Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Purchasing Saddles from Catalogs


I subscribe to a number of horse related magazines, in turn I receive a number of catalogs related to the horse industry. They market many products, some offer saddles for sale, some costing as low as $250.00 and others as much as $1000.00 or more.

Catalogs are a great place to purchase products but in my opinion not the place to buy a saddle. Pictures can be misleading, I want to be able to put my hands on the saddle, pick it up, turn it over and really give it an inspection because I have a horse that I love and care for, and I care for my own safety. I want to make sure that the saddle will fit my horse, an ill fitting saddle is like a humane being wearing a backpack that doesn't fit well, you will become one cranky hiker.

The same with the horse, if the saddle doesn't fit well he can get very cranky and that puts my safety at risk. I have paid a great deal of money for my horse and paid trainers to make my horse a better horse. Why would I put a $250.00 saddle on my horse's back and risk the health of my horse and risk life limb using such a saddle. Drive to your local saddle maker or tack store, pick that saddle up, turn it over and give it an inspection, don't you believe your horse is worth the effort.