Kincade Redi-Ride saddle>

Question

Okay, so online I found a saddle called a Kincade Redi-Ride All purpose saddle package. It was a super great price at only 199.00 [plus s&h lol] and it also comes with a girth, stirrup leathers, and sturrups! I was excited to see such a deal, but I need some help, I wasn't sure if it was a cheap saddle, especially since I've never purchased a saddle before. Please take a look at the link and tell me if you think this would be an appropriate first saddle. Thanks! ~Fries~

http://www.horse.com/English-Tack/English-Saddles/Kincade-Redi-Ride-All-Purpose-Saddle-Package-EKM20.html

Answer 1

kincade is an economy saddle. they're not horrible, but they're not top quality either. this would be a decent first saddle, but start saving now because this saddle will wear out and need to be replaced within a few years. also, black is not generally accepted in the hunter ring once you move past local fun type shows. hunter judges want to see havanna or some shade of dark brown tack. personally, i'd buy a used brand name saddle for the same amount of money before i'd buy a cheap new saddle. gently used brand name saddles are MUCH better quality than cheap new saddles and will last the rest of your lifetime as long as they're maintaned. you wont get that kind of service out of a cheapy! brand name saddles are more comfortable for the rider and in general, tend to fit the horse a lot better. for 300 (that's about what you're looking at after shipping and taxes) you could get a nice used pessoa, bates, crosby, stubben, etc. name brand saddle

Answer 2

Thats a really nice saddle i would buy it for my horse...

Answer 3

it is an okay saddle. but being a kincade Redi-Ride saddle which is Kincades Budget range it will probably be quite stiff and give you a sore bum. personally i like the bates range of saddles. i am currently saving up for a wintec 2000 all purpose.

i totally disagree with the fact that you must have brown gear.

it depends on you horses colour. the only time i would use brown would be if i had a Chestnut

Answer 4

I've owned BOTH kinds and the leather ones are still with me.  In the early 90's I traded a set of corner plates for a Wintec Sport (the best known brand of synthetic) and grant it, it was a GREAT saddle, BUT the difference in sitting in one vs my now 39 year old Stubben Siegfried is like the difference between owning a Saturn and trying to compare it to a Mercedes.  Let's see if the Wintec holds up to the standards of a Stubben nearly 40 years later.

Our reasoning behind this is that a synthetic, no matter how they make 'em has no "GIVE", that's one of the reasons for the interchangable gullets in the saddles of the Wintecs.  I can honestly say in the decades of owning my Siegfried (Stubben), I've NEVER had it on a horse it didn't fit and I've owned a LOT of different sized/breeds of horses.  From WIDE Quarter Horses to Narrow TBs and even a couple of Arabs.

I don't like the fact that the synthetics don't have any "give" to them and you stand a better chance of soring up a horse because they don't shift with a horse's body (They have little or no "give" in the trees, let alone the comfort that a leather saddle does for it's rider if you get a good, quality saddle.).

If you're limited on funds, then try e-bay and find a good used saddle.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll...

I just listed Stubben, but there are a LOT more out there.  The BIG difference between a quality LEATHER saddle and a synthetic, is your resale value!  My Stubben Siegfried is still worth what I paid for it and my Stubben Parzival VSD is now worth about 4 times what I paid for it!

Answer 5

It is a okay saddle but since it is synthetic it means that it is not real leather. Basically it will have to be replaced very soon. I would not recommend buying a saddle over the internet because it may come damaged and over s not worth it. Go to your local tack shop and get a discount on a demo saddle. I did that with my first saddle and it has lasted forever (still in great conditon). If you are open to other brands I GREATLY suggest the Collegiate brand of saddles.

Answer 6

That sounds like a pretty good deal to me for your first saddle.  Like another poster said, with it being black, and synthetic, it wont really be a good saddle for the show ring.  I have to disagree with the comment about cheap saddles wearing out quickly though. Years ago I bought a cheap (199 package) dressage saddle for my mare as a second saddle, maybe around ten years ago. I still have, and use that saddle faithfully.  Is it in show condition? No, that'ss what years of trail riding does to it. But it is still one of the most comfortable saddles I have even ridden in, and others who have used it have agreed.