New saddle or repair old?

chappel16 · 09-03-2008, 12:46 PM

I am on the fence on a situation...

I have an older saddle that I LOVE. I am riding in it now, and it fits the horse I ride as well as me. Only problem is that the girth billets are going bad and need to be replaced.

So I am unsure if I should just fix the old saddle up, and get a few more years in it, or just buy new.

I could fix the old saddle, but I wont know how many good show seasons I will get out of it since its older, but it fits both me and the horse so well. But, I could also spend the extra money to get a new one, and KNOW I will get plenty of good show seasons out of it, being its new. With the new one though, there is a chance that it may not fit as well as the one I have now does.

So my question is, would it be worth to spend the extra bucks for a new one, or just stick with the old one, and do the needed repairs?

Slim Pikkens · 09-03-2008, 07:35 PM

If you're happy with your present saddle I'd get the billets replaced. I don't imagine all 6 need replacement as you wouldn't be using the center one. Do you have some pics? (not too big please)

cook1745 · 09-03-2008, 07:37 PM

I personally would go with a new one and know it is safe and sound!!!

RebaRose · 09-03-2008, 07:48 PM

I would have your old one worked on. I just bought a brand new saddle and have been trying to get it broke in. It is taking forever and more than once I have wished that I would have bought a used one!

reiningfan · 09-03-2008, 08:14 PM

What brand is your old saddle? A decent brand is definately worth fixing.

lopintoo · 09-04-2008, 09:41 PM

I don't know a thing about an english saddle, but if it is a quality used western saddle that will stay "in fashion" in the show pen for a while longer I would definitely get the older one fixed. We have saddles that are 20 - 25 years old that are much better quality and much, much more confortable than any new one. We will fix them until they just can't be fixed any more.

Mav2007 · 09-05-2008, 08:32 AM

Definitely fix the old one, unless it has major unreparable damage.

chappel16 · 09-05-2008, 08:37 AM

Its an older Borelli english saddle. There is nothing wrong with it but the girth billets are soon to bust. I think I may just get the billets fixed for now, and ride in it till it is no longer sound, than get a new one. That way I am not in a rush to buy a new one, and I can shop around.

Thanks for the info!

Slim Pikkens · 09-05-2008, 04:18 PM

The older Borelli's were actually pretty good saddles, made of good quality leather but cheaper labor in S. America. These were probably the first imported saddles that served the general market that couldn't afford the very expensive British and European made saddles.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Saddle/Tack repair?	StefanieLeann14	Tack, Apparel and Equipment	7	05-25-2008 08:50 AM
English saddle repair...	chappel16	Tack, Apparel and Equipment	4	05-20-2008 08:51 AM
saddle repair	littlebit	Tack, Apparel and Equipment	9	10-17-2007 01:33 PM
Saddle repair	Lovers_End	Tack, Apparel and Equipment	5	10-17-2007 09:37 AM
English saddle repair	BarrelGirl	Tack, Apparel and Equipment	3	11-28-2006 04:36 PM

09-03-2008, 12:46 PM
chappel16 Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oviedo Florida Posts: 1,043	New saddle or repair old? I am on the fence on a situation... I have an older saddle that I LOVE. I am riding in it now, and it fits the horse I ride as well as me. Only problem is that the girth billets are going bad and need to be replaced. So I am unsure if I should just fix the old saddle up, and get a few more years in it, or just buy new. I could fix the old saddle, but I wont know how many good show seasons I will get out of it since its older, but it fits both me and the horse so well. But, I could also spend the extra money to get a new one, and KNOW I will get plenty of good show seasons out of it, being its new. With the new one though, there is a chance that it may not fit as well as the one I have now does. So my question is, would it be worth to spend the extra bucks for a new one, or just stick with the old one, and do the needed repairs? __________________

09-03-2008, 07:35 PM
Slim Pikkens Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,948	If you're happy with your present saddle I'd get the billets replaced. I don't imagine all 6 need replacement as you wouldn't be using the center one. Do you have some pics? (not too big please)

09-03-2008, 07:37 PM
cook1745 Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 3,518	I personally would go with a new one and know it is safe and sound!!! __________________ Home of my sweet girl Cinnamon. Not fancy but she is mine!!!

09-03-2008, 07:48 PM
RebaRose Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: wisconsin Posts: 222	I would have your old one worked on. I just bought a brand new saddle and have been trying to get it broke in. It is taking forever and more than once I have wished that I would have bought a used one!

09-03-2008, 08:14 PM
reiningfan Yearling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western Manitoba, Canada Posts: 516	What brand is your old saddle? A decent brand is definately worth fixing.

09-04-2008, 09:41 PM
lopintoo Long Yearling Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,239	I don't know a thing about an english saddle, but if it is a quality used western saddle that will stay "in fashion" in the show pen for a while longer I would definitely get the older one fixed. We have saddles that are 20 - 25 years old that are much better quality and much, much more confortable than any new one. We will fix them until they just can't be fixed any more.

09-05-2008, 08:32 AM
Mav2007 Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,489	Definitely fix the old one, unless it has major unreparable damage.

09-05-2008, 08:37 AM
chappel16 Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oviedo Florida Posts: 1,043	Its an older Borelli english saddle. There is nothing wrong with it but the girth billets are soon to bust. I think I may just get the billets fixed for now, and ride in it till it is no longer sound, than get a new one. That way I am not in a rush to buy a new one, and I can shop around. Thanks for the info! __________________

09-05-2008, 04:18 PM
Slim Pikkens Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,948	The older Borelli's were actually pretty good saddles, made of good quality leather but cheaper labor in S. America. These were probably the first imported saddles that served the general market that couldn't afford the very expensive British and European made saddles.