KEN'S COLUMN - One out of three - not bad!
Although restaurants and bars still seem to be doing a good trade – and I have yet to come across anyone who is forced to sell their horse – there is no doubt the economic crunch is taking a toll. I am being asked far more frequently to supply second-hand saddles in preference to new saddles than I was even just a few months ago – and I am also being asked to take saddles to sell.
The latter resulted in an amusing incident. It started like this: I got a telephone call: did I buy second-hand saddles to sell on? The answer was ‘very rarely – but I do regularly accept second-hand saddles to sell on commission’. As readers will understand, the provenance of the saddle is all important- I don’t want to find that we are ‘laundering’ stolen goods! The saddle must also be in good condition and have been well looked after. I am generally unwilling to take saddles that could be described as ‘unusual’ because they incorporate very specific design features or involve fancy leathers or have ornate stitching. Such saddles generally have very limited appeal and months – even years - could elapse before they are sold.
In general I prefer to deal with clients I know but this particular lady was very persistent and assured me that she could provide plenty of proof of ownership – and, as an ex Pony Club instructor, she had always looked after her saddles very well.
Finally persuaded, I arranged to meet her at a yard where I already had an appointment. She arrived punctually and proceeded to remove a saddle from the back of the car. How do I describe the saddle? Well it was possibly the very oldest general purpose type saddle I have ever seen. Half panelled and linen lined, it looked as though it would be excruciatingly uncomfortable – but it had been well kept! The second saddle was very nearly as old. Obviously an old military saddle, it had the hardest seat imaginable – but it had been well kept! I was plucking around in my mind searching for the kindest way to explain that it would be impossible to sell the saddles – although they had been well kept! – when the third saddle appeared.
I was stunned again – but for a very different reason. This was an exquisitely made Champion and Wilton side saddle in absolutely immaculate condition. It was complete – nothing missing at all – a gem of a craftsman piece probably made about seventy-plus years ago. I knew that side saddle aficionados would pay the earth for a pristine saddle of such quality. Fitting side saddles is highly specialised and I generally pass enquiries on to a colleague who only deals in aside saddles. I explained this to the lady saying that I was sure she would get a very good price for the Champion and Wilton saddle (I heard later - in fact, over a thousand pounds) but that only a museum curator or similar were likely to be interested in the other two saddles!
The lady was very persistent and asked me for the contact details of the Leather Museum in Walsall and any other museums I could suggest. Anyway – one down and two to go.
Speaking about second-hand saddles: I would much rather sell a good brand of saddle second-hand than a cheap, badly made new saddle. However – all second-hand saddles will have developed the contours of the horse on which it was previously used. That horse may have been substantially one-sided with severely asymmetric musculature. Unless the saddle is re-flocked and the balance adjusted, it is highly likely the horse on which it is used will develop similar one-sidedness.
One other thing about second-hand saddles: although we always check them over very, very carefully before offering them for sale, internal damage can be very difficult – even impossible – to detect. The only 100% solution would involve opening the saddle up and examining the interior. This, of course, would cost money – which rather defeats the purpose of buying second-hand in the first place. Sometimes ‘new’ is the cheaper option in the long run.
KEN LYNDON DYKES is a Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified Saddle Fitter who specialises in fitting competition and problem horses. He is available to give demonstrations and talks and has recently returned to after-dinner speaking on a wide variety of subjects. Telephone: 01622 844440 (office) or 07973 501873 (mobile). Ken will be interested to hear from any SMS qualified saddle fitters seeking additional work as well as those with more limited experience who wish to extend their knowledge.
