⭕ Swain side saddle made in Walsall by side saddle expert,Barry Swain.
I say nearly new as Barry Swain made the saddle upon a refurbished vintage c.1900 side saddle tree and recovered in buttery soft BLACK leather with black doeskin seat and pommels (the leather has that lovely new leather smell that tack shops have!).
It has black serge panels for extra grip on round horses with new flocking inside just waiting to be adjusted to your horses back as well as having a wide 3 gullet channel between the panels which suits modern horses as the panels do not rest on the spine as some antique saddles did.
All new girth straps for safety and are quite forward placed for maximum set for a horse whose saddles tend to slide forward (will also work on a normal horse too!).Has three girth straps on the off-side and a convenience tab on the flap for fastening the girth when mounted.
Saddle does not come with girths or a stirrup,you will need to supply your own.I can give you a list of saddlers which carry the accessories.The original unsafe roller bar was taken off of the vintage tree and a modern standard open ended stirrup bar put on so will take a normal stirrup leather but I recommend using a safety iron as well.
Only had a quick ride for the saddler but unfortunately,this saddle has a rare wide tree which is MUCH MUCH too wide for my medium/wide fit Thoroughbred mare.Fits my friends Shire X cob gelding who takes a Wintec red wide gullet in his saddle. With a wykham pad put on,this may be able to go to an extra wide but please check measurements beforehand.
The saddle is in excellent condition and has never been dropped.Always stored at home with a cover on it.
Seat measures 17 from cutback to cantle or 21 1/2 from front of fixed head to cantle.
Seat width is a comfy 14 wide. This saddle fits me and Im 59 and a UK size 14/16 (US 14).
Gullet width is 6 underneath the cutback head.
D to D width is 9.
Tree point end to tree point end is 18.
Tree point end to tree point between the panels is approx. 17- nearly 18.