Why Buy a Used Saddle?

Many people find that buying used saddles is a much more cost-effective way to get high-quality saddles without breaking the bank.  If the saddle has been well cared for, you can almost bet that used saddles will last just as long as new saddles.  It's true that buying something brand new is always more fun.  The smell of a new leather saddle, that crackling sound of easing into a new saddle, and the idea that the saddle is yours, and yours alone, are all enticing reasons for buying a brand new saddle.  But, when you consider that you can often get many of the same benefits for as little as half the cost, you may want to at least think about buying a used saddle.

There are numerous places to find quality used saddles online.  For one, you can check the ad listings on this site.  There are usually many great used saddles for sale all around the country.  There may even be one available in your local area.  You can also check an auction site like www.UsedSaddleSearch.com.  This site allows you to quickly search for just the right new or used saddle.  Depending on the listing, you can either purchase the saddle immediately, or you can bid on it in an auction.  Either way, you're likely to find a great deal.  And the site offers much more than saddles.  There are hundreds of horse products available.

You can often find used saddles locally as well.  In fact, it's often a good idea to check local classified ads to see if there are any available before going online.  This is because you'll have the added benefit of examining the saddle before you make the investment. 

This is much more difficult to do online, but it's not impossible.  You can always request additional pictures of the saddle from different angles, and you can ask the seller questions to help you evaluate the quality of the saddle.  You can also request that the seller provide some sort of written guarantee of the quality as stated.  This will help you to get your money back if the saddle doesn't live up to the sellers promises.  Quite often, simply asking for such a guarantee will tell you what you need to know.  If the seller is providing quality used saddles, he or she will usually gladly provide the guarantee.  If not, you'll know quickly so that you can move on with your search.

If you do just a little homework, you can easily find great deals on used saddles.  You will probably find that the difference in price is well worth the extra effort.  Plus, you'll learn much more about the various saddle styles that are available along the way.