[crazy4horses205]

Ok I know that most english starter packages are not good quality at all, but keep in mind that I am a beginner english rider and that this would just be for fun. If I decide I really like english then later I can get a better one, but this is just for fun, english pleasure riding and jumping up to 2'.

http://www.horse.com/products/gift-0__sku-EKA30.html

or this one

http://www.tackoutlet.com/store/cust...tid=261&cat=50


My mom doesn't have the money to buy me a really good one, so I am looking for a saddle package under about $150. Tight budgit I know, but I really want and english saddle package and this sounds like a good deal, but I don't know anything about english saddles, lol, so I need some help Thanks bunches

I think I would get the black 17'' because all of my tack is black now, so I might as well get more black stuff, unless you think that the brown would look better on him.

[Lindsayanne]

I just don't think those sets are safe. When you think about the consequences of an uncomfortable tree on your horse or billets snapping while you're riding the price isn't worth the risk, IMO.

Here's a crosby for $150: http://www.tacktrader.com/show_item.php?tack_id=109464
older name brand saddles sell on ebay for under $150 every day. Even sets sometimes: http://tinyurl.com/ajlt6


If you DO decide to go with a cheap set, at least save some money and buy it second hand. Here are similar saddle sets for sale under $100:

http://www.tacktrader.com/show_item.php?tack_id=109541
http://www.tacktrader.com/show_item.php?tack_id=109399
http://www.tacktrader.com/show_item.php?tack_id=107063
http://www.tacktrader.com/show_item.php?tack_id=108773
http://www.tacktrader.com/show_item.php?tack_id=107002

I found TONS more on tacktrader- shop around, there's no reason you can't find a good used saddle cheap or a cheaply made saddle even cheaper.

My recommendation would be to ask for cash for Christmas and get a good brand of used saddle- the name brands will always have resale value but something like that starter set- you'll be stuck trying to get 30 or 50 bucks out of if like the people in the ads I linked above.

Keep in mind that cheap saddles aren't built for comfort or correctness- they are built to be cheap. If you want to 'try riding english' and you try in a poorly built, poorly balanced saddle, you're not really trying english- because english in a good, balanced saddle will feel very, very different.

[Mutrok]

^^ Toatally agree!! Shop around and find a good quality used saddle. You will be so much happier with it in the long run.

[Sandra-A1]

I see no problem with trying out one of these inexpensive starter sets. Especially if your just starting out, just want something to play around with, or even want to see if you like a new style of riding.
Not all of them are of bad quality or poorly made.
There are many good ones available now days....you just have to be willing to look and check them out.

What I do advise, however.....is to check out the RETURN POLICY of any place you are thinking about buying from BEFORE you do purchase..... to see if you can return the saddle set if it is not what you want, or does not fit your horse.
See if you can return the saddle and find out ahead of time if it is for a full refund, store credit, or a swap. Make sure you are clear on that!
That way you will know if you can return the saddle and for what or if you are stuck with it.

I know of several people who have bought inexpensive starter sets and they turned out to be really nice.
Speaking from my own first hand experience...
I purchased a VERY inexpensive Dressage Saddle from State Line Tack years ago and staill have nothing but great things to say about it. People who have saddles that cost four figures accused me of trying to pull their leg when I told them what I paid for it after they saw and rode in it!
They liked my just over $100 saddle a lot more than theirs!
So you can find a really good saddle that is inexpensive...just do your homework and be sure to check the return policy BEFORE you place your order!

Look around because lots of places have similar starter packages...some offer more some less.

Also send a private message to BlisteringWinds...she has a tack shop and might can help you out with your search for an affordable english saddle!

[AutumnAttic]

I dont see an issue with buying starter sets. The only problem I see is when people start jumping with them, because that can be stressful on a saddle, and parts could break. However, Im jumping in a cheap saddle, and nothing has happened.. My horse is comfortable.. There is a synthetic english saddle on valleyvet.com I really like. Its a cheap price, but I have it , and my friend has been riding in hers for years. I think its a pretty good saddle

[Carla_Lizzy]

all of my saddles have not been expencive at all, and i dare say we have had no trouble with them, but jack is having a new one, more expencive next year but to keep at show, only because he needs an x-wide because it will look alot better in the showring, but for nearly 3 years we have had the same ''cheap'' saddle, simply because when we bought jack he didnt vome with anything, (not even a headcollar) so we had to buy everything new, because it was a big step up from my 13.2 newforest x to jack.

i dont think that it would be a problem to buy one of these sets to strat with, but i would check that it fits properly, and it it safe.

also black will look fine, but i think that dark brown would also look ok!

[JBandRio]

I have to agree with most of the rest - I would not buy a new saddle (much less a complete set) for this price. Up to a point, you get what you pay for. This translates not only into cheap leather which is more likely to break, but also to lower quality parts in general, such as the saddle tree. More important than the leather in a saddle is the tree - cheap saddles are often made with trees that are either crooked to begin with, of of such cheap material that they quickly become twisted.

You can buy a VERY decent quality bridle for cheap at www.equusnow.com I would also look on Ebay and other places (including tack shops that do consignment) for a high quality used saddle. You will be MUCH better off in the long run, I promise.

[Friesiangirl]

Tack auctions around me are reliable, and inexpensive. Never go to ebay without experiance. Have a trainer or tack expert help you, pictures can cover up things I don't like starter sets, i like my tack high quality-used. It's already broken in, and you can ask if it's comfortable, ballenced, and such.

[turn-n-burn5477]

I actually had that saddle(sold it to get a new horse) and it was sooooooo nice!!! It was actually in very good condition and good quality. I would buy it again if I hadnt found another one that I really like.

[Shotgun93]

Well, for starters, they have this set listed as an All-purpose jumping saddle, which right there tells you that they don't even understand what kind of saddle they are selling. It's either on or the other, you can't have an all-purpose jumping saddle.

But, the biggest problem I see with these cheaper saddle sets its that they fall apart. The trees break, the bridles come apart, the stitching unravels. It's not a good thing.
People are right, sometimes you can get lucky and have a great saddle, but 99.9 times out of a 100, they are cheap.

What ever you do, be sure that you have a return policy. That's the other problem I see with these saddles. They never fit any horse correctly, so you ahve to be sure that it will fit, and if it doesn't, that you can return it.