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Saddle Trials - How does it work trialling a saddle?

By Jade | January 13, 2023
  1. Buying a saddle

How do saddle trials work?

5 Day UK Mainland Saddle Trials

If you are looking to purchase a new saddle, why not purchase one online from a quality used saddle specialist and benefit by trialling a saddle. The Saddle Bank specialise in quality used saddles delivered direct to your door, with a 5 day trial. Saddle trials are available to all customers in mainland UK, but how does it work?

The trial policy

When does the trial start?

The 5-day saddle trial begins on the day the saddle is received by you and includes weekends and public holidays. 

Who should check the saddle?

  • We recommend getting a qualified saddle fitter to check the fit and suitability of the saddle during your 5-day trial and to ensure the saddle is fit for purpose. 

What should you do if the saddle does not fit?

If the saddle is not suitable, you must notify The Saddle Bank by day 5 of the trial. You can notify us by booking the returns courier on our returns form page.  

The saddle must be returned by day 6 otherwise £3 per day is charged for each subsequent day the saddle is returned late, effective as of day 7.

Once the saddle has been received back, the saddle is inspected and your refund will be processed within 3 working days. Please allow a further 3-5 days for the refund to show on your card/account. 

What does it cost to trial a saddle?

The Saddle Bank charge a postage charge to get the saddle to you. £25 for next working day delivery to Mainland UK. This is non-refundable. Additional charges for postage upgrades such as Saturday delivery are also non-refundable.  

If you need to return a saddle please book your return via the returns form on our website. There is a returns postage fee of £25 for UK mainland. There is no need to pay this upfront. This will simply be deducted from the refund due to you. 

There is an £10 fee for trialling a saddle which contributes towards admin, packaging, handling, transaction fees and recleaning costs associated with the trial. This will be deducted from the refund due to you. 

How to prepare the saddle for collection

When packaging your saddle for return you will need to remove the old address label prior to the courier driver collecting it. 

You must be available for the courier to collect the saddle between 08.00-17.00pm on the agreed collection day. The courier will text and email you a 1-hour timeslot on the morning of the collection date so please ensure you enter your mobile number/email address correctly. 

During the trial

You are liable for the saddle whilst on trial. Please handle the saddle with care. Note any damage caused to the saddle could result in a deduction from your refund due, if returned. 

If we do not hear from you by the 6th day after you have received the saddle, we shall assume that you are happy with your purchase, and thereby the sale is final. 

trial a saddle

FAQ's

Do I have to pay for the saddle upfront?

  • Yes you simply check out on our website, and if the saddle is suitable GREAT! If not, then just let us know and we can  process your refund upon return of the saddle.

I cannot see how to add the trial before I check out on the website?

  • The trial comes automatically when you purchase from The Saddle Bank. You don't need to do anything, just simply purchase the saddle you want on the website. www.TheSaddleBank.com

I live in USA/Australia/NZ, can I trial a saddle?

  • We do not offer trials outside of the UK. It would cost you too much to return the saddle to us. Therefore it is more beneficial for you to resell the saddle yourself.

Are you looking to trial a saddle?

To take a look at the current collection of saddles we have available click here

Learn more about how saddles should fit….

If you are a horse owner or rider and would like to learn more about saddle fitting, and how the saddle can impact your horses performance and welfare, click on the image below:

Banner to learn more about recognising saddle fit issues

Thank you!

Thank you for reading this article! We hope you found it useful!

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The Saddle Bank Team x

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