I ran across this on ebay while looking at some saddles another poster was shopping for.
It says customizable tooling, some silver, made to order for just $450. It seems to good to be true, so it probably is, but when it comes to western saddles I don’t really know what I’m looking at. What do you think?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Herdsman-16-17-18-Western-Trail-Saddle-Hand-Carved-Quality-CUSTOMIZABLE?item=220944834263&cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8346179118771191329#ht_1133wt_1344
Id be skeptical…
I agree with GallopingGrape. I would be a little skeptical. For roughly $600 you can get a used but better known brand that you know is relatively decent quality. I would say Circle Y, Tex Tan, Simco and Billy Cook are all safe. This could be a great saddle but without refences it is kind of risky.
I’d run far away just looking at the feedback of that seller. :eek:
Way to good to be true! Run away very fast!!!
It might be a good deal but then again … are you the one who will buy a new brand of automobile the first year it is manufactured? If not, stay with the tried and true.
Thanks for the feedback. It looks really nice in the picture, but I’m not going to be the one to take the risk!
Run.Cheap leather, shoddy workmanship…and who knows what tree problems…buy quality used instead.
Cheap, stay away.
I had let a saddle go with a horse I sold and when the gal didn’t finish paying for the saddle, I took it back. In the mean time I realized my custom saddle doesn’t fit the two horses I have now so bought an older Circle Y arab saddle off of Ebay. Seemed to be a nice saddle, but not quite the right fit. Before reselling it I had it checked out and it has a broken tree.
So, I would suggest not buying off of Ebay if you can find it local or new from a reputable company, and have the tree checked out by a saddler. I have no recourse and probably the seller didn’t know the tree was broken either. I have bought and sold a couple of saddles off of Ebay and had no problems, but this one is a problem…an expensive one.
So here I need to sell my favorite Paul’s custom ranch saddle because the tree is too straight in the shoulders for my horses, my old saddle I finally got back doesn’t fit my new mare either…I was shocked, so now I am in the market for a new saddle to fit my gorgeous little strangely built mare. 
Even after 40 years of riding western, I am learning all about saddle fit in western saddles to fit “the not quite by the rules back” horse.
With all these fit problems let along quality issues, stay away from Ebay unless they have an extremely good return policy…money back quarantee.
>Saddle Tree: Fiberglass
As in hollow fibreglass…I’ve seen these sorts of trees before. Run far, far away.
Too good to be true. The feedback on the leather isn’t great. I especially do not like that honkin’ huge screws through the sheepskin. There are many better options out there in quality used tack.
[QUOTE=craz4crtrs;6315748]
With all these fit problems let along quality issues, stay away from Ebay unless they have an extremely good return policy…money back quarantee.[/QUOTE]
Actually, I have had good luck on Ebay. Most sellers are very concerned about feedback. Make sure you check out the saddle immediately and don’t give feedback until you are satisfied. If there is a problem most sellers will accept a return rather than risk negative feedback.
A lot of saddle shops don’t want to do returns either. Most only want to do a trade in and you still lose money.
Unforturnately, finding the right saddle for you and your horse is a lot of trial and error with a hint of luck
