If you have $2500 to buy a saddle with...

[Ready_To_Riot]

VXF111, that still doesn’t give me any information about them. What’s their company? How do I get in touch with them?

And yes, I have been doing this for a while. Until I stumbled upon my county. And yes, I did buy a wintec to use until I found the one. But I didn’t think the one would end up not working after some time so I sold said wintec. I shouldn’t have. Now I have nothing to ride in at all. Brilliant on my part. So, whilst waiting for the next “the one”, I was going to repurchase a cheapy to get me through the 2 ish months I’ll have to spend without a saddle and will remain useful even after I get the new saddle.

Also have no idea what you’re referring to in your last paragraph.

Enjoy the ride, I didn’t say I was making the minimum payment. I saidnup until recently I had been. Like I started in December paying about 15-20% each month. Not that it’s really any of your business. But I assume you didn’t quite read since idk what jump saddle you’re talking about? I don’t have any saddle because I just sold my county. That was my jump saddle. The money I had put away for the second saddle I was about to buy will be put with the money I got from my county to purchase the new saddle…

[soloudinhere]

Also have no idea what you’re referring to in your last paragraph.

This thread has been started multiple times. In each one, you state that buying used doesn’t make sense because $X more for a new one. The most recent was a county I believe.

If you don’t know what you want, don’t order a custom saddle. All I’m saying is it seems like this has been going on forever and you still don’t know what you actually want.

[Ready_To_Riot]

The problem is I know what I want, but finding such thing is hard.

The recent thread was about off the rack saddles and during that thread something was brought to light regarding county’s, which was the deciding factor on me selling mine rather than just having it fitted down to my horse. So before, I would have just gotten another county if I were going to go custom, but new information regarding them has deterred me from going that route (also the fact that I don’t want to spend over $2500-2700 on the saddle as that’s what I have sitting aside for it right now). In that thread, bliss/loxley was also mentioned, but I was having issues regarding that, so at the time, it wasn’t an option, but I did state “I would love to have a loxley! But I’m having trouble getting the fitter out” which is why I asked about off the rack saddles and adjustable gullet saddles because a fitter was an issue.

When I went to Rolex last year, I fell in love with the loxley and was surprised that for the cost, it was decent quality. I also loved the Wexford that I sat in, but decided at the time, I didn’t feel comfortable spending that amount on the saddle and finding them used was the same price as the loxley. Which is also why it’s hard for me the fathom spending $2500 on a used saddle when I can get the loxley for the same price.

In my head, I guess I don’t see it the same as other as I’m under the impression the loxley is a nicer (or st least just as nice) as the used models of other saddles in the same price range. To use a car reference, Lexus and Toyota makes the same SUV. It’s the exact same. For the price of the used Lexus you can get a brand new Toyota. Why would I buy the Lexus that has more miles and wear and tear when I can get a new Toyota with no miles, no wear and tear, and backed by A warranty?

A new saddle comes with a lot of little perks like a warranty , that a used saddle doesn’t come with. That’s why my used saddle budget drops down lower than what I’m willing to spend on new. Because for a few hundred more, I’m buying peace of mind. Does that make sense?

[vxf111]

A Toyota and Lexus are made by the same parent company but the Lexus has loads more bells and whistles. I’d take the pre-depreciated luxury car… no question?!

[Ready_To_Riot]

A new Toyota will have the same features as the used Lexus. My family does cars. That’s why I used the reference. Regardless, saddles don’t come with “bells and whistles”. Just Wear and tear… so those people… contact information?

[vxf111]

There’s plenty different between those two cars. Interior details like leather and trim, onboard computer/navigation/Bluetooth systems, moon roof, various details coming standard versus costing extra, etc.

Saddles absolutely come with bells and whistles. Different grades of leather, detailing like piping, etc. if you card about that, buying the fancier saddle gets you lots more bells and whistles

[vxf111]

I’m on an iPhone so linking is hard, google Annette and Hastilow and Kate and Dutcheds Saddlery and you’ll find them

[Bogie]

@Ready To Riot

The problem is I know what I want, but finding such thing is hard.

In my head, I guess I don’t see it the same as other as I’m under the impression the loxley is a nicer (or st least just as nice) as the used models of other saddles in the same price range. To use a car reference, Lexus and Toyota makes the same SUV. It’s the exact same. For the price of the used Lexus you can get a brand new Toyota. Why would I buy the Lexus that has more miles and wear and tear when I can get a new Toyota with no miles, no wear and tear, and backed by A warranty?

A new saddle comes with a lot of little perks like a warranty , that a used saddle doesn’t come with. That’s why my used saddle budget drops down lower than what I’m willing to spend on new. Because for a few hundred more, I’m buying peace of mind. Does that make sense?

I agree that the price of the saddle does not always correspond to how well it works for you. It does often correspond with the quality of the leather and some of the construction details.

I’m more concerned with fit, which is why I vastly prefer to buy a used saddle over a custom or even a new off the shelf saddle. I want to ride in it. There is significant deviation in fit even among saddles of the same brand and model. I want the one that I know will work. I know WAY too many people who have had problems with custom saddles not working for any number of reasons.

I also prefer that the first owner take the depreciation hit. My experience has been that I can buy a $3500-$4500 K saddle for about $1500 on the used market. Sometimes less. I get the nice leather and the chance to ride in it. I have never needed to use a warranty on a saddle so I don’t need to buy new for that.

[ISR]

@Foxglove6

I’m impressed that you can find a custom Loxley for $2500. We have a fitter in our area that told me she had nothing for my $2k budget, even used.

When I was saddle shopping a year ago, I was quoted far higher for a Loxley as well (I believe they started at $2800). I’m guessing we have Brexit to thank for the better pricing!

[Ready_To_Riot]

New forums are weird. At least from my iPhone.

I used the car reference because my mom actually has those cars. But anyway, that’s irrelevant.

ISR, your comment is really interesting because when I started looking at the loxley, it wasn’t almost a year ago and I got quoted the exact same price then… could it vary by fitter?

I guess im under the impression that if I ride in a demo of the exact saddle that I want, there won’t be any difference. Well, the twist might be different due to me needing a hoop tree, but that’s not a big deal to me as I like the bigger twist anyway. Why would the same saddle be different?

[Bogie]

@Ready To Riot

I guess im under the impression that if I ride in a demo of the exact saddle that I want, there won’t be any difference. Well, the twist might be different due to me needing a hoop tree, but that’s not a big deal to me as I like the bigger twist anyway. Why would the same saddle be different?

Because they are not made by machines. I know plenty of people who loved the demo and didn’t like the custom saddle they got. At least one person ended up selling her custom saddle at a loss because it hurt her back so much. That’s why I’d prefer to buy the one I can ride in NOW not the one I’m going to get in three months.

Sure, your custom saddle will come with some kind of warranty, although I also know LOTS of people who had to fight with saddle makers when a custom saddle didn’t work. It took MONTHS for the issue(s) to be resolved. Some got another saddle (add three months), some got their money back and had to start again.

[Madison]

@Ready To Riot

New forums are weird. At least from my iPhone.

I guess im under the impression that if I ride in a demo of the exact saddle that I want, there won’t be any difference. Well, the twist might be different due to me needing a hoop tree, but that’s not a big deal to me as I like the bigger twist anyway. Why would the same saddle be different?

Ditto what Bogie said above, plus the mere fact that you are changing the tree/twist guarantees that it will not feel or fit the exact same as the demo you tried. And maybe it will work out and be even better than the demo. All anyone is saying is that you are assuming too much when you assume the custom saddle will be the exact same, or that a custom order guarantees the end product will be a perfect fit. The reason some people prefer to buy used if they can is because it takes the uncertainty out of the equation, you know it works and you don’t have to wait and see what shows up. You seem to really have your heart set on the Loxley, and if that’s the case, it is absolutely what you should get. But you just have to recognize there can be and often are variations when something like this is made to order (for example, shop used CWD’s with regular trees in the same size and model, and you will still find variations in the point to point tree width measurement), so it is not a sure thing. Doesn’t mean it is guaranteed to not work either, you just won’t know for sure til you have your saddle in hand. My CWD turned out great, so I certainly know that a custom order can work out well.

[Scribbler]

I would not be buying anything if I was carrying credit card debt month to month.

[soloudinhere]

Also, the resale on Loxley/Bliss is basically zero because they’re not popular and are all custom. If I paid $2500 for a loxley, I would not expect to get more than a grand, maybe $1200 for it on resale. That makes it very expensive if this plan of it fitting two horses doesn’t work out. I’d get Kate’s opinion on that part of this.

But as I’ve said before, I’ve had plenty of custom made saddles and besides the nifty bit of getting to say “my CUSTOM saddle” for about a week, they are a pain to sell and what arrives is going to not be the same as the demo and if it is what you ordered and it did fit the horse, then you are out of luck if you just don’t like riding in it. So now I only buy what I can try. Including a very expensive but used Tad Coffin.

[Ready_To_Riot]

@Scribbler

I would not be buying anything if I was carrying credit card debt month to month.

Well again, I didn’t ask for you financial advice, but that entire opinion is just silly. A credit card is a loan. The majority of the credit card debt is interest free (yay promotions), so I’m getting basically 0% interest until it’s payed off around June. Do you have a house payment? A car payment? Student loans? I assume you aren’t going to purchase anything until your house is payed off with that logic… makes sense

[Ready_To_Riot]

I’m not sure what I’m going to do. The thought of me hating it when it arrives is disheartening.

[Scribbler]

OP, you offered the information that you have credit card debt. If your credit cards are indeed a zero percent promotion, then that is clever, as long as you are able to pay it back before the high interest kicks in; I did the same myself once. If I recall, the zero percent period was less than two years.

BTW, financial advisors do not see mortgage payments (which are payment on an asset that is usually increasing in value) the same as consumer credit card debt, which is spent on items that are used up and either disappear (restaurant meals) or have low resale value.

[vxf111]

The new website seems to ONLY work on my phone. You’ll have to google to get their contacts, I CANNOT post a link… if you google you’ll get their websites with contacts…

google “annette gavin” along with “hastilow”

google “kate wilson” along with “dutchess saddlery”

[Ready_To_Riot]

Well my credit cards are from vet bills aside from one $500 purchase so there is no resale value and it was either charge them to credit card (which was care credit initially before transferring the remaining balance to another card after the promotional periods was up. By transferring I also saved from ever paying interest on the amount. The $500 is long paid off by now), or put my horse to sleep… I choose the former.

[Ready_To_Riot]

Thanks vxf111! I’ve been to the hastilow site, but never heard of the other.