Did you pay too much for your saddle?
Or did you get a bargain?
62 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
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Bargain Saddle?
A Horse, Of Course
By Don Blazer
Only you can answer; but maybe you don’t want to
know. Ignorance is bliss so they say, and in this
instance, it may be best to simply enjoy a state of
blissfulness.
What might be more important than having gotten a
bargain or having paid too much in the past, is how
best to shop for your next saddle.
Today’s “using” saddles can be priced from several
hundred dollars to more than $8,500…and specialty
or antique saddles can easily range into the tens of
thousands.
The keys to a perfect saddle purchase are: value,
fit, fit and fit.
Value is paying a fair price for the saddle, and a fair
price can be defined as “exchanged worth.” You
are going to give so many dollars and you want the
saddle to be an “equal exchange” for those dollars.
So it’s a matter of perception…if dollars don’t
mean much…then the number of dollars you pay
doesn’t mean much. On the other hand, if dollars
mean something, you better be getting your money’s
worth.
When you decide to buy a saddle you are saying,
“I want this particular desire fulfilled.” You need to
be pretty well focused on what that desire is, and
what can fulfill it. No wishy-washy idea will do.
To help you identify and fulfill your desire, three
things are mandatory: fit, fit and fit.
The saddle must fit you! English or western, jumping
or cutting, pleasure or gaming, you must be comfortable
in the saddle at all times, all the time. A
saddle that makes you think about it when you are
riding is overpriced at any price. When you are riding,
your saddle should be so comfortable that you
never think about it.
No matter the price, you’ve paid too much if the
saddle doesn’t fit your horse. If you are buying a
ready-made saddle, you must have the opportunity
to “try it—on your horse—before you buy it.” If you
can’t do that, the saddle is no bargain. (If the saddle
is being shipped from a far away maker, then
you should have the right to return it if it doesn’t fit
the horse…be reasonable…you don’t need to ride
the horse more than a few minutes to determine fit.)
If the saddle is custom built, the saddle maker will
want measurement of your horse in order to determine
the proper tree, skirt lengths, gullet, etc.
Finally, the price must fit your budget. It doesn’t
matter if you can spend $1 million on a saddle—set
a budget so you’ll get a saddle that satisfies your
definition of “value.”
Here are a couple of “save dollars” shopping tips:
if you are ordering a custom built saddle, tell the
saddle maker the highest amount you’ll pay, and
then let him design to fit the budget. Saddle makers
can be very creative and stay within the budget…
see the design, then decide. If the design doesn’t
thrill you, shop another saddle maker.
Buying a used saddle that fits, fits and fits, plus is
eye-appealing to you is often a better value than
getting a new saddle.
When it comes to silver, more is less. If you are buying
custom only have “sterling” silver used; silver
plate and other imitations fade fast and are dollars
wasted.
You can get what you want at a price you are willing
to pay, and it will be a bargain if it fits, fits and
fits.
Know the kind of saddle you want!
If it doesn’t fit three ways,
you’ve paid too much!
/www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com