How to sell a saddle second hand
In this article we will discuss all about selling a second hand saddle, why you may need to sell a saddle. How you sell a saddle and how the team at The Saddle Bank can help!
Horses are expensive to keep. Most equestrians, if not all, will agree. Sometimes it can feel like a never-ending cycle of paying out for them. Luckily, some of the investments we make into our equine friends can be recouped by selling them on when we can no longer use them. Tack and equipment such as rugs, boots, bridles, and saddles are always in demand and have excellent resale values. If you find yourself with a saddle to sell; whatever the reason, Team Saddle Bank have loads of information for you right here to make this process as easy as possible for you.
If you are still a bit confused about which saddle or any saddle related product is best for you why not get in touch with our friendly customer support team. Via phone on 01733 301 488 or email info@thesaddlebank.com. Our lovely team are always happy to help as much as they can and provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for you and your horse.
Why might you need to sell a saddle?
Something we speak on a lot at The Saddle Bank is that horses are constantly changing creatures. They are slow to mature; so often in the early years of their ridden career they will still be growing in all directions. The saddle they are backed in might not necessarily fit them for the duration of their ridden lives.
Changes in seasons, different feed and forage, and changes in physical demands, i.e. increased regular exercise, are all factors that will certainly contribute to your horse changing shape. This may mean that you find your lovely saddle, which fitted perfectly just months ago, no longer suits your horse’s shape.
So, what do you do?
You get a qualified saddle fitter down to check and adjust the flocking, but if your saddle isn’t fully adjustable, you will be limited as to how much you can do to get it to fit.
If your saddle fitter can make the right changes and give you the ‘all clear’, that’s great news! But sometimes, try as we might, the saddle just isn’t right for the horse anymore. If your saddle is still in good, usable condition you may want to sell your saddle on to earn back a bit of the money, and let your saddle be loved and used by somebody else.
Perhaps you may have just acquired a new horse, how exciting! But – oh no! None of your saddles fit your new friend! Why not try to sell your old saddle on, to help you find one that fits you both perfectly.
Some dear readers may have already read one of our other blogs on specific saddle brands and new and exciting models being released, and have your sights set on a new saddle. To contribute towards your budget for a new saddle, you can sell in a saddle that you no longer use. Sometimes when your training is progressing in a certain area, you may want to purchase a saddle more specific to your discipline. Such as jumping or dressage, with the intention that it will aid in the development of both horse and rider’s technical ability.
Whatever your reasons may be, we here at Team Saddle Bank totally get it, so now we know the why let’s discuss about how to sell your saddle.
How do you sell a saddle?
Fortunately, there are a few different options available to anyone looking to part ways with their saddle. Social media sites are full of groups and networks for both local and nationwide tack reselling. You may find selling via social media to be beneficial if you already know how much your saddle is worth; and you don’t mind facilitating the sale, postage and packaging etc. yourself. Postage fees can easily get quite expensive for saddles as they are so heavy. We would encourage anyone sending a saddle to explore different options for the best insurance or damage coverage in case anything happens to the saddle in transit; so that you are covered.
Team Saddle Bank recommend doing your due diligence and finding a secure way to receive money in any case; if you are selling on social media, you may not have any guaranteed security around your sale, so where possible only use legitimate sites such as PayPal to receive money, as they offer protective options.
Selling sites
Sites such as eBay, Preloved, and Gumtree, come with similar sticking points, and depending on the site you use, they may take a percentage of your sale price as a fee. They can be a great choice as some sites have a fantastic audience reach and give you the option to auction your saddle. However, this may not be the best way to guarantee that you will reach your intended sale price; and it can be a bit of a lottery as to whether you will meet the reserve price before the listing expires. With some sites you might incur listing fees regardless of whether your saddle even sells. Some sites also give the buyer up to 180 days to return the item!!
Local Tack Shop
Often in the equestrian world, the “old“ ways are the best. Before the Internet, you could rely on word-of-mouth or take your saddle to a tack shop to sell it there, and the great news is that you still can! A large number of tack shops take in second-hand saddles for resale.
This can be a great way of selling your saddle as the tack shop will likely have a good customer base. As well as knowledge of tack and saddles (so they will be able to give you a good idea of how much your saddle is worth). Most saddleries will be able to cover your saddles on their insurance while it is with them.
This can be a slower method of selling while you wait for a customer who is in the market for your particular saddle to come in and see it. Depending on the tack shop, fees can be a spectrum with some tack shops taking a larger portion of the sale price than a selling site would. Others charge a fee regardless of whether or not the saddle sells, to cover the cost of upkeep (making sure your saddle is displayed correctly and kept clean), and shelf space your saddle is occupying which could be used for other stock.
If you want to sell your saddle in a straightforward, safe, and hassle-free way, then why not sell your saddle directly with us here at The Saddle Bank
How do you sell your saddle with The Saddle Bank?
As the U.K.’s most trusted online saddle company. We have expertly developed the best and most streamlined, stress-free way to sell your saddle. We make quick decisions with no haggling, and we are 100% transparent when it comes to our fees and assurances.
Your saddle will be in our expert hands, and you can sit back and rest easily knowing your saddle is fully insured and protected. You don’t have to worry about promoting your saddle to boost views; we have a fantastic customer base, and site visitors into the tens of thousands for our saddle listings. Some saddles may even be bought outright by us depending on the brand as well as selling the saddles on behalf of the customers.
Saddles are our passion and there is nothing that we know better. Check out our form for selling second hand saddles to see what brands we take and information we would need to be able to quote you here.
We have hundreds of fabulous reviews from our amazing customers from both buying and selling our saddles; and we may even have a saddle in stock with us for you to part exchange for your second hand saddle. We will take care of everything for you; from the courier to the pictures for our website, you are in the best hands.
