reasonable budget for dressage saddle?

[eventerbabe]

I've the saddler coming to sort my event saddle (at last! pointless having a £1000 saddle i can't even ride in :rolleyes:), and am toying with upgrading my synthetic dressage. It's served us well so far, but i ride in it all the time just now and would like something a bit posher. I didn't purchase my current dressage saddle from this saddler, so P/X isn't an option. I want to keep the saddle anyway as one for Kezzie to use in the future. Trouble is funds are tight, so i've about £400 to play with. Will this get me a decent second hand dressage saddle? i'd be interested to hear the prices paid for second hand dressage saddles, just so i have a ball park figure in my head when saddler comes. Ta :)

[xloopylozzax]

£400 is an ok budget.

what area are you in?

[RachelEvent]

I think for something nice you're looking at a minimum of £500, unless you are lucky to find an older ideal jessica or similar. many of the cheaper second hand dressage saddle are of an outdated design that will do nothing for the riders position.

I bought an approx 6 year old Prestige dressage saddle from a saddler for £500 .. the selection of saddles cheaper than this were not very nice.

[eventerbabe]

i could stretch (just) to £500. With toby's build, i was thinking of a Jessica. Ideally i'm looking for something that will help our dressage progression. loopylozza - I'm up in scotland :)

[S_F_S]

If you have an idea of what made/model/size you want, there are some super bargains to be had on eBay.

[Lacetti]

If you have an idea of what made/model/size you want, there are some super bargains to be had on eBay.

Echo *nods*

[xloopylozzax]

this is our saddle (http://www.newrider.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=149145) (well the thread about it anyway) and we bought it second hand for £400 (or it might have been less, i cant remember)

it was a couple of years ago though.

perfect condition, no damage and fits well and puts you into a good position.

it is possible ;)

[eventerbabe]

my other thought was get rid of the event (which i DID purchase from this saddler, so she might P/X it) and buy a super, duper new dressage saddle but then i'd be scuppered for jumping. I don't jump a lot but would still like the option to.....

I've never actually used ebay :o i've been browsing local classifieds as if saddler does have something that fits nicely new, i'd see if i could find one second hand. Theres a nice albion for £450....

[RachelEvent]

i wouldn't personally buy from ebay, unless you have specifically tried the exact model and size of saddle - and I'd still want it checked out by a saddler afterwards... so it often doesn't end up being that cheap.

I personally think that (if it fits!) the wintec isabell is a much better saddle than most cheap leather dressage saddles. However it generally seems to fit lighter types of horse... Ideals are great on a variety of horses - love all of their dressage models. Barnsby also seems to fit all sorts. Kieffer are really adjustable - that might be an ebay worthwhile since the trees can be heated up and adjusted.

Might be worth getting saddler to try lots of new dressage saddles, so that you have an idea of what you like, and therefore when it comes up second hand you know you can go for it.

[Nookster]

T6 dressage any interest to you ? richard davidson one - think thats £400

[MrKia+Me]

I would have thoguh that that would be a decent budget as well considering the T6 cob saddle I am going for is only 400 quid brandh new.

Are you specifically going for leather??? Or would synthetic do???

Nikki xxxx

[andreaB]

i'd say minimum £500 from a saddler , however if you are wanting something popular & not that old in good condition expect nearer the £1000 mark , eg 2nd hand albion slk

[eventerbabe]

i've asked the fitter to bring new and second hand saddles with her :) thanks for the input guys, now i've a figure in my head as what's reasonable to pay for a saddle (didn't want to get ripped off!).

Nik, ideally i'm looking for leather. Current one is synthetic but i don't think it does anything to help either toby or I. might see if the OH can make a donation to bump my budget up a bit :D