05/09/2026
🐴 WHY I DON’T SELL SECOND-HAND SADDLES…
I’m often asked if I sell second-hand saddles. The main reason I don’t is simple: we don’t know their full history.
A saddle may have been used on an asymmetrical horse, repeatedly altered or heavily flocked, dropped, or stored badly. The panels, flaps, tree and girth straps may also need attention.
A used wool-flocked saddle often requires a full strip and reflock and it may need new girth straps or other repairs. What looks like a bargain can quickly become much more expensive. 💷
👉 You can buy a brand-new synthetic saddle for around £700 (some are even less).
Modern synthetic saddles are lightweight, adjustable, easy to maintain and available in different tree and panel options. Most importantly, they have a known history because they are new!
For many horses and riders, I’d rather start with a new, adjustable saddle that I know is straight, sound and unaltered than spend a similar amount buying and repairing a second-hand one.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t good used saddles available. However, as a professional fitter, I want to know exactly what I’m putting on your horse’s back.
Fit, safety and value for money come before the label on the saddle. 🐴❤️
Sometimes, a new £700 synthetic saddle is a better investment than a £500 second-hand leather saddle that needs hundreds of pounds spent on it before fitting.
