So, I thought I was going to have some fun saddle shopping at a store 30 min away... well, it wasn't so fun. I even upped my price range to 1k, and what I seen there in their used saddles- a lot in my price range, but only a few that may work, but even then, the saddle was hanging more to the little small side ( for the gap in the middle for the spine, my saddle fitter said 4 fingers... one was just a hair bigger than 3 fingers, another one started a little more and 4 fingers, but at the back was a little more than 3. Workers at the shop said for 4 finger width, look for a 32-33 size, but most saddles didn't have it marked ( the one that was too small at least was marked 31). My saddle fitter is on vacation, so there was no point in taking the other one on the 3 day trial, but I was set to at least look.
However, I was only looking for 2 brands that my saddle fitter said were good used brands for arabs: Stubbens and Passiers. I need a 17 or 17.5 sized saddle, but as you arab owners know- working with a short backed horse... yay.
Are there other brands that tend to work better for short backed horses other than what I am looking at? ultimately, I know it comes down to how it fits the horse and all. I am looking for a decent saddle- not cheapo brand, but not top quality. I am just looking for an all purpose saddle.
I have a few options: my BO used to have an arab- the saddle was MIA tho- it has to be somewhere. I can ask if she could find it and do a quick saddle fit check myself and if I feel it is a possibility, call the saddle fitter back out. ( Also, my saddle fitter had a saddle that may work but didn't bring it, so when she comes out she could bring it- I know its slightly different type tho, so I may not like it even if it fits)
other option is: Once my aunts place sells, and everything is valued, I will be getting a decent inheritance. I then would have a much higher budget- could even buy a nice brand, brand new saddle. However, who knows ow fast this place will sell. So, for right now, I could spend the 5-600 bucks on a cheaper brand- thinking like a wintec synthetic that fits the horse and me, and just plan on buying a nicer, better quality saddle in the future once I get the inheritance. Yes, ideally it would be better to buy th e best saddle first- buying a new cheap saddle with the knowledge it will be replaced can be a waste of money- HOWEVER- it could then either be a trail saddle or could use it as the it can rain any minute saddle because its synthetic. Or I could cosign it- but lets face it- you get what you pay for, resell value for cheaper saddles may not even be worth it.
So, I rambled. But I am starting to think it would be a good idea to buy a cheaper brand saddle that fits ( seeing as there wasn't a lot of stubbens or passiers at this place- used or new) and waiting til i get more money to get a good brand, brand new saddle. But also was wondering if anyone knew other brands of English, all purpose saddles that tend to work better on arabs/ short backed horses- i may have simply passed over soem good saddles because I was sticking with what the saddle fitter suggested.
However, I was only looking for 2 brands that my saddle fitter said were good used brands for arabs: Stubbens and Passiers. I need a 17 or 17.5 sized saddle, but as you arab owners know- working with a short backed horse... yay.
Are there other brands that tend to work better for short backed horses other than what I am looking at? ultimately, I know it comes down to how it fits the horse and all. I am looking for a decent saddle- not cheapo brand, but not top quality. I am just looking for an all purpose saddle.
I have a few options: my BO used to have an arab- the saddle was MIA tho- it has to be somewhere. I can ask if she could find it and do a quick saddle fit check myself and if I feel it is a possibility, call the saddle fitter back out. ( Also, my saddle fitter had a saddle that may work but didn't bring it, so when she comes out she could bring it- I know its slightly different type tho, so I may not like it even if it fits)
other option is: Once my aunts place sells, and everything is valued, I will be getting a decent inheritance. I then would have a much higher budget- could even buy a nice brand, brand new saddle. However, who knows ow fast this place will sell. So, for right now, I could spend the 5-600 bucks on a cheaper brand- thinking like a wintec synthetic that fits the horse and me, and just plan on buying a nicer, better quality saddle in the future once I get the inheritance. Yes, ideally it would be better to buy th e best saddle first- buying a new cheap saddle with the knowledge it will be replaced can be a waste of money- HOWEVER- it could then either be a trail saddle or could use it as the it can rain any minute saddle because its synthetic. Or I could cosign it- but lets face it- you get what you pay for, resell value for cheaper saddles may not even be worth it.
So, I rambled. But I am starting to think it would be a good idea to buy a cheaper brand saddle that fits ( seeing as there wasn't a lot of stubbens or passiers at this place- used or new) and waiting til i get more money to get a good brand, brand new saddle. But also was wondering if anyone knew other brands of English, all purpose saddles that tend to work better on arabs/ short backed horses- i may have simply passed over soem good saddles because I was sticking with what the saddle fitter suggested.
