From: Sue Ellen
Dear Jessica, HORSE SENSE is the best. I learn something new every single week. Everybody in my family reads HORSE SENSE now, even my dad, who isn't into horses at all!
This question is one that's been puzzling me a lot, and I hope you'll answer it. I started looking for a saddle to replace my old Crosby event saddle that is about twenty years old. I got it from my instructor and I've been riding in it for five years, but now I'm too tall and the flaps are catching on my boots. Also I feel like I am riding on the cantle a lot, and I know that's bad for the horse. I went looking for another saddle and found one that I really liked, for sale in someone's home. I don't think they have had any horses in a while, but the saddle is in great shape. It's a lot like my old one, and I want a saddle I can use for eventing. I had two saddles to look at, and this one was three times as much money as the other one I looked at! I don't understand how the guy can ask so much for a saddle that doesn't even have a famous label on it. You know, one of those label plates by the stirrup bars? It doesn't have one. I know it's a good saddle, but I asked why it was so expensive and the guy got very snotty with me and said it's a Bench saddle! I didn't say anything, and then he said "You must have heard of Bench saddles, but you've probably never even seen one before, so take a good look." I thought this was pretty rude, but I still like the saddle. I can tell it's a good one but it doesn't look fancy, so can you tell me what a Bench saddle is? I've asked at all the tack shops and my instructor and nobody has heard of that brand. Is it famous like a Hermes? Everybody has heard of those saddles but we hardly ever see one because they're so expensive, is Bench the same way?
This seems like a silly thing to bother you about but I haven't found any saddle I like as much as that one, so I just want to know if it's way overpriced or if a Bench is as good as the guy says it is. He wants $1500 for the saddle. It's used.
Thanks a lot, in advance for your help! Suellen
PS my instructor thought it might be "Binch" but we couldn't find out anything about those saddles either
Don't look for a brand name of "Bench" or "Binch". You won't find them anywhere. I suspect that what he meant was that the saddle was "bench made", which refers to the way the saddle was built.
Many saddles, even very good ones, are made on a sort of assembly line, with one craftsman making the tree, another fashioning the seat, someone else attaching the billets, yet another person attaching the stirrup bars, and so on and so on. But there are some saddleries that specialize in "bench-making" saddles, which means that a single individual makes a saddle from start to finish. This is usually how custom saddles are made, and it IS considered to be the mark of an exceptionally good and well-made saddle.
If the saddle you looked at was indeed bench-made, and in good shape, and fit you and your horse, you may want to go back and have another look. Try to focus on the saddle, not on the seller's attitude. After all, it's the saddle you plan to take home with you and keep forever -- not the guy who's selling it. ;-) Keep in mind that a new custom saddle might well cost you three thousand dollars, so half that for a used one, IF it fits and is in good shape, isn't such a bad deal after all.
Jessica
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