A Buyer Beware Tip for Used Saddles
October 31, 2011 by Saddle Sense
Filed under Saddle Buying, Saddle Tips
After a very long absence – over a year! – we are oh, so happy to be back. I thought I’d start out with a quick “buyer beware” post of something I just saw on ebay..
Someone is selling a vintage Billy Cook trail saddle with a cracked tree. Now, to give them credit, they are revealing in the listing that the saddle tree is indeed cracked.
But a saddle with a cracked tree is done being a saddle. What it is now is … parts. The seller has it listed for $162, which is a bit rich for “parts,” which makes me a bit nervous that someone might buy it for a riding saddle.
Don’t do it. A cracked tree is a serious defect that will be no good for the horse or the rider. Stay away.
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Actually if the right person buys that saddle, and takes it to a a professional they can carefully remove the leather and parts and put onto another tree after measuring the old. If they want to spend the money to keep it original send the tree out for repair. I know this sounds like a great deal for $162.00 worth of leather. But considering the prices of a Billy Cook Saddles this is actually a great buy!~
I’m going to have to respectfully disagree with you. By the time you spend all the money it would take to do what you describe, you could buy a used saddle in ready-to-ride condition. Also, I would never, ever repair a broken tree, and never, ever, ever ride a saddle with a repaired broken tree. You’re just asking for trouble, and bad trouble at that. There’s just no need. There are many, many, many great used saddles for sale in good riding condition for ridiculously reasonable prices these days.