I am in search for a new dressage saddle. I have a mare that fits an extra wide tree and I have been unable to find anything locally that will fit her shoulders.
My budget is $1,500 and trying to figure out what the best brand(new or used) for that price(able to flex with the price a little bit). I have seen A LOT of saddles out there for much less, but I’m a bit lost with what I should stay away from, and what is worth considering or looking at.
Help please!
What I did recently was plug the model saddle I wanted into Google, hit “images” and pick out saddles I liked. Tack shops all over the country, indeed the world, now post consignments on the Internet, and you have them all to choose from by this method.
I wound up with a MINT black-and-gray buffalo hide Stubben Colombo that was consigned at a tack shop in Michigan, which they happily shipped to me for WELL below your stated budget. Most of these kinds of listings show the tree size, condition, etc. right in the offering. There’s also E-Bay.
Here’s a good example:
Consider buying a nice older saddle that can be adjusted to the horse - like a Verhan. I’ve OCCASSIONALLY seen them for $800 - If it was right size for me then I would buy saddle and pay to have it adjusted to fit horses back.
Verhans are distributed from Florida, so looking at the Ocala4Sale site might net you a decent used saddle.
I have made the observation that buying from some of the longer established saddle shops can save a ton of headaches.
Places like Trumbull Mtn, Heritage, Pelham Saddlery, all inspect their saddles so you are not risking broken trees and hidden damage, nor as happened to a friend, saddles made of cardboard.
[QUOTE=merrygoround;7843317]
I have made the observation that buying from some of the longer established saddle shops can save a ton of headaches.
Places like Trumbull Mtn, Heritage, Pelham Saddlery, all inspect their saddles so you are not risking broken trees and hidden damage, nor as happened to a friend, saddles made of cardboard.[/QUOTE]
This.
The Neidersuss trees tend to run wider, and my Neidersuss has fit a lot of different body types rather well, so that might be an option. You can usually find one in good condition well within that budget.
It’s hard to suggest without photos but it is possible your horse needs a hoop tree or one that is very generous it its pommel shape, more round than A, even if wide. Duett, Thorowgood and Kent and Masters are some that come to mind.
I got a Smith-Worthington Mystic dressage saddle a couple of years ago, through a saddle fitter, and the saddle plus the fitting was about what your budget is. I’ve been very pleased with the saddle (comes with a wide tree, and they will adjust it to your horse if you buy new). These saddles are made in Argentina, but with S-W’s supervision. I find the balance to be excellent and the leather quality is very adequate. (I used to be a total saddle and leather snob, but have come to my senses with age, and am willing to accept a good substitute. I find the S-W Mystic to be that totally unexpected, good “find”, and my savings account enjoys the chuckle).
You can get a generous XW(34cm) barely used Stubbens for a STEAL. Which sucks for resale value if you buy them brand new off the store shelves but is amazing if you want to buy them used.
I ended up taking a chance on EBay and lucked out. Got a Jaguar XKC buffalo for $700! It has some fading and one of the panel points needs to be restitched onto the sweat flap (quoted $25 to fix) but otherwise sound and horse ended up LOVING it. I planned to have it totally reflocked when I got the stitching fixed, but horse is so finicky that I’m now afraid to touch it since he seems to like it so well! I had ridden in a friends first though so knew I liked it and horse went well in it even though it was too wide for him.
Look around for a Barnsby Luxus Extra Wide Tree #5- 36 cm. Beautiful quality and just a nice dressage saddle. You should be able to find one in your price range.
[QUOTE=jaybird660;7844232]
Duett, Thorowgood and Kent and Masters are some that come to mind.[/QUOTE]
^^This^^ All three very nice brands with lots of fitting options at exceptionally reasonable prices.
Big fan of the Duett Fidelio for wide horses. I bought one for my super wide Oldenburg gelding last year and am very happy with it! For the price, around $1,700, they are quality saddles.
Have you found one? If not, feel free to PM me so I’m not snicked for advertising…
I ended up getting a great deal on a Custom but if it hadn’t have come my way I would’ve gone with either a Hastilow or a Kent & Masters. Both are very well made and quite adjustable. You might be able to find a Hastilow in your budget and should definitely be able to find a Kent & Masters. I found an almost new K & M last year for $900. I would’ve bought it in a heartbeat but I was between jobs and just couldn’t justify it at that moment.
here’s a nice Verhan (tree can be changed to match horse) for $1400 (gives you money to have it adjusted to fit horse)
http://ocala4sale.com/classifieds/14836823606.php
or passier XW in brown for $800
http://ocala4sale.com/classifieds/14330992020.php
Terrible idea. Saddle fit is so much more than tree size. IMHO, you will waste 1/3 of your budget shipping saddles back and forth. Find someone you can work with, locally or remotely, that knows what they are doing and can ship you only things that have a very high probability of working.
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