When purchasing a used saddle, it is sensible to have a good idea of the likely trouble spots that will need money spending on them to sort them out. A defect in these areas may not be sufficient reason to turn down a purchase, but will surely influence the price offered. Safety must be the top priority. To this end, the girth straps should be checked. Over a period of time these stretch and go thin, often cracking on the underside, causing weakness. Furthermore, repeated abrasion from the girth buckle tongue leads to deep grooves up the back of the straps. The holes may also be elongated. The girth straps should always be in good condition; if in doubt, they should be changed. Check also the stitching and the webbing to which they are attached. In particular on old saddles, be aware that flax webbing and hemp thread may have been used. Both these are prone to rotting. Replacing girth webs is a moderately expensive job, even when the girth straps are being changed at the same time.

Also on the safety issue, check that the stirrup bars are secure and complete. There should be no loose or missing rivets and the thumb catch on the end must be there.

Wear and tear is always apparent to some degree. Favourite areas are the stitching on the flaps beside the knee pads, which get rubbed by the stirrup leathers. This is easily renewed. The pads themselves sometimes wear through and these can be replaced by a competent saddler. Wear on the cantle and the edges of the seat under where the legs are placed is very common. Seat repairs are expensive, but they can transform the appearance of the saddle.

Finally, and without going into too much detail, check for symmetry. This is crucial. Some causes of asymmetry are purely cosmetic and of no consequence to the performance of the saddle. Others really matter and may be expensive to put right. If in doubt, consult an expert saddler.