Saddle questions!

[significance_0]

Hey ladies and germs. I'm saddle shopping!!

I am in the market for a new saddle. I'm a HUUUGE Collegiate fan and I have one now. However, it just isn't right for my dainty little mare. It fit my huge gelding quite nice, but I digress. I was having a snoop at the Dover website and came across this: www.doversaddlery.com/collegiate-sorrento-saddle/

Comments

[phoenix_igniton]

In that kind of budget I'd be looking for a used Beval or Amerigo...

[significance_0]

My thing is, it is ENTIRELY up to what I get for my saddle. I can come up with 500, but no more. So I'm low balling my saddle to 500 as well. I can hopefully get 700 for my saddle though.

I also am wary of a used saddle because I can't necessarily try it on my mare. What if I spend the grand on a Beval from ebay, but I hate it? I can't return it. And what if it doesn't fit her? It's very worrisome!

[gatehorse]

I think there are some saddle fitters in my area that will come out to the farm and try various used or new saddles to see what fits your horse. Have you tried calling around to different saddle fitters and seeing if they can come out to you with saddles to try? Then you could try used or new, and the fitter is there to tell you if it fits.

[miladyelizabeth]

I'm gonna respond with the answer 100 other readers will say: "whatever fits your horse." For that price you can get a very nice used saddle, just get a fitter out that can help. Good luck!

[significance_0]

Oh obviously, but I was wondering what everyone rode in. I'm not going to go out and just buy a saddle because I like it. If it doesn't fit Bugs I would never even consider it.

[candysgirl]

You said she's going to "grow up to be". Does this mean she's still growing? If so, I wouldn't spend a whole lot on a saddle just yet. Go to a local tack shop and try some. Take a tracing of her withers and see what ones might fit her. Most tack shops will have a return policy.

Look on Craigslist too. I found a 15yo Stubben for $300. It wound up fitting my boy perfectly. I didn't have a lot/didn't want to spend a lot because he was still growing at the time. Initially it was a little bit wide, but because I wasn't riding for terribly long periods of time because he was young, I just padded it up in the beginning. These days it fits pretty well without anything under it. I'm pretty much a Stubben fan all the way. I've not ridden in one I didn't like. When it comes time to buy a dressage saddle and/or replace the close contact I've got now, I'll be getting Stubbens. They've got 'web saddles' that were demos or have just been around for too long for their liking on their site for pretty cheap: Reply

[aligator423uf]

I don't know where you are in SoFla, but you may want to try out the Tackeria in Wellington. They always had an awesome selection of new and used, and I believe they do fittings or would be able to give you a rec. I think you can also try out a saddle from them. http://www.tackeria.com/

[kudosirony]

candysgirl and I completely agree on our saddles - Stubben all the way. I bought a used one off of Ebay for $700 (considering it retails for $2200+) in great condition and it's easy to find them under their retail. I figured with a nice brand saddle if it didn't fit my horse, I could sell it at a local tack consignment. I was very lucky that it fit my horse and I perfectly (at that time).

Unfortunately as she's getting older and losing some back muscle, I think I'll need to replace it for a narrower tree but I want a fitter to come out before I make any drastic decisions as my Stubben is my baby, haha.

I also recommend a used Stubben because it's already broken in, but these saddles last forever (I've seen some in good shape still that are ~50 years old!).