ok horse lovers!?

Question

ok so where can i find a good sadel for a beginner thats cheap yet a good one

Answer 1

English or western?
I am a poor college student and I always get the cheap saddles with as high of quality as I can afford.
These saddles are carried by most internet suppliers- email me if you can't find them
Western- the Cordura brand are extremely comfortable. They are not leather, but are flexible and can fit most horses (if you switch horses a lot with lessons). They are about $150-200.
English- I absolutely love the Griffith /Thorogood brand. They make all types of english saddles. They run about $4-600. My horse broke and I was uncomfortable in a lot of the cheaper ones (cheap wintec brand for example) and this is the only saddle that worked well with her. They also help you sit more correctly.

If that is out of your price range for an english saddle, the cheap wintec ones work ok for most horses, or you can try your local 4-H tack swaps- it is about the time of year for them again. I bought a 1000 dollar jumping saddle there gently used for $300.

Good luck on finding a saddle- make sure you bring someone with you who knows about horses and can fit the saddle to the type of horse you are riding. Not only does it have to fit your butt, but your horses back as well.

Answer 2

Go to a tack store, they will be able to help you pick out the best saddle. If there is a good, reputeable used tack dealer, they will have cheaper saddles. Just be careful with used tack, you don;t want a saddle with a broken tree, as that can really hurt your horse.

Make sure that the saddle properly fits your horse. There are two main trees (internal structure of the saddle), wide and narrow. There are also adjustable trees available, which would be handy if you are riding several different horses. If I remember correctly, I took a piece of wire that would bend, but hold it's shape, and placed it on my horses back and bent it so it followed the curves of the back (across the withers, where the saddle would be), that way I had an idea and something to show the people at the tack store.

You may want to look into synthetic saddles, they are often less expensive and easy to care for. Dover Saddlery is a good website.

This would be a good, inepensive beginner saddle http://www.doversaddlery.com/wintec-250-all-purpose-saddle/p/X1-15123/cn/91/ . Wintec makes decent quality synthetic saddles.

Answer 3

You will probably find that a good quality second-hand saddle is just as good, if not better than a cheaper new one. Make sure you try it on, without a numnah, girth it up and ride around on it for a while to check that it fits OK. If you are looking to buy an English saddle do be sure that it fits perfectly - I have been judging for many years and am amazed at how many animals are being ridden in very badly fitted saddles. A reputable saddle-fitter will make sure of this; a badly-fitting saddle can cause irreparable damage to your horse's back and possibly cause him to buck.

If you would like to have an Equestrian/Horse category on here, please go to the Forum and suggest it. Thanks.

Answer 4

I'd buy from a local tack store rather than a mail order since you will need to check the fit of the saddle on your horse and yourself...but if you have to go mail order, try statelinetack.com or one of the thousand other websites that carry tack and do some comparison shopping.

Make sure there is a return policy though, nothing worse than an ill-fitting saddle. It can permanently injure your horse and cause you nothing but grief.

Answer 5

Your local Flea Market. In my area - its equestrian heaven around here -I live near Wellington Florida where the National Horse show is and you can find all types of saddles. You need to look for the type of saddle you will need and Saddles have to fit the rider and they come in sizes. You need to decide if the beginner will be riding English or western and start from there. Talk to the person who will be giving lessons to the beginner and that will be your best starting point. Good Luck -k-

Answer 6

Well you don't live in my area, and I bought my saddles locally but I think that Stateline Tack often has good sales, although they're more in the English department and I don't know what you're looking for. Also, check out tacktrader.com, they have some good stuff.

Answer 7

A good source are postings at a farmer supply or tack shop. You could put up a notice yourself of what you are looking for. Good luck!

Answer 8

StateLine Tack has both western & english saddles--most are reasonably priced

Answer 9

put a wanted ad on craigslist.com someone probably has one taking up space or is willing to help out a fellow equestrian. good luck

Answer 10

www.saddleonline.com
They have GREAT saddles, VERY cheap. They are a trusted seller, so don't worry about any scams.