options available out there in that range. You can get a Crosby PDN any day of the week for $250 and they are great saddles, as long as you don’t mind flat and they happen to fit your horse. The problem is that most people have ridden in the more expensive saddles at this point and have started minding flat, and they don’t fit WBs particularly well (or anything with a shark fin).

[vineyridge]

For less than 2k you can get a Heritage saddle built for you and your horse.
For not much more than 1k you can get a Berney Brothers saddle built for you and your horse. Berney Bros. used to be very popular with eventers, and they should be really cheap used these days.

Saddles don’t have to be expensive, but what I’ve not figured out yet is why the prices have doubled in the last few years.

I’d rather buy a used anything but some of the cheap saddles listed above.

[HiJumpGrrl]

I got my prestige used for <1500. I think if you look and are patient you can def find a saddle for less than 2k. But you have to be able to wait.

[Mtn_trails]

I’ve found two very good saddles for $400 each. One was a Bernie Bros which I sold to a Jr eventer and the other which I have now is a stubben but I can’t remember what model. I know these are both older but have a good reputation. So good saddles can be found but be ready to snap it up.

[fordtraktor]

I don’t think you have to look particularly hard to find a nice saddle for $1k. Call Smith Worthington, I got one off their clearance page for that price and they fitted it to my horse for free. It’s gorgeous and was brand new. They make beautiful saddles, just a less trendy name.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Well I have one that I bought for $500…but it is 20+ years old and needs reflocking and minor repairs. It was a high end saddle when new (what would be 3500-5500 today) but now very old. But because it was a high end saddle, it is still very well made, great balance and a good saddle. I schooled prelim size xc fences in it a few years ago.

I keep it as a spare saddle and one we use on the young horses.

But if you want something high end less than 10 years old…you will be spending more.

[Appsolute]

I don’t think you need to spend $2,500 to find a saddle that you can ride well in, and that will fit your horse.

Heck, I have never owned a saddle over $1,000 and have been able to ride, compete etc - with a happy, not sore horse for many many years.

Current saddle was $780 new (discontinued collegiate model), its wool flocked, good tree for my horse - and has been adjusted by a fitter for a great fit. I have been putting at least 10 hours a week in it, for about 4 years now - serves me wonderfully and still looks like new. (that said - the few used ones I have seen listed - all wanted $800+ thats more than I paid new!!)

I think its hard to find a quality saddle that not at the end of its life span for $300 - but you can certainly find reasonable saddles for under $1,000

Contrary to current trends not every horse and not every rider needs a CUSTOM made to order saddle.

I am STILL going to say its quite possible to ride WELL in a budget saddle. You don’t NEED to spend $3K to prevent a swinging leg - as long as the saddle fits.

Heck, its a lot of fun to drive our mountain roads in a $80K sports car, but I can also hug the bends, and have fun in my modified Honda.

[talkofthetown]

Thanks for the thoughts. Even here, I saw more than one post that mentioned finding a nice saddle for $2k or less. Sigh:( I’m not saddle shopping now, thank goodness, but I will be sooner or later. And while I’m saving, I might as well have a better idea of much I’ll need to save (roughly).

Why on Earth are saddles so expensive? Is it the technology and schooling required to design a properly fitting saddle? Is it the price of the product itself (leather and whatnot)? Just curious what is driving the price tags.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=talkofthetown;8206049]
Thanks for the thoughts. Even here, I saw more than one post that mentioned finding a nice saddle for $2k or less. Sigh:( I’m not saddle shopping now, thank goodness, but I will be sooner or later. And while I’m saving, I might as well have a better idea of much I’ll need to save (roughly).

Why on Earth are saddles so expensive? Is it the technology and schooling required to design a properly fitting saddle? Is it the price of the product itself (leather and whatnot)? Just curious what is driving the price tags.[/QUOTE]

That is like saying why are some shoes so expensive. You can absolutely get a decent saddle for less. But like shoes…I’ve worn many a sub $100 pair of heels. Perfectly nice shoes…and functional. Then I made the mistake of trying a pair of nice heels by Stuart Weizman…yeah, I felt the difference…and it was sooooo worth the 4-5X cost increase from what I had been wearing. Then once you have had a really good pair of shoes…it is almost impossible to go back unless FORCED.

Why are they more…for many reasons, quality of the leather, technology in trees, style and craft in putting together…

[kcmel]

[QUOTE=HiJumpGrrl;8206028]
I got my prestige used for <1500. I think if you look and are patient you can def find a saddle for less than 2k. But you have to be able to wait.[/QUOTE]

This! I needed a saddle for my draft x yesterday! I was making do last year, but he really bulked up between 7 and 8 (seriously??). So I am either going to have to rethink my $2K budget, or find something that will work in the interim while I stalk all the used saddle sites until the one I want shows up.

[asterix]

We have a Thorowgood (may be for sale soon if we get a new horse it doesn’t fit) bought new for around 1k. It’s a perfectly nice saddle, well balanced and fit horse and rider (mr Asterix) well. Is it like getting a super high end saddle? no. But could you happily ride in it for years? Yes. It was actually recommended by my saddle fitter and we’ve been very pleased with it.

[IFG]

I found my Ainsley Chester on Ebay for $350. Admittedly, they misspelled Ainsley, but I love my saddle.

[Backstage]

It really depends what you are looking for, and what fit issues you are dealing with (both horse and rider). I’m currently riding in a $500 inexpensive close contact saddle (St Lourdes). It happened to be what I found that fit both me and my horse when I was looking about 18 months ago. I was trying to spend less than $2k, but all the mid-range options simply didn’t work for us. I need an 18" (or generous 17.5), and a forward flap as I jump with fairly short stirrups. My horse has a fairly average wither/back, but a wide shoulder that needs to be factored in. The used market at the sub-$2k price point was not yielding many options. Being in Canada probably didn’t help as we have fewer brands it seems.

I’m back shopping as the inexpensive saddle does my lower leg NO favours (and I need some help in that department in the form of a back block). I anticipate having to spend $3k-ish for a used Antares/Delgrange or similar. I’d love to find a less expensive, but still quality saddle. Its just tough to do so!

[talkofthetown]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8206056]
That is like saying why are some shoes so expensive. You can absolutely get a decent saddle for less. But like shoes…I’ve worn many a sub $100 pair of heels. Perfectly nice shoes…and functional. Then I made the mistake of trying a pair of nice heels by Stuart Weizman…yeah, I felt the difference…and it was sooooo worth the 4-5X cost increase from what I had been wearing. Then once you have had a really good pair of shoes…it is almost impossible to go back unless FORCED.

Why are they more…for many reasons, quality of the leather, technology in trees, style and craft in putting together…[/QUOTE]

Definitely makes sense! Thanks.

[CHT]

I think most of the saddle shopping threads you see, where people can’t find a saddle on a budget, they have a particular need or issue. For example, my horses are round. Most cheaper models to not fit them, and if they fit my horse, they may not fit me, particularly dressage as I am tall/thin.

For a more standard shaped horse and rider, I think there are many options for under $1000.00.

[sheltona01]

A lot of the rising prices have to do with the leather market. The price of good quality leather just keeps risings. On top of that China is buying tons of it and also the luxury car market. Drought in South America has also diminished the leather supply. So basically the cost of making the saddles has increased.

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=kcmel;8206066]
This! I needed a saddle for my draft x yesterday! I was making do last year, but he really bulked up between 7 and 8 (seriously??). So I am either going to have to rethink my $2K budget, or find something that will work in the interim while I stalk all the used saddle sites until the one I want shows up.[/QUOTE]

what are you looking for?

Something like a black country, even used, won’t be $2k unless it’s VERY used.