13 replies to this topic

[tstormwing]

Beautiful saddle I bought and had refurbished last year. Very short saddle -- only about 25" from front to back, great for those short backed Arabians and Morgans, or large ponies. Slick seat and the cantle style is more like a straight back (no cheyenne roll, but not perfectly straight). Very nice ride. Fits most of my Arabians well, but my usual riding mare is built downhill and this throws me a little too forward.

I had the sheepskin and saddle strings completely replaced at Broken Horn last year. It is real sheepskin, not synthetic.

Also, stirrups are brand new. They aren't dyed to match, but I kind of liked the look of them as they are.

Asking $600 obo. Saddle is located in Norco, California. I'd prefer to sell cash and carry, but I can probably ship this for about $50 to most of the US.

Questions? Please feel free to ask!

Kimberley Harvey
(951) 279-0869
arabianempire@msn.com

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[tstormwing]

Did a gullet measurement on this per request:  7".  

Also, have a 15" Wintec synthetic Western saddle for sale.  This one is wide -- 8" gullet.  In good condition, but seen a lot of casual trail use.  Asking $150 for that one.  Photos below!

Feel free to ask questions or make offers!  Both saddles must go...

Kimberley Harvey
arabianempire@msn.com

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[An American Breeder]

Are you sure that is a 16 inch size seat?  I need a 15" seat -- but not the synthetic one.  Drats

[tstormwing]

An American Breeder, on 17 March 2011 - 05:40 PM, said:

Are you sure that is a 16 inch size seat?  I need a 15" seat -- but not the synthetic one.  Drats

Yeah, the Bona Allen is a 16", since my fat *ss fits in it perfectly.

I do have another saddle... And it is really awesome for daily riding and trail.  I suspect it may also be a really old Bona Allen.  15" seat, nicely tooled, and SOOOOO easy to ride in.  Again, fits a very wide range of horses.  I use it for starting youngsters, hence the separated horn cover when I had an unexpected ride (on a mare appropriately nicknamed "Bunny").  Horn tear is cosmetic -- simple stitching, no leather damage.  The dressage trainer at the barn used it when we were starting Belle last summer, and she wants this BAD, but has too many expensive layouts right now (insurance, some horsemanship certification) to buy it.  Photos below, including on a youngster... mare is tiny (14.1), shortbacked and really round.  I've also used it on my 15.1 TWH cross gelding (fit him beautifully, but I was no longer comfy in it), it almost fits my downhill Drakkar daughter (but she won't tolerate a square skirt), and several other shapes and heights I've had over the years.  Asking $250.  Kind of heavy, so shipping probably around $50 or so (US only).

Kimberley

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[An American Breeder]

Just sent you two PM's.

[tstormwing]

The 15" tooled leather working saddle has been sold.  In doing so, discovered that shipping a saddle costs $75 or so nowadays!!

The 16" vintage Bona Allen saddle (this really is an amazingly beautiful piece in person) and the 15" Wintec synthetic are still looking for new homes!

Kimberley

[ponygirl]

I was thinking about selling mine. how did you package it to ship  it?

[tstormwing]

I've shipped a few saddles, and had a few shipped to me.  Pretty much the only way to do it is to use a storage/moving box about 2" taller than the saddle is long, curl the stirrups/fenders toward the underside of the saddle, encase the saddle in a couple of trash bags (to protect the leather from scuffing as it moves), and put it in horn down.  If the box is too big around, you may need to use packing peanuts (expensive!) or some other way to help support the saddle and keep it from shifting too much.  Be sure the box is pretty sturdy, because there won't be a lot supporting the top if the PO puts something on top of your box -- which they do!  And if going through USPS to ship, be sure the box has either delivery confirmation or signature confirmation -- they seem to treat these boxes better and process them more quickly.

Fortunately, most Western saddles are built pretty sturdily, and survive intact.  I've never tried to ship a fancy show saddle... I'd definitely say go to the expense of the additional packing peanuts to keep it as immobile as possible.

Kimberley

[ponygirl]

cool thanks. I think there is someone on abn looking for a saddle.

[An American Breeder]

Kimberley, I haven't heard from you.

[An American Breeder]

Kimberley, ya better hurry up and send (my) saddle or I will plague you to death with questions.  I take it that the back girth billets have been replaced and are plain leather.  

Are the front strings able to be converted into screw-in conchos or would slotted conchos be best there?  Planning on using the nice sterling silver slotted conchos I have for the back.  And I have good sterling silver conchos for the front if they can be substituted for the strings.  Also plan to replace whatever is there with matching silver conchos.  

I have found a nice pair of tooled billets for the saddle -- no back cinch though -- I mean the roping type, I don't like the single strap, makes me think of the straps used for bucking horses LOL and at my age, don't need that!!!

I assume there is no front girth with the saddle, correct?  

Can't remember what you said about the stirrups.  Got both mail carriers watching for it and the postmaster has my phone number to come get the saddle so the mail carriers won't be lugging it out here.

[tstormwing]

An American Breeder, on 10 April 2011 - 03:07 PM, said:

Kimberley, ya better hurry up and send (my) saddle or I will plague you to death with questions.  I take it that the back girth billets have been replaced and are plain leather.  

Are the front strings able to be converted into screw-in conchos or would slotted conchos be best there?  Planning on using the nice sterling silver slotted conchos I have for the back.  And I have good sterling silver conchos for the front if they can be substituted for the strings.  Also plan to replace whatever is there with matching silver conchos.  

I have found a nice pair of tooled billets for the saddle -- no back cinch though -- I mean the roping type, I don't like the single strap, makes me think of the straps used for bucking horses LOL and at my age, don't need that!!!

I assume there is no front girth with the saddle, correct?  

Can't remember what you said about the stirrups.  Got both mail carriers watching for it and the postmaster has my phone number to come get the saddle so the mail carriers won't be lugging it out here.

Uh... It's boxed, so no idea what to tell you except the rear billets and stirrups are as they came to me about 10 years ago.  Actually, EVERYTHING is as it came to me, and it was obviously old then, so I have no idea if they are original, or added, or what.  I do see from the color difference in the leather that they might be added later, but if so, I don't know when.  Everything is in safe condition, though.

I do know the strings are what attachs the fleece -- I went through this discussion with the saddlemaker who did the work on the vintage piece.  There are leather "rosettes" around the strings.  That, and the tooling, and the lack of maker's mark are what clued me in that the 15" piece you bought from me *might* also be a Bona Allen.

No, no front girth included.  I swap my 2 between saddles as needed -- my TWH cross can't wear neoprene, and the Arabian mare I ride slips with the fleece.  I never had a rear girth for this.

Kimberley

[tstormwing]

The 16" vintage Bona Allen initially advertised here is still for sale!  $600 obo -- a lovely piece, and less than I have into it!

Kimberley

[tstormwing]

Wow, forgot to keep up with this ad...

The 16" vintage Bona Allen is still available!  Price reduced to $450 + shipping.