I’m still searching for the perfect saddle for my chunky, flat backed wide pony. Looking for a used saddle and have found 5 possibilities. Looking for any negatives or positives on these potential saddles. One is a Bliss Loxley with changeable gullets, a Kent and Masters S series, a Custom Wolfgang Solo and an Albion Platinum G and a Black Country Eloquence. Any good or bad experiences?
I ended up with an Albion K2 dressage saddle for now. It’s not perfect but it’s close. It fits me like a glove. It’s 16.5 inch seat which has the shortest panels on a second hand saddle that I could find but it still pushes the limits for the 15 inch space of riding on my short wide Welsh Cob. My challenge has been finding a saddle that was far enough off his shoulders to give him the freedom of reach he requires as well as limiting the length of panel. Honestly to find the perfect fit I need to get a saddle that’s built with pony panels and a cutback front that’s off the shoulders. If I decide to spring for that (financially supporting my mother’s care right now) I will likely get an Albion model likely an SLK or an Ideal Tonishia. Both seem to fit my guy’s roundness and shoulder requirements along with being narrow enough in the twist for me. Unfortunately neither is made with particularly short panels unless you special order. The Albion K2 I got came out of Canada, was made for a kid (so short skirt) and for a Welsh Cob so not gusseted but also not with pony panels. So many of the Albions, Ideal and Black Country saddles come with large gussets making it hard to find the perfect saddle off the rack. These 3 manufacturers, though, have models that seem to accommodate my Welsh Cobs and me the best otherwise.
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My short-backed horse is going in a Trilogy right now. Not perfect for her (still too long) but we took some flocking out of the back and she is happier in it than anything else we tried. I am also very picky and she is known for her acrobatics at times so the balance for me is super important. 
Cant even remember everything we tried. I know we tried Stubben, Hennig, Patrick, Presitge, Amerigo, a few French saddles, a different Trilogy, an older Schleese, a Black Country, and an Albion. The other thing she liked was a Bliss Loxley which actually was very close or short enough for her back but I couldn’t find one in our size and not willing to shell out the money for something not perfect for a growing young horse. I also was only able to ride in it a few times. I am considering “investing” in a Bliss when she is a bit older if she still likes it.
Good luck!
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I am happy with my Loxley saddles. Mine has upswept panels. My horses are very wide, one has a short back, but neither are ponies/small. Personally it is the first saddle I have had on my XWide hoop tree horse that both fits her and also doesn’t make me feel terrible in my hips/etc.
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Unfortunately my saddle fitter talked me into a full custom Equipe Bocelli for my short backed, big wither, round barrel DWB for lots of $. Unfortunately I have had to stop riding and am now trying to sell this saddle. It is a lovely saddle in brand new condition but seems to be difficult to sell.
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The problem, IME, is that saddles are like new cars and seem to depreciate the moment they go from “new at the dealer” to “very lightly used and owned by someone else.” Specs like brand, model, flap, sear, etc. can all come into play too.
I bought a saddle for $5,500 in August, and I’ll be happy of I can even get close to $3,500 for it. It’s hardly used and relatively standard (regular flap, 17.5", black, and so on). It sucks.
Consignment places are a bit better on getting more for saddles, usually because people will pay more for a saddle that they can take on trial and is through a more trusted source vs a random person. Then you have the consignment fee though.
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The problem for me is that the only consignment shop is an hour drive on congested, complicated highways. My biggest nightmare is being stuck in a traffic jam
At some point I will have to bite the bullet. I hate seeing it go to waste.
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There are quite a few out there with a good online presence that you could send the saddle to if you wanted to try that. You’d be out shipping, but I’ve used Pirate Ship and the smallest box possible, and the shipping rates haven’t been too bad.
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Thanks for the suggestions. Now that winter is done with and I don’t have to worry about the roads I will get busy and a little more pro-active in trying to move this saddle.
Have to get a few health issues out of the way.
Also have 2 brand new winter blankets that I no longer use as the horses are retired and no longer need to be coddled. Hung on to the blankets just in case it got very cold. Have a trunk full of used blankets and sheets, bridles, chaps, boots etc.
I thought of having a sale but don’t really want strangers rummaging around my place.
Have developed a morbid attitude about checking out.
Boy I really got off track here.
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I have had luck selling blankets and tack odds & ends on Facebook marketplace and also some on eBay. Often I have gotten close to what I’ve paid, but you have to be very patient. ETA: using Facebook groups has been best for me - local horse groups, larger groups etc. You just have to watch for scammers in the big open (public) groups who will pretend to pay you and have a scam email sent to you. If you stick with the marketplace messenger and only take payment through it, it should be fine.
Also I second using pirateship. Rates are great, and it’s ready to use.
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Yeah, patience can be key. I often sell things too cheap because if I want it gone, I want it GONE. So I can only blame myself for loss of money there! Sometimes I’ll sacrifice money for convenience too.
I’d start on local FB groups or even within your barn if you board. I had blankets that my bride outgrew and I sold most of them to other boarders, so that was easy enough.
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I have a wide, short backed mare. Especially now coming out of winter with some extra weight. 
Of the saddle brands on your list, we’ve tried a Custom and Black Country. The custom was too narrow for her - might have just been the fit but the fitter thought it was right (and she’s a well respected fitter). That ended up leading to a bolting/bucking fit and me on the ground. I have a Black Country Equinox that I love, love, love. I’m holding on to it because it’s such a great saddle. Great fit for her and me. You do have to like a wider twist, though, which I do.
The saddle we are in now is an EQ Saddle Science. The Encore. We both love it, even more than the Black Country. On their website, there’s a used Encore in a wide size for $2300. It’s worth a call! PS, don’t be alarmed by how long the panel looks. They are like that intentionally, but the flex of the saddle makes it all work. There is also a used Baker saddle on their site that is even wider that could be a possibility and is only $1350.
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