I sold a Stubben ( bought new in 1983) I had not used in many years and wished shortly after that I still had it.
I had it at a tack shop on consignment. It didn’t bring a lot but I used the heck out of it for 25 years so it probably wasn’t as in good of shape as yours is. You would be surprised what someone is looking for.
We have a sond hand store here and the movie set decorators go there all the time, also restaurant designers look for stuff.
Myself - I have this little spot on my front verge – it is absoslutely astonishing what people will pickup for free.
I have purchased older Barnsby’s. (And still have and use them). They do last forever and they are very well-made. Love them!
(And yes, Scribbler, I do have my students ride in them! lol!)
eta: also sold a very old Stubben Siegfried for $650 and one of my students paid $450 for an older Stubben Cavlleria 1. So ‘old’ does not have to mean ‘trash it’.
I bet if you compared it to a really.high end high tech modern saddle it would look.flat and hard. There is even a dressage saddle model called Sofa but I can’t remember the brand 
LOL, I too collect saddles, and love the oldies but goodies!
Yes, it would, and would greatly lessen the value of the saddle. Do not do as Csaper suggested!
Yes, and eBay has a category in the saddles (and other categories) labeled ‘for parts or not working’. The listings I have seen of that type often say for decor purposes. The most important thing is to state that although you believe the tree is sound, you recommend replacing billets,etc.
Edited to add, I just did a Google search for Barnspy Supreme Saddle. I looked at one of the ‘hits’ that came up, and saw that someone sold one on eBay for $219 even with it being described as broken tree. Whoever suggested contacting Schleese was giving great advice, IMO.
Could you please PM me the details? I will be in SW ON at the end of the month (I live in SE ON) - hi neighbour!
Dee
I was window shopping on eBay, and saw something that may be of interest to you. I am not the seller, so I hope it is OK to post this. In case you want to have the billets replaced, look at what I found!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STUBBEN-SHORT-BILLETS-LOT-OF-6-PRE-PUNCHED-READY-TO-SEW-BLACK-STANDARD-13-/111970252362?hash=item1a11f2764a:g:fQAAAOSwuxFYtzN5
DeeThbd - I wouldn’t have the first clue how to PM - did I mention I am techno-idiot? LOL Same for Ebay - that whole procss is way beyond my comfort/skill level. I am in London.
sdlbredfan - those billets look good but I am also concerned about the condition the piece of webbing (?) or whatever you call it that the billets attach to. And I certainly wouldn’t be able to sew something that heavy. I am going to look for a saddle repair person when I get some time.
Thanks to whoever said that cutting the billets off was not a good idea - that just didn’t sound right to me.
If you are selling a saddle, cutting the billets is a safe and effective way to prevent a saddle, suspected of being unsafe, from being ridden on by a future buyer, (who, if an accident occurs, might then turn around and sue the seller).
It also prevents a ‘less than honest’ repair person from oiling/conditioning rotten billets, and charging for new ones, when they suspect the customer won’t know the difference.
The saddle maker will be cutting the existing billets off at the time of replacement, so nothing lost except liability.
If you are keeping the saddle call the nearest tack stores and ask for recos for saddle repair.
Are you in London UK?
Walsall UK (2 1/2 hrs NE of London) is one of the saddle making capitals of the word, with many experts in the craft working there. Shipping your saddle to a tack repair business in that city may be the way to go.
No - the “other” London - SW Ont. The crappy one , ha ha. That’s a good idea to call tack stores; I’ll try that.
Barnsbys last forever. My mother’s was bought used in the 60’s. If it fit me and I was still riding, I’d use it. I bought one ~4 years go that’s a little smaller and probably as old. Both are cutbacks. The problem with them is that most younger riders don’t know how to ride in a flat saddle without the stirrup bars slid way back.
They don’t have a lot of value, but they have some.
Call Joe at Canterbury Outpost. He could give you an idea of whether it is salvageable or not. Www.canterburyoutpostsaddlery,.ca or Geoff at Bahrs might also help. I suggest Joe because I know he is familiar with Barnsby saddles, although possibly not of that vintage LOL. and he is my saddle fitter so I feel comfortable vouching for him.
Do people really worry about this? The saddle is 40 years old. Of course it could be unsafe.
One would think that it could also be handled by noting the condition of the billets on the bill of sale rather than cut off the billets.
If you just want it gone, you could call SARI and see if they are looking for any saddles for the therapeutic program?
I looked around, and found some local places that may do repairs:
https://taylormadetoo.com/ - this one is near Denfield, and they replace billets
http://www.wilsonsaddles.ca/ - this one is in Atwood, north of Stratford - a bit of a hike!
People who cut suspicious billets off an old saddle never have to give it another thought.
What possible reason would someone have for being upset that old rotten billets have been removed?
Other than “Hey I was gonna use that saddle a few times before I got it fixed”.
A popped billet can get a rider injured or killed. It’s not great for the horse either.
Without billets you can’t really gurth up a saddle and see if it fits your horse before you buy it. Most of us want to do that these days.
Well, yes, I think everybody understands that. My question is whether there is any real legal concern of being sued when selling a 40 year old saddle. Or any saddle, to be honest. Any used equipment comes with risk - “buyer beware”. Anything that old comes with obvious risk due solely because of the age of the leather.
I think it’s funny that in the same thread people are discussing how to prevent from being sued and donating this saddle for disabled kids to ride in. I’d be far more worried about donating it to a therapeutic riding center than selling it to a buyers who knows it’s 40 years old.
Which would be why I said repair and then donate, because only a heel donates an item that needs a $ repair to be useable.
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