Girth Havana
I Really, Really Want This Saddle and Need Some Thoughts/Opinions And I Have A Few Questions...?
I don't have a lot of $$$ to spend and I am on a strict budget and I have to buy other riding supplies as well. So I found this saddle I really want in the new Stateline Tack catalog. It is a Regency Close Contact Saddle for $349.99. The ad states 'Fine Leather Saddle features a soft, well-balanced seat. Includes saddle, bridle, bit, girth, Quilted Cotton pad, Stirrup Irons, and Stirrup Leathers. Ideal for Show Jumping (which is what I do)'. Comes in chestnut or havana. Seat sizes 16 1/2", 17", and 17 1/2" and comes in wide and regular. First of all, is this a good deal and a good saddle? Secondly, how do I figure out what size tree do I need? I never learned that. I also do not own my own horse and would be riding other people's horses. Thanks for your help!
First off, anything under $800 new isn't going to be even half decent for show jumping, and the saddle on Amazon, without the package, is $249, so the State Line Tack deal really isn't all that great. The leather won't last you long, and it might not even fit your horse well, even in the right tree size. Also, if you do go ahead, don't ride in light colored pants/ breeches for a while, because all the dye will end up on your pants until the leather breaks in. My experience with people who have had saddles from this brand has been poor, and the saddles just aren't very comfortable and don't cut it if you do a lot of riding. You will be much better off to skip over this "deal" and get a higher quality used saddle that will last longer and is already broken in.
Here is what I have bought in terms of used tack, and, clearly, these are much better deals than what you are considering (both these saddles are close contact models):
A Courbette Pandur Special (17" seat, Wide Tree) in Excellent Condition, with a box of assortments including martingales, stirrups, stirrup leathers, four girths, and two bridles, for $350. The saddle alone retailed at about $1000 new, and the actual value of the used purchase was closer to $800.
A Courbette Stylist II (15 3/4" seat, wide tree) in excellent condition for $400. This saddle retailed around $2250 new.
Obviously, it is nice to have a saddle that is your pride and joy and you brake it in all yourself, but if you want something that is going to last heavy training, be comfortable for you and your horse, and also allow you to jump at higher levels, a quality used saddle is going to be a much better deal for you, and if invest in a better brand the saddles fit a wider variety of horses without as much additional padding, because you can either adjust tree width manually (Silhouette), or change it entirely (Bates) with some models, and others (such as Courbette) have self-adjusting panels and somewhat flexible trees that conform to the horse's back. Since you will be riding other people's horses, shoot for a medium wide or a wide tree, since a horse's back should get wider with training, and you can always add more padding, but you can't make your saddle smaller. I always get wide trees because my horse's are all wide- three curlies, a warmblood, and two drafts, and the wide tree fits all of these guys. My Courbette's have only needed to have extra padding under them on two occasions- and it was on small, very out of shape, hardly ever been ridden horses that were a very rare narrow tree.
 WHITMAN FABRIC GIRTH NEW IN PACKAGE HAVANA 46  US $12.99
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 52 Havana Chafeless Shaped Leather Girth w Elastic US $22.50
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 Bates Elastic Girth With Cair 50 Havana Brown New US $99.95
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 Bates Elastic Girth With Cair 52 Havana Brown New US $99.95
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 Bates Elastic Girth With Cair 48 Havana Brown New US $99.95
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 Wintec Elastic Girth With Cair 46 Havana Brown New US $74.95
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 Bates Elastic Girth With Cair 54 Havana Brown New US $99.95
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 Wintec Elastic Girth With Cair 48 Havana Brown New US $74.95
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 Wintec Elastic Girth With Cair 52 Havana Brown New US $74.95
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 Henri de Rivel Pro Overlay Girth Havana 44 US $90.20
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 TORY LEATHER Contour Girth with Elastic Havana 42 US $71.50
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 Leather Girth Extender Havana One Size US $22.99
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 Henri de Rivel Pro Overlay Girth Havana 46 US $90.20
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 TORY LEATHER Girth Loop with Solid Brass Loop Havana US $15.99
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 Henri de Rivel Pro Overlay Girth Havana 54 US $90.20
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 Neoprene Padded Girth 40 Havana US $43.99
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 CHAMPION TURF ENGLISH GIRTH HAVANA SIZE 50 US $80.99
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 Overlay Show Girth Havana w Real Sheepskin Elastic 46 High end Leather US $114.75
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 ENGLISH LEATHER CHAPPLESS GIRTH HAVANA 36 THROUGH 48 US $49.99
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 Edgewood Dk Havana Sheepskin Girth 40 CLOSEOUT US $146.40
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 Edgewood Dk Havana Sheepskin Girth 42 CLOSEOUT US $146.40
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 48 Havana Chafeless Shaped Leather Girth w Elastic US $26.50
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 Pinnacle Fancy Stitched Leather Girth Havana 50 US $74.95
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 Whitman Fabric Girth 30 Havana US $19.99
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 NEW Havana Leather Contoured Dressage Girth Horse Cinch Brown 120206 US $69.99
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 CHAMPION TURF ENGLISH GIRTH HAVANA SIZE 48 US $80.99
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 CHAMPION TURF ENGLISH GIRTH HAVANA SIZE 54 US $90.99
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 KINCADE LEATHER GIRTH HAVANA BROWN SIZE 46 US $59.99
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 Leather Girth 42 Inch Havana US $19.99
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 46 Havana Chafeless Shaped Leather Girth w Elastic US $26.50
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 40 Havana Chafeless Shaped Leather Girth w Elastic US $26.50
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 Leather Sheepskin Overlay Girth Havana 56 US $142.15
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 No Split Leather Overlay Girth Havana 54 US $93.55
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 Leather Contour Girth Havana 52 US $84.55
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 Leather Girth Loop Havana One Size US $16.99
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 TORY LEATHER Contour Girth with Elastic Havana 50 US $71.50
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 TORY LEATHER Contour Girth with Elastic Havana 46 US $71.50
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 Neoprene Padded Girth 52 Havana US $43.99
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 Leather Girth Extender With Elastic Havana One Size US $28.99
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 Neoprene Padded Girth 46 Havana US $43.99
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 TORY LEATHER Girth Extender Havana US $22.99
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 Leather Overlay Girth Havana 50 US $93.55
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Perri's Leather Girth Extender, Havana, One Size List Price: $14.95 Sale Price: $13.46  |
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Perri's Is Best Known For The Most Complete Line Of The Finest Amish Made Products Available Anywhere. Adds Up To 7 Inches To Girth. Stainless Steel Roller Buckles. |
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Tory English Girth Extender w/Elastic Havana Sale Price: $17.99 |
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Tory® English Girth Extender with Elastic features easy roller buckles with elastic inserts to make tightening easier . 10" Made in the USA. |
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Perri's Leather Girth Loop, Havana, One Size List Price: $8.50 Sale Price: $6.93 |
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Perri's Is Best Known For The Most Complete Line Of The Finest Amish Made Products Available Anywhere. Accommodates Most Girths. 5 1/2" Long With Stainless Steel D" Ring. |
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Perri's Leather Girth Extender with Elastic, Havana, One Size List Price: $21.95 Sale Price: $19.76 |
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Perri's Is Best Known For The Most Complete Line Of The Finest Amish Made Products Available Anywhere. Same As # 615GE But With Elastic, Adds Up To 7 Inches To Girth. Stainless Steel Roller Buckles. |
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Tory Leather Girth Extender List Price: $0.00 |
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Tory Leather Girth Extender |
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Stubben Ultra Soft Girth 50in Havana Sale Price: $129.99 |
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Stubben Ultra Soft Contoured Girth Stubben quality, soft contoured girth with triple elastic on both ends. Center seam for strength; roller buckles for easy adjustments. Model 232 |
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Stubben Ultra Soft Girth 52in Havana Sale Price: $129.99 |
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Stubben Ultra Soft Contoured Girth Stubben quality, soft contoured girth with triple elastic on both ends. Center seam for strength; roller buckles for easy adjustments. Model 232 |
Lime Green
Orange Nylon
Boots English
Turquoise Tan
Cinch Girth
Saddle Ranch
Buckle Field
Dan Post
Ranch Roping
Wool Felt