I rehomed my horse; should I sell my tack?

[BasqueMom]

By all means, keep them! You never know.......

[hellerkm]

My mother has always preached " You NEVER sell your saddle" its like selling your soul!!! If you do not have another saddle coming ( as in getting a new one) keep it. I broke this rule at one point in my life and I TRULY regret it!! I have another saddle that my parents bought me when I was 14 , my 13 yr old Dd is currently riding in it and she loves it, I have hung onto it for close to 25 yrs and taken care of it, thankfully, because it was a custom for me ( same long legs and thigh as my DD) and I could never afford to have one made for her!!!

[mvp]

I could go either way on an Hermes. If you dig a narrow, hard rock, then keep it. No offense. It will be among the easier saddles to sell at any given moment, so think of it as a small emergency fund sitting in your closet.

But I would not put this saddle (or even any other) on top of another for storage. Yes, yes, this fussiness usually applied to wool-flocked saddles. But wouldn't it suck if you took it out 4 years later to have found troughs sculpted out of foam over time?

Ask a paleontologist how "trace fossils" are made.


This last thought is not quite as random as you think.....

[Crosswinds Rescue]

At age 12, I bought a brand new Crosby Prix des Nations close contact saddle. (before ya'all think I was a rich spoiled little one -- "I" bought it -- I had a paper route and saved my money for a YEAR to pay for it, as well as xmas and bday money, etc.)

When life took over at 18, and I had to sell my horse and nearly everything else I owned, I struggled with keeping the Crosby. I'd sworn I would NEVER jump again after nearly breaking my back in a particularly nasty fall. What did I need such a high end saddle being carefully stored, when I had a spouse and a child and a mobile home and college all screaming for every penny I could find?

But I couldn't bring myself to part with it. I slowly gave away what was left of brushes, saddle pads, blankets, breeches, bits and bridles, and sold my show jacket at a tack auction once -- everything except one pair of hand made breeches, my dress show boots, and the crosby with its leathers and irons.

I used it occasionally over the next more than 15(ak) years, but rarely. It went through more moves than I can count, but always the boot box and the saddle bag were properly cared for, and made it on to their new home.

Then, in 98, life had settled, and we were finally at a point where we could buy a house. I told Mike all i wanted was space to have horses again. Nothing else about the property mattered to me. We bought a great little 'farmette' and began turning it into horse-friendly property....and, eventually, it became Crosswinds.

When we finally had a horse and one who was ridable, the Crosby got unpacked and lovingly cleaned and oiled and cared for, amazed it was still intact, still waiting for me.

That was 10 years ago now. i still ride in it frequently. and every new volunteer still has to listen to me ramble about the saddle's history. mike still whispers (pretending I can't hear) to a new volunteer that there was a time when NO ONE else got to sit in that saddle, and it means a lot that i'm trusting her to use it.

If the saddle has history for you now, I'd encourage you to hold onto it, and to keep it with you. i couldn't possibly replace the stories of my crosby.

Oh, and my youngest daughter's 16-th birthday present? I found a used Crosby prix des nations close contact -- appears to have been built within 2 years of mine -- had it reworked -- and gave it to her. she cried.

[hellerkm]

At age 12, I bought a brand new Crosby Prix des Nations close contact saddle. (before ya'all think I was a rich spoiled little one -- "I" bought it -- I had a paper route and saved my money for a YEAR to pay for it, as well as xmas and bday money, etc.)

When life took over at 18, and I had to sell my horse and nearly everything else I owned, I struggled with keeping the Crosby. I'd sworn I would NEVER jump again after nearly breaking my back in a particularly nasty fall. What did I need such a high end saddle being carefully stored, when I had a spouse and a child and a mobile home and college all screaming for every penny I could find?

But I couldn't bring myself to part with it. I slowly gave away what was left of brushes, saddle pads, blankets, breeches, bits and bridles, and sold my show jacket at a tack auction once -- everything except one pair of hand made breeches, my dress show boots, and the crosby with its leathers and irons.

I used it occasionally over the next more than 15(ak) years, but rarely. It went through more moves than I can count, but always the boot box and the saddle bag were properly cared for, and made it on to their new home.

Then, in 98, life had settled, and we were finally at a point where we could buy a house. I told Mike all i wanted was space to have horses again. Nothing else about the property mattered to me. We bought a great little 'farmette' and began turning it into horse-friendly property....and, eventually, it became Crosswinds.

When we finally had a horse and one who was ridable, the Crosby got unpacked and lovingly cleaned and oiled and cared for, amazed it was still intact, still waiting for me.

That was 10 years ago now. i still ride in it frequently. and every new volunteer still has to listen to me ramble about the saddle's history. mike still whispers (pretending I can't hear) to a new volunteer that there was a time when NO ONE else got to sit in that saddle, and it means a lot that i'm trusting her to use it.

If the saddle has history for you now, I'd encourage you to hold onto it, and to keep it with you. i couldn't possibly replace the stories of my crosby.

Oh, and my youngest daughter's 16-th birthday present? I found a used Crosby prix des nations close contact -- appears to have been built within 2 years of mine -- had it reworked -- and gave it to her. she cried.

and now I am crying!!! what a great story and your saddle really is part of your soul so once again my mom is right LOL!!!

[BeastieSlave]

I made the mistake of selling all my stuff when my folks talked me out of selling my horse before I went to college. Let me tell you, I regretted that decision when, as a struggling college student, I got back into riding! It really would have been nice to have a saddle that was already paid for...

[fabuleux]

I bought a saddle as my "forever saddle"- it ended up not fitting my horse, and I sold it for twice as much as I bought it for.


My horse's old owner gave us both of his saddles, and those ones are staying with me for life. They fit him perfectly, and I love both of them. I'm pretty hesitant about letting other people use them, too!

[jeano]

I sold all my tack along with horses and trailer when I went into a horse hiatus that lasted over a decade. I still grieve for one bit and one of the saddles and its pad.

[spurgirl]

If you have the storage space for them, and $$ is not an issue, I'd keep them.

I had some really nice older Crosby tack, lightly used for showing, that I kept stored in the house closet. The only upkeep I did was oil it lightly 2 X year. Had been stored for almost 10 years....

Since I just trail ride and hunter pace now, I figured I'd sell it, so I Ebay'd it this spring. Got a decent price for it, and buyers were VERY happy.

Of course, wouldn't you know, 3 months later I adopted a cute little QH, who is more well-trained then I thought, I might like to show her next summer...One of those Crosby bridles would've looked great on her!!!

Oh well.......Thankfully, I did keep my old Harry Dabbs saddle, and it fits her perfectly!!!

[equineartworks]

Here is what I would do...

I would put it all in a GREAT BIG BOX and ship to Equineartworks. I promise it will be loved completely

But since you probably really don't want to do that I would hold on to it if you can. There are a couple of things in life you never get rid of:

1. Good quality tack
2. A husband/so who understands us and our horse needs.

[Shine]

Ah...A Murphy's Law question. If you don't sell it - you won't need it and if you do sell it - you will need it!

[kookicat]

I never sell my saddles. I have six or seven of them, and only two get used regularly now. I vote to keep it.

[Jingo-ace]

I went through a phase where I felt I had too many saddles & only one butt, so I made a list of what I had and forwarded it to some friends. Wouldn't you know - the first one to sell was my absolute favorite.... and I was reluctant to part with it... but I told the gal that if she ever wanted to get rid of the saddle, that I would buy it back from here. Then, a couple of years later, can you believe it... my favorite saddle actually came BACK to me! She called & said she was going to buy a brand-new one ( of same brand) and did I want my old saddle back! YES, YES, YES! I will never sell that saddle again!!! I know it is silly, but KEEP your saddles.

J

[EqTrainer]

My mother-in-law says that Hermes is for a lifetime. So take it from Meme - keep the saddle

[nightsong]

You don't have to 'own a horse' to have a need for a saddle you know and like. What about going for a trail ride some weekend? Trying out a horse for someone some day? And we SAY we never know what life will bring, but our guts know. When it likes you having the tack, KEEP IT. I also kept my mare's halter and bridle as verrrrrrrrrry fond 'mementoes' of her. Bring me GREAT joy.

[barrelchick00]

As long as your tack fits you I would keep it. You never know when you may need two saddles for two horses.