I retired my horse in another state and moved to Northern Florida last Fall (west of Jacksonville, north of Gainesville). Horse remains in home state but my remaining tack came with me.
It doesn’t seem very horsey here and I have no network. I used to frequently buy and sell on ebay but am loath to attempt this now as their fees have become unreasonable. I have a
County saddle and nice strap goods and other things (bridles, leathers, martingales, etc.) that need to go.
Can anyone direct me to Florida bulletin boards, other selling options etc., that could help me re-home my stuff?
Facebook Marketplace is very popular.
There’s some WEC/WEF Groups and Ocala Equestrian Community.
The Good Apple is a consignment store in Ocala.
There’s also a Maryland Saddlery that’s tied to St Augustine area. They’re on ebay alot. They buy some used saddles locally and then resell for higher prices on ebay, so that might also be an option.
I know this because they bought a used Butet that I had, told some story about a young kid on a budget to negotiate it down another $100-150. Then proceeded to list it the same day on Ebay for almost $1000 more.
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Many high end saddle consignment shops post their saddles on eBay, but it’s more a form of advertising. The listings will say that they only do trials through their website. That said, look on eBay for County saddles and you’ll get a good idea where to consign yours. A friend used Middleburg (I don’t think they’re on eBay) to sell hers because County seems to be a more popular brand in that area.
Good luck selling everything, although if you plan to ride again someday, you may regret getting rid of everything!
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Thanks so much for the suggestions.
Hey there ! I’m also in Florida. If you want someone else to deal with the sending out for trial/fitting I would recommend Highline Tack. Google them. She will give you two options on appraisal of your saddle. Whether to sell it to her outright or to consign. Then she takes it makes it look like a million bucks and deals with the back and forth of people looking for the perfect fit. Shipping back and forth. Allowing trials. You’ll get less money than if you find the perfect local buyer but so much less hassle.
Ps your county saddle doesn’t happen to be a 16.5 with a short flap innovation model Extra wide. ? 
. Loved my old County. Called it my comfy couch. Just wasn’t wide enough for current horse.
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Thanks, ThreeWishes, appreciate the suggestion. No that’s not the model I’m selling. Have bought & sold several over the years and I’ve never let one go without a pang. They are supremely comfortable!
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Sent you a pm
I used Pelham Saddlery. They are in NH but have a national clientele
Thanks so much, Eclectic!
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I also used Pelham. My Devoucoux took five years to finally sell. I had already mentally written it off when out of the blue I received a check for the five year ago asking price minus sales commission. Don’t expect any communications from Pelham, but they did get it sold.
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Same. I had a really somewhat unique treeless saddle and they sold it in two years. I was pleasantly surprised.
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As a buyer, I’ve had good luck with Middleburg Tack Exchange. These days I avoid ebay as a seller as the fees are high and they almost always side with the buyer for disputes. Facebook Marketplace is annoying because you are inundated with spam. However, I did find a local buyer for one of my saddles.
Of course, I sold my TB appropriate saddles last year as I had a Draft X mare. This year, she died unexpectedly and I now have another TB, but only a bunch of XW saddles, so there is an argument for holding onto the ones you like.
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Not to hijack but I’m about to start the process of selling my saddle. If I sold through a fb page for high end saddles, what’s the safest way to get paid?
For instance, get paid through PayPal then send it? Is that how you do it?
Can they cancel the payment and keep my saddle? Ugh people suck and I don’t want to be anyones victim.
In person, in cash, in the police department parking lot.
If it is long distance, see if your state has licensed escrow agents who will hold the money and release it to you when the buyer has the saddle. Otherwise, that’s why consignment is safer.
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PayPal is the safest digital option. Uses Goods & Services and also insure the saddle when you send it via post.
You can do your own due diligence with scammers - I find there are way more seller scammers (someone listing a saddle that isn’t theirs) than buyer scammers, but you never know. What I have done is, I ask them who they are using as a saddle fitter. Then I research that saddle fitter and give them a call. I won’t ship a saddle until the saddle fitter has confirmed they are a real client, and the money is in my account.
It’s worked superbly for me so far.
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