07/24/2026
"Can you tell me what saddle to look for on the used market?"
Not really. And not for the reason you likely think. The used saddle market is a wild untamed unregulated desert and can be disasterous.
Some common problems:
1) The saddle is broken - I see this FAR too often. Popped rivets, shredded nylon, broken trees, twisted seats, uneven tree points. There is no transferrable warranty, brands will not send a new tree, etc. You MAY be permitted to pay them to replace the tree for you, if they still have access to the tree in your saddle, but it will be expensive and not a quick process. These issues can cripple your horse and cause a huge amount in vet bills.
2) What is on the stamp isn't the full picture - Just because the stamp says "Saddle brand X, Model 123, Size ___," does not give us the type of tree, whether that tree was every changed, was it pressed correctly or incorrectly. Etc. -
- If it has warranty repair work done, great, there should be a record of that with the manufacturer linked to the serial number. But, if a saddle fitter worked on it, if they sent it to the local leather repair shop, etc the chances are good that it is not the same as it was when it was freshly made and from the workshop. (people attempt to combat this with nonsense like "Dot to Dot" measurements, which literally mean nothing.)
- Manufacturers make changes over time for a number of reasons without making the public aware. For example, when a saddle tree maker closes, or a new one with improved features comes to the market a brand might switch suppliers or trees. So what your horse liked in a new saddle from a demo at a fitting, may not be what is available in the market used.
2b) Saddle Configurations : Panel shapes, gusset depths, flocking materials, linings, Billets placements, etc. These features are the balance, softness, clearance, and comfort portion of the saddle. The way the panels are constructed, or have been maintained, or changed, is not found in the serial number or on the ad. The billet placements and connections are customized to the way the saddle was orderd for the first horse, and will not always work for your horse. So, how the saddle actually sits on the horse is going to be dependent on how it was ordered for the original horse. I see saddles regularly, with panels wildly uneven or different left and right, or with HUGE front or rear gussets. Today I had one that had a custom point billet put on and no other front webbing for alternate configuration.
3) How a saddle has been maintained matters. Flocking, panels, balance, fit, etc. are all factors in how that saddle will last and work. Almost every used saddle I see needs a full strip reflock, because they haven't been adequately maintained. Or they were flocked by someone unskilled and are uneven, overflocked, or lumpy. There is a cost to maintaining a saddle. Even foam panels need replacement every 4-6 years to maintain their integrity. If the used saddle hasn't been maintained those costs will fall to the new owner. And often those variables are the difference between the horse liking it and the horse hating it.
- Additionally I have seen saddles that are so over- oiled, or under maintained that the leather is ruined and will never be safe to use again. Dryrot, mold, mildew, rancid fat, bug infestations, smoke damage, or any number of weird and gross smells can be present.
4) The saddle is past its reasonable use.
- Saddles are a piece of sports equipment. They are not meant to last forever, nor should they. Most saddles have a 5 or 10 year warranty on the tree, and far less then that on the leather, because it is subject to the care put into it. You wouldn't go running in a pair of Nikes from the 80's. Nor would you play football in a helmet from the 90's. Technology and knowledge progress as a result of research and advancements in animal welfare.
5) There are NO warranties on used saddles. The warranty extended from the factory to the saddle does not transfer to the new owner of the saddle. So if anything goes wrong with the saddle, you own an expensive paperweight. Or the makings of an expensive handbag.... and you need another saddle. I have seen strirrup bars break, I have seen saddle trees break, I have seen trees twist, I have seen staples break, rivets pop, panels distort or warp. Stitching come undone. If you have purchased that saddle from a rep/manufacturer with a warranty, the saddle maker will handle the cost of the repairs. OR WILL REPLACE THE SADDLE!!!!! I have seen some brands refuse to even offer paid repairs on saddles that are out of warranty.
Look, I get it, horses are expensive. And every little cost savings feels like a win. The margins on saddles are slim, no one is getting rich selling saddles, new or used. But to be able to trust that your saddle is perfect and fits your horse, and that you have a manufacturer that is standing behind their product can prove to have very real monetary value.
We have new saddles with warranties as inexpensive as $2300. The majority of our inventory is under $4500, and we offer a couple of high end options above that. But the cost of most used saddles isn't worth the risk. And we have a bank that offers financing on saddles. And we only require a 50% deposite when you order your saddle and the balance due when the saddle is ready.
Do your due diligence, have a skilled saddler check over a saddle if you are considering buying used. Yes, we will charge you for the inspection, but it might save you a lot more money in the long run.
