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Veteran
Posts: 233
 
| Okay, so maresy is fat and out of shape, I'm fat and out of shape. I'm finally over the post pregnancy body and I've been steadily losing weight since Christmas and intend to keep losing weight back down to a "fighting weight" sometime in October or so. The past week I've been legging up the mare and working on correct bend and soft responsiveness and just getting her broke to death so I can take advantage of living 5 miles from Waddell quarter horses and go to some clinics and lessons and learn something.
Here's the problem: My 17 inch bumping-around-trails saddle isn't a great fit for either her or me, but I'm not sure I want to shell out a significant chunk of change for a saddle I might be able to use for 6-8 months, then need to buy another one. I'm a terrible salesperson and never seem to able to sell things for what they are worth.
And to compound matters, one of the local places has a 16" Allen Ranch barrel saddle for $1250, which seems fair, if I could talk hubby into spending it. . . .
Anybody been here? Should I just get a bareback pad and wing it? I really would like to take some lessons, but I don't want to be unprepared. . . Sigh.
Edited by hannahbug 2017-03-18 8:33 PM
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7613
  
Location: Dubach, LA | |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | Will the local place take your current saddle on trade? That could help defray the cost. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I always do my trades at Teskey's in Weatherford. They have brand new saddles for that price... If the saddle doesn't fit, ship it back and they'll send you one that does fit.
If you aren't close to Weatherford shipping a saddle is only about $40-$45. It's worth it to try out saddles. THey may have a used one that would work for you that's in your price range.
Oh, and did I mention they have layaway?? I put stuf back in layaway all the time. No interest. 90 days. if you go past the 90 days they'll call you and ask if you need more time.  |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| I take it the Teskeys are pretty decent saddles? There's this one on my local Craigslist
https://tulsa.craigslist.org/grd/6051160898.html
I only feel confident with Allen Ranch saddles because I am so close to the Allen Ranch, and my daughters saddle is by them so I've been up close and personal with it and seen the difference it makes in her pony.
I am so out of my depth when it comes to gear. I've got a nice with a fabulous work ethic, and I feel like I'm playing catch-up with her. |
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Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | hannahbug - 2017-03-20 10:03 AM I take it the Teskeys are pretty decent saddles? There's this one on my local Craigslist https://tulsa.craigslist.org/grd/6051160898.html I only feel confident with Allen Ranch saddles because I am so close to the Allen Ranch, and my daughters saddle is by them so I've been up close and personal with it and seen the difference it makes in her pony. I am so out of my depth when it comes to gear. I've got a nice with a fabulous work ethic, and I feel like I'm playing catch-up with her.
It's a nice quality leather for the price.
Allen Ranch Saddles are very nice. If you feel comfortable with it then go for it!!
I was just suggestiong since I do so much business with them. I like their prices and the layaway. My SO doesn't like the layaway program LOL
Edited by IRunOnFaith 2017-03-20 10:15 AM
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| You're only hurting your horse and your progress by not having things that fit. Kind of like going to a job interveiw in a potato sack.
If you're worried about having to buy a new saddle when you've lost more weight, maybe compromise and go 1/2 size smaller when you buy. Say you fit in a 15 now, buy a 14.5.
By not having the saddle fit your horse, you could cause major issues and lose training time due to soreness.
Bite the bullet and spend the money. You'll be better off in the long run, and we all know horses cost money!! |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | Are you sure the Allen Ranch will fit your horse? |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| clover girl - 2017-03-20 12:28 PM
Are you sure the Allen Ranch will fit your horse?
I figured I'd take the horse with me to try it on, given the shop has a selection of used saddles and it's not terribly far. If it doesn't, I keep looking. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Well, I've been there-started with a saddle that fit me ($550 circly y) liked the saddle but it wasn't great-sold it for a newer 16" corriente-too big sold it bought a 15" sharon camarillo with a narrow tree (fit the good horse great-the new horse not so great) my daughter rides that now-bought a 16" camarillo (which is an oddity fyi) liked the fit for the horse but was a bit big for me. FINALLY found a mary walker in a 15.5" that fits the horse good and me great-I know most won't agree with me but about 5 years ago I found the CSI pad and that makes the saddle fitting issue quite a bit better. I think the summer I rode that 16" corriente I tipped $2000 worth of barrels-feet swung too freely-then I gave the horse to my daughter :) After all that I lost $50 on the circle y-made $50 on the 16' camarillo-came in even on the corriente and kept the 15' camarillo for my kid (who sold a corriente for what we paid for the camarillo) i now have $2200 invested in the mary walker saddle-it's a journey but there are a lot of really nice used saddles in the world that aren't so expensive.
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wwyd? saddle dilemma