I’m looking for recommendations on where to list older hunt seat saddles (Crosby, Corbette, Smith Worthington, etc.) for sale. Hunt seat is not my forte but I know enough to know that French saddles are in vogue and these older utilitarian ones are not in demand. I’m located in the Midwest and the two tack stores that are somewhat local to me carry/consign only western saddles. I’ve contacted a couple eastern consignment shops but they won’t accept them. So good people of COTH, what do you suggest?
It’s frustrating.
I remember once upon a time (like the late nineteen hundreds), any useable saddle was worth at least $300-$400. An old Crosby was like the bread and butter of the H/J world.
Now you can’t give those old Crosby saddles away.
Honestly, the best bet might be trying to get $100 or so as a decor item via Marketplace.
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Have you thought about posting them online (Facebook marketplace, for example) at a reasonable price?
Anecdotally, when I see saddles sitting on marketplace for a long time not moving, it’s typically because they’re priced higher than they’re worth, not because they’re unfashionable.
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I’d first confirm that the tree isn’t twisted, foam degraded, dry rot, etc.
Some people are open to offer saddles but if they need a full reflocking/new panels and new billets the available market shrinks dramatically.
I do think that decor is often the most viable option. The narrow channels of the older saddles are also pretty unkind on backs so even when a market exists it may not be in the best interest of the horse.
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I had a AP flex tree Courbette that I tried to sell off and on for years. Good condition, well maintained, fit a variety of horses, very comfortable for the rider.
I ended up giving it to a friend to use on her school horses.
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Reasonably priced on Marketplace & Ebay.
People still buy them for lesson programs and such if the tree is sound and they are in good condition.
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Another possible market is for use on horseback riding simulators.
My much loved over 40 year old Crosby PDN Wide Front saddle that no longer fits modern horses now lives on my Home Horse riding simulator. It is in my living room, and to me it is an object of beauty that I always look at when I walk past it. It is also very comfortable and pretty secure on my Home Horse. I LOVE being able to ride in this saddle again, my favorite saddle out of over 50 years of riding.
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Tell your local 4H Horse & Pony program. They have a Western focus but the kids will ride cross discipline and those parents don’t want a huge investment in the English gear. What you have is far superior to the Chick’s Discount /Tractor Supply inventory. All those cheap production saddle usually fail to have a stirrup bar with a proper set so the kids have to fight with their position. (ie chair seat) A point to make for what you have. I had to point that out when they kept asking how come my kids don’t look like yours’ when they ride.
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I have been watching FB marketplace for one of these to start my baby horse, and they are selling for under $100 usually ($75 or $80) and sitting for a while before they sell. Sadly there’s little market for the old pancakes! I ended up buying a nicer surcingle that cost more than the saddle, oops!
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If they are the old school flat seat no knee rolls I would strongly consider donating them. If they’re newer with knee rolls and some padding then I agree with Facebook marketplace at a fairly low price. eBay is also worth a try although their seller policies are terrible now.
Aiken Tack Exchange and Pelham Saddlery will also take some older model saddles on consignment.
I would recommend Pelham Saddlery in NH for things like this. They have trouble moving the higher end saddles quickly (I’ve got 2 Devoucoux’s there going on a year), but they move older and less popular brands regularly from what I’ve seen. I had a 25 year old Tad Coffin with flat panels that they got sold within a few months.
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Rick’s Saddle Source (locations in NJ and PA) sell the kind of saddles you describe
https://saddlesource.com/all-categories/saddles-and-accessories/used-saddles.html
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Years ago, I sold a Crosby Equilibrium through Bucks Saddlery. It was a model on their “wanted” list. It sold before it ever went on their website. You want to send it to someone with a good website so old time collectors who want a vintage saddle can find it easily.
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This. I gave an old, unfashionable flat-seat minimal knee roll Stubben still in great shape to a 4-H leader I knew and he passed it along to a kid who was “thrilled to get such a nice saddle.”
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I dunno, try me! If you have a Crosby Prix des Nations that’s 15" or 16" and need to get rid of it—and it’s basically sound—you can give it to me! I still ride in my PDN from the 1970s (16") and a few years ago bought a 15" PDN on eBay for a couple hundred dollars and all it needed was some TLC. It’s my favorite saddle to ride in. My older one probably needs re-flocked. But they fit my OTTBs and me.
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Meee toooo!!! I have a collection which will go to the dump when I die… apparently. If you ride the “right” type of horse, they fit just fine (TB). Can’t stand those horrid things with all the “padding” everywhere, designed to “hold you on” ROTFLMAO. Gee, I always thought that it was “the seat” you had IN the saddle, not the saddle itself that “held you ON”. But hey, what would I know… I’ve only been doing it for 60 years.
OP, people like me buy them, because we appreciate them. And they are usually still functional (because they were originally well built saddles), or are easy and cheap to repair if they need a bit of help.
Advertise the saddles for what they are. Price them accordingly. You may stumble upon someone who appreciates quality at an affordable price.
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I shopped for a longggg time
Trying to find a Crosby Grand Prix jump saddle to fit my wide, flat backed horse. I loved the
Old Crosbys plus people on COTH raved about them.
Finally found one on eBay, looked like brand new.
My horse had to be retired so I advertised the saddle and not
One bite.
So now I just admire it and oil it
Once a year.
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A little over 50 for me. Exact same sentiment! I ride TBs too, although I did have a Foundation QH built like a barrel and my PDN was the only thing that didn’t slide on him, oddly enough. Just for old times’ sake, here is my 16" Crosby PDN with me in it at the Maclay Finals 1973. !!! 
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We still have a Tad Coffin Equilibrium and a PDN. I keep them for the memories.
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Craigslist. I never seem to get much interest (other than scammers) in anything on FB. Some scammers on CL too, but also buyers.
Just sold an old, 60s/70s vintage Stubben a few weeks ago via CL. Posted for less than a month.
Same with a Brenderup.
Larger, heavy horse items seem to do well on CL. No one wants to pay shipping, so they shop locally on CL.
I do have several blankets and a brand new pair of Equissential breeches I’d like to move on though. I don’t know if CL is useful for things like breeches. The blankets and saddles (I have a Dabbs I may decide to sell…) are too heavy to sell on Poshmark, but I can list the Equissentials on Poshmark and ship them.
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