So you want to buy a cheap saddle package?

Maybe you should look at these pics, there is a reason why they can sell them so cheaply, and this relates to both Western and English, you save money on the bits that the customer doesn't usually see.

This was posted, on another board, and it is reported to be a new saddle









THIS is why we keep saying that instead of buying the $200 all inclusive 'new' saddle, you are far better off buying a golden oldie, made in the USA or UK, or similar, you have a far greater chance of having a saddle made by someone who was proud of their product, and not out just for your cash!

Finally! Some visual proof for those who do not believe the price reflects quality!

Ya get what ya pay for! That's what my Dad always told me. It's one of the few useful things he taught me... I'm glad I learned. We've always bought older used saddles (15+ years). They've been good for us.
One thing we learned though, the cheap pads are just as bad as the cheap saddles. Oh, and the cheap headstalls.
Quality is so important! Your and your horse's life may depend on it.
For example, my dad was riding beside a highway, his horse spooked, bolted and when Dad was pulling back on the reins the snap that was attaching the bit to headstall let go of the bit (not sure how that worked, but it happened). If Dad had dropped his reins the bit would have been around the still hyper horse's neck.

Wow - who would have designed and built that? It looks like something I would have done when I was a five year old and was just completely clueless about detail and pride in workmanship.

Oh wow I knew they were horrible, but I NEVER imagined they were that bad. I actually am embarrassed that I considered buying one just last fall. I hadn't really seen them up close. Then I actually touched one and saw it sit on a horse(about a week after I made a thread asking about them) and I was disgusted.

Since having my eyes opened to how bad they are I truly honestly believe its abuse to put one on a horse. Which is another reason I hate the "mass production" riding schools.

Now that I have seen what they look like inside. I firmly stand behind my belief of it being abused. This is shocking and disgusting. Never will any horse in my care have one of these pieces of crud on their back.

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The Western Saddle Packages under 400.00 are about the same, inferior components, leather is Water Buffalo hide tanned with urine.

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Wow, now I wish someone had picture proof of a western saddle like that.

Heck next time I'm at an auction, I'll get one and sacrafice it for ya.
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Wow, that is SCARY!

My best friend and I were in the only local saddle shop we have that actually makes it's own tack. There was a lady there trying to sell them her western saddle. It was light oil with a turquoise seat and turquoise cutouts. Even from a distance we could tell it was one of those cheap saddles you see online. The owner of the shop asked her how much she wanted for it and she said $500, since it'd only been on her horse once. The owner told her that he wouldn't take that POS saddle if she offered it to him for free and there was no way on God's green earth he'd put it on even a horse he hated. She kept insisting she'd paid $1000 for it and it was a wonderful saddle. After she left in a huff, the owner told us that the tree on that saddle was so warped, it wouldn't even sit on a saddle stand straight. It was made of that buffalo hide tanned in urine and would never break in like a good quality saddle.

I bought one of those cheap bridles GallopingGuitarist warned about. Not on purpose, but I needed a draft-size English bridle and was on a VERY tight budget. When I took it in to get the browband replaced after my dog ate it off (took it to the same shop we were at when we saw that lady and her saddle), the owner of the shop laughed at it and literally called it a POS. I couldn't do anything but sheepishly agree with him. I've oiled that thing a dozen or more times and it's still stiff as cardboard.
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