Would you buy a saddle online?
February 272010
I have seen some nice deals on e-bay etc.. for saddles. I am looking for something in a 16" Western, Leather. The prices on e-bay seem to be better than local tack shops. I am asking would you buy one without sitting in it? Can anyone recommend a brand that they think is better? What do you think a good price range is? I have seen saddles up to $4000 at a tack shop near hear! I was hoping no more than 400. It is just for weekend trail riding.
Any help is appreciated.
I have bought several saddles from ebay and have NEVER had an issue with any of them.
Of course I know what I’m looking at and what I’m looking for. I go with Circle Y, Tex Tan, Ozark, Billy Royal, just to name a few of the better brands.
Here’s a Circle Y in your price range: http://cgi.ebay.com/Nice-Circle-Y-Equitation-Saddle-21290128301_W0QQitemZ120324253820QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item120324253820&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
On the lower price tags, Big Horn, Simco, etc.
February 28th, 2010 at 12:28 am
to go on the horse even if its alot of money
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February 28th, 2010 at 1:07 am
I would be careful about buying online, but that’s not to say you can’t get a quality saddle through ebay. My sister sold her steele plantation saddle there, and I’ve seen some nice quality saddles go through. Just check feedback ratings and such. Problem would be that you can’t check it for fit on your horse until you get it home. If the person you purchase from won’t allow a return if it doesn’t fit, you would be stuck. Another thing, you’d be better off buying a well used name brand saddle in good condition, than some of these cheap flashy brand new ones. I love my steele saddle, but new they run around $1500….you can occasionally find them used on ebay for around $800. Ask around, but for me, brands I prefer are Circle Y (especially the older ones), Tex Tan, Silver Royal (again, the old ones)…big horns are so-so….OK I suppose, but they didn’t fit me well. Which brings up another thing….if you can’t sit in it, you may get an unpleasant suprise. I have several friends that love Tucker saddles. Swear by them, they are a good quality saddle, I’m not knocking them, but I can’t ride them. I’ve tried two, and both of them caused me great pain. Perhaps you could sit on several saddles, find something you like, and then try to find the same type of saddle online.
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February 28th, 2010 at 1:52 am
I have bought saddles online, but that’s just me. It depends on if you want to trust the people that are selling it to you. I haven’t bought things on ebay, but I have from other tack websites. If you can send it back I would, but if you can’t, I’m not too sure.
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February 28th, 2010 at 1:57 am
I have and would again buy a saddle on line, if you do your homework first.
Remember, you get what you pay for. Most of those saddles on ebay that are new are very cheaply made and will not last. Nor are they very comfortable. Sometimes there are some older saddles that are still in good shape. And some of those cheap saddles might be just what you need.
The problem with online shopping, is that you can’t always return it if it doesn’t fit you, or your horse. Nor can you send it back if it’s a cheap piece of *&^$.
$400 ought to buy you a decent, older used saddle. Try Craig’s List in your area first. Maybe exhaust your local sources before you go international.
Good Luck and have fun.
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35+ years of horses
February 28th, 2010 at 2:18 am
To be honest with you I’m a bit bad.
I go into my local tack shop and look at a saddle I would like. I see if it woul fit my horse, have a seat in it and see how I like it and what the quality is.
Then if I like it I leave the tack shop go online and buy it online much cheaper! =)
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February 28th, 2010 at 2:23 am
I like Billy Cook saddles, i have 4 originals. The newer ones are good too. I would buy off of ebay simply because they have decent policies on there. I have bought items on there that were not to the quality of what was described and returned them. Ebay simply refunded my money.
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February 28th, 2010 at 2:38 am
Yes, I sure would and have done so. Do your homework first though. Ebay is pretty strict about people representing items exactly as they are. You are free to ask questions of any seller. Often the people selling are tack shops.
I bought a brand new saddle from a tack dealer that only goes to horse shows. He doesn’t have an actual "shop" location, he works out of a trailer. I know the guy and have seen him at horse shows for years and years. I paid $500 for a saddle from him and LOVE it! It is a barrel racing saddle (I use it for trail riding though) and it is made by Guffy Saddlery
Click to read a review:
http://www.horsetackreview.com/review-display/9050.html
Call them up and see if they have something you want, they are a small company so are very likely to work with you. Perhaps you CAN afford a brand new saddle. I did and have never been sorry.
Guffey Saddlery
2268 Brow Rd
Trenton, GA 30752
706-657-6290
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February 28th, 2010 at 2:55 am
I have bought saddles online and it’s been kind of hit and miss. My conclusion is, buy a used well made saddle every time with a name you recognise, even online, over a new, cheaply made one. It works out better in the long run.
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February 28th, 2010 at 3:31 am
I have done and would do it again.
I did have a couple of experiences where the saddle wasn’t quite right for my horse ( odd balance etc) and I turned them round and relisted them back on Ebay ( but always with better photos)
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February 28th, 2010 at 3:37 am
I would only buy a saddle online if they had a good return policy in case it didn’t fit my horse.
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February 28th, 2010 at 4:23 am
i have bought a western saddle on e-bay before. they aren’t that bad. Just make sure that you are a 16" for sure before you buy it. The one i have is actually very comfy. Tack shops around my area are the same way. Saddles can range from 300 bucks to about 6000 dollars. It’s very expensive so i like to look for good deals.
Good Luck!
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February 28th, 2010 at 4:38 am
I wouldn’t, if it doesn’t fit the horse properly it can do more harm than good and if it’s uncomfortable to you then it’s no fun.
Also, if it’s worn out when you get it it’s not going to last as long as if you get a good quality second hand one that you’ve seen and tested that may be more expensive but will last longer.
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February 28th, 2010 at 4:43 am
Personally I would never buy anything for my horse over the internet if it needed fitting. Saddles need fitting by specialist Saddle Fitters; good ones will bring a selection of saddles along with them.
Prices on eBay are quite probably a lot cheaper than your local tack shops, but the quality is varied. You can return saddles to your local tack shop and also try them out to see whether they are comfortable enough.
My advice is to contact your local saddle fitter and tell him your requirements. If he’s good then he’ll bring some saddles that will suit you.
Good luck!
P.S also, I personally don’t ride Western but my best friend(who’s sitting right next to me) does, her favourite brand is Abetta.
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February 28th, 2010 at 5:07 am
Now, I’m admittedly an English rider, but some things hold true across the disciplines. The first is that you get what you pay for. And the second is some brands are better quality than others.
If you’re not familiar with the specific brand, or if the saddle has no maker’s mark, than the quality is probably suspect. Many saddles are manufactured in India or Argentina where the leather and labor is cheaper and poorer in quality. Furthermore, many of these no-name saddles are made by people without any understanding of horse anatomy, and they can be ill-fitting in addition to poor quality.
I’ve bought saddles online only when I’m familiar with the maker, and the seller has a guaranteed return policy in event of the saddle not fitting the horse and rider. I could recommend you sites if you rode English, but since you’re a western rider, I recommend you talk to your trainer and see what he/she recommends. Many trainers have preference to one or two brands, and that will at least give you a launching-off point.
Since you’re just trail-riding, you don’t need to purchase a western show saddle, but you do need to find something that fits your horse and yourself (I always put the horse first). Have you considered a used saddle? That way you can buy something a little higher in quality, but lower in price.
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February 28th, 2010 at 5:22 am
I have bought several saddles from ebay and have NEVER had an issue with any of them.
Of course I know what I’m looking at and what I’m looking for. I go with Circle Y, Tex Tan, Ozark, Billy Royal, just to name a few of the better brands.
Here’s a Circle Y in your price range: http://cgi.ebay.com/Nice-Circle-Y-Equitation-Saddle-21290128301_W0QQitemZ120324253820QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item120324253820&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
On the lower price tags, Big Horn, Simco, etc.
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Over 40 years of training horses, riders and making/repairing saddles and tack
February 28th, 2010 at 5:49 am
I definitely recommend the Wintec Saddles. They come in english and western. There synthetic though. I bought my all purpose english saddle online because it has changeable gullets. But I would stay away from Ebay, as if it doesn’t fit, you are probably not allowed to return it. I would go with the local tack shops.
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February 28th, 2010 at 6:31 am
I have only bought a saddle online that I was either allowed to use on a trial period with the option of sending it back with full moneyback guarantee OR I had done a trial run with the saddle from my local tack shop.
Without actually knowing how the saddle would fit me or my horse, I would never purchase something without seeing it first.
Good Luck!
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February 28th, 2010 at 7:08 am
yeah i bought a saddel on ebay {16 inch and its perfect it also came with a breast collar and reins and a headstall also came with a free of charge halter, the headstall and breastcollor were also free of charge } and it is the best thing that i ever got…i only paid 300$ for everything and its awsome.. its a really good brand i can’t think of it right now but its awsome and of high quality leather…
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February 28th, 2010 at 7:41 am
I would and just did buy a saddle online BUT I paid for a demo week. Try the saddle, ask a professional how the fit is, see if you horse likes it, and then confirm that you want it.
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February 28th, 2010 at 8:30 am
hello I have purchased two saddles off ebay and SAVED!!!! my barrel saddle is a tex tan brand new its $2300 usd and I paid $1300 for it off ebay I also bought a english set if you live in canada get it shipped through the post office not through UPS they are a rip off and will kill you on the shipping my barrel saddle cost $70 in shipping through canada post but through UPS it would have been around $200 but make sure you check out the sellers and ALWAYS pay through PAY-PAL so your money is protected.!!!!
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February 28th, 2010 at 8:35 am
I sold a saddle on line and the lady was very happy with it.
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