Look into a used Niedersuss. Lovely saddles, well made, last forever. Tons of wither clearance.
I would not buy on eBay unless you know exactly what you want. Middleburgh Tack Exchange is delightful to deal with and you can return the saddles if you don’t like them. Plus, their shipping is very reasonable. Their prices on saddles are very food.
Gallop- thank you!! That’s incredibly helpful.
Interesting about the Kent saddle…I’ve come across a few and assumed they were some cheap/off brand. I also love that it’s at Middleburg.
[QUOTE=CCRider12;8589189]
Buy a Thorowgood;) Wool flocking, changeable gullets, adjustable thigh blocks and billets. You can find the T4 for around $400.00. I have one for my guy that I used until I could afford an upgrade. The saddle fitter adjusted the flocking and it fit great! I found it very comfortable to sit in, and on my pocket too![/QUOTE]
Agree, in the “bargain priced” category it is hard to beat Thorowgood or K&M. These are actual quality saddles. They are not as cheap as a Kinkade but they are actual, functional, quality pieces of tack. Maybe you can even find one used?!
[QUOTE=talkofthetown;8588979]
I’m also currently dealing with back issues, so a) I do understand how damaging a poorly fitting saddle can be, and b) most of my “extra” money is going towards getting my mare pain free and back in shape. Hence why I can’t up the budget (for now). Which is fine, because I’m giving her a break from under saddle work until her back feels better.
So I’m not in a huge rush to make a new purchase, as I want to find a well-fitting saddle and I could use the extra time to save more cash. On the other hand, I feel a slight bit of urgency because I am completely saddle-less until I buy something.[/QUOTE]
Forget about riding right now. You shouldn’t be any urgency for riding.
You need to find a saddle that will be fitted by a professional fitter.
The money you will invest in your saddle will make you save TONS of money in Vet care and loss of use of your horse. Back pain is a serious issue in horses, it doesn’t go away just like that. You need to have a good training program and more important, a good fitting saddle. You might have to spend more now, but in the long run, it’s a better choice.
I constantly fight having a chair seat, so anything that would remotely draw my leg forward is out. (It’s a conformation thing, I’ve always had this problem; different horses, saddles, etc)
Hardly think it’s conformational but really from badly fitted saddles that didn’t fit you nor the horse. Unless you can’t stand straight on your feet, it was the saddles.
Would like to keep it under $400, but the cheaper the better obviously. I know that’s not a lot to work with, but that’s what is realistic for me at the moment.
You sure can find a saddle that could fit both of you under 400$ but still, it will be old and will need some maintenance. You will need to considere having it reflocked which could add 100-300$ depending of what needs to be done (and who does it).
Your horse deserves a saddle that fits. If you need to wait longer, then so be it.
[QUOTE=alibi_18;8589253]
Forget about riding right now. You shouldn’t be any urgency for riding. [/QUOTE]
Not sure why you only took part of my statement? I did say that I was not currently riding. Nor do I plan on riding until her back is in good shape and she’s been cleared by my vet and chiro/massage therapist. But I would like to at least own a saddle that fits properly so that when the time comes, I’m ready.
Hardly think it’s conformational but really from badly fitted saddles that didn’t fit you nor the horse. Unless you can’t stand straight on your feet, it was the saddles.
I appreciate the opinion, and I would normally agree if I heard someone claim this. However, it is conformational as I do have physical limitations. 
Your horse deserves a saddle that fits. If you need to wait longer, then so be it.
I agree, which is why I mentioned that I am saving some extra money while she’s not being ridden. Of course I want a saddle that fits. However, ideally I would like to find a well-fitting saddle within my current price range.
I also have a K&M (Kent and Masters). It’s the next tier above Thorowgoods, made by the same company. I’ve been very impressed with them - super comfy saddle, very adjustable.
I have not sat in a Thorowgood, but I expect it would exceed expectations for its price point, and if I was looking for a cheaper saddle, I would definitely try one.
Also, I have bought saddles off tracings before. Here’s what you need to know to measure for a saddle fitter. (This is Colleen Meyer’s website, she also offers distance saddle fitting.)
Given your budget, I would not be considering older used saddles. Realistically, you will need to have a fitter out to re-do the flocking on most of the old, super cheap saddles - and that will run several hundred dollars.
I’d look at recent model Wintecs and Thorowgoods. If you get some help choosing the one with the tree shape that matches your horse, you should be able to manage a reasonably ok fit yourself using the changeable gullet plates, shims, and a half pad.
[QUOTE=talkofthetown;8589157]
That’s not a bad idea. Would I just go to their website and find instructions for doing the tracing?[/QUOTE]
Trumbull Mountain saddlery has great instructions on their website.
My Passier GG is a miracle. I was a hunter and it puts me in a good position, but when we had a saddle fitter at the barn where I used to board, the Passier fit everything! The flaps tend to be long, so not perfect for short legged riders. I’m 5’5 and no supermodel, and it works for me, but not a custom saddle, obviously. But seriously, it fit my OTTB (not super shark finned but very defined), and fit my roly poly Andalusian x QH. I use a fleece half pad and can do the wool flocking as horses change, but PS Baum trees defy physics, seriously. And very well made. But if your mare is off for back pain already, I’d invest in a saddle fitters visit before purchasing anything. Get recommendations and then keep searching eBay for deals. It will save money in vet bills later, from the sounds of it.
The LAST thing you want if your mare already has back soreness issues is one of these crappy Kincade saddles. Have you ever sat in one? They really are awful.
Check out Thornhill saddles too. They’re moderately priced and you should be able to find a used one for a deal. They can be reflocked as well. I’ve had one for YEARS and it’s a great saddle.
If you’re not able to ride to trial a saddle now, you may be counting your chickens - you may buy something you don’t like and be stuck with it because you couldn’t try it. Additionally, horses who have had time off often change shape and size in work. So you may end up with a saddle that fits neither of you out of the best intentions.
OP, if you have not already done so, I suggest that you ask helpful fellow boarders/students if you could try their saddles. I have been happy to bring in saddles for people in this situation (like many horse people, I have multiple dressage saddles at home which were for other horses–not my current horse!). This experience will give you a good sense of possibilities. You’ll be able to rule out saddles many without even riding in them.
Besides learning about the seat and tree size, you will also want to measure the flaps for a good fit for you and observe the length of the panels on your horse’s back (many 17.5-18" saddles are quite long if your horse is shorter backed).
I second the idea of saving a bit more. The Thorowgoods are worth a look then.
The good news is that riding bareback my help your chair seat!
Piedmont, I’m actually not in a boarding situation. Thank you though!
Soloud, that’s a very good point and I’ve considered that too. I’m hoping that over the next several weeks, Maresy will be strong enough to at least let me sit and walk around, or lunge with the saddle on. I’m of the opinion that this would be enough to judge if it’s a good enough fit to consider buying. Do you agree?
Didn’t mean to turn this into yet another saddle fitting thread. 
Over the next month or two (depending on how things go), my plan is to continue working my mare from the ground only. I am going to use that time to save, shop, research, etc. I will avoid Kincade’s. :lol: Like I said, I was simply curious about the brand because I didn’t know anything about it.
In case there are still those that are concerned; I have no intentions of rushing to purchase a poorly fitting saddle. I fully intend on having others help me evaluate the fit when the time comes. I would like to purchase something that is at least of decent quality. That said, I am casually looking now because I know that this can sometimes take a long time, and I also want to keep an eye out in case an irresistible deal comes along.
[QUOTE=jherold;8589615]
The good news is that riding bareback my help your chair seat![/QUOTE]
:lol: Or at least my ability to ride a buck!
Serious note, my chair seat comes from my ankles/lower legs. I have extremely limited flexibility in my feet and ankles, as well as some actual bone deformation, and it effects my entire lower body. I can’t put my heels down, which causes me to shove my lower leg out in front of me for security. I’ve had multiple trainers work with me on this; some say a chair seat is fine, as it’s more comfortable for me. Others have said chair seat is NEVER ok, work on keeping the lower leg back and who cares that your heels are up. It’s been a lifelong struggle. Either way, the ankle issues have really made it difficult to have a correct lower leg. Doing hip stretches and exercises help, but I’ll always struggle to some degree.
If you tend towards a chair seat the Kincade might make this worse. I found that to be the case when I tried one many years ago. My mare hated it too. It was hard, stiff and wonky fitting. Just NQR all over. I returned it. Maybe it was the one Beowulf dissected!
Well, I’ve gotten to a point where I can look at a saddle and know on sight whether it will likely work for me or not. That comes with kissing a lot of frogs, so to speak. I have a non-ideal conformation (very short upper thighs, long calf - my length of leg is in the wrong place) so I’m not one of those people who can jockey around in anything. So for me, before I will spend any amount of money on a saddle I want to ride in it on my horse and make sure it’s going to work for me.
As an aside, the “ideal seat” relies very much on the person having ideal proportion of torso, thigh, and calf. It also favors someone who is longer in the leg, especially if that length is in the thigh. Someone who has a shorter thigh and longer calf will always tend toward a chair seat in order to make the angles work, unless their stirrup is shorter than is “correct.”
OP I have a 17.5 T8 dressage saddle that I just bought used. I don’t really ride dressage and bought it because I think so highly of them and it was a decent price. I’m not otherwise looking to sell it, but if you think it’s what you need-- I’ll part with it. You can PM or email me if you want. No offense if it’s not what you want, I just felt bad not offering when here you are looking (maybe) for the very thing I impulse bought just now.
Thirding the suggestion of a Thorowgood. I picked up an older model with a fixed tree size (not adjustable) for under $200. No, it’s not a pretty buffalo leather $3,000 couch but it’s pretty darn comfortable!
