ridecamp@endurance.net: Not impressed with quality of Bob Marshall Sports Saddles

Not impressed with quality of Bob Marshall Sports Saddles

Ann Hatfield (keithr@nocdc.bc.ca)
Mon, 11 Aug 1997 15:29:18 -0700 (PDT)

Is this heresy? I'm disapointed in the quality of workmanship. the
materials and the construction of the Endurance, Cutting and Barrel Racing
saddles that our tack shop got in. I've only ridden in a Cutting and a
Barrel Racing version and both seemed comfortable enough (though the flaps
caught my boot tops and would do the same to half chaps, I would guess.)
Like where the stirrups are hung in the Endurance though feel they could be
back a bit farther-don't think the store owner asked to have them back the
inch I understand lots of you request.

Well construsted English and Western saddles of traditional design seem to
have much better craftsmanship. The new Cutting Saddle is a fancy one with
handsome tooling and considerable silver. Even the silver is thin and
tinny, laid on top of the leather, not set in like the more traditional
saddles. The Endurance model (and Barrel Racing model) is $1385 Canadian
and then of course taxes on top of that and I understand there is a type of
pad that works well for a lot of you and I bet it isn't cheap.

I very much like the concept of this saddle but wonder how it lasts and do
feel that it is too expensive for the quality of material in it and the
craftsmanship.

Are there alternatives that are treeless? Would someone kindly tell me
about them?

Is this a lot of money to pay for an Endurance model? (This little store
is usually very good about keeping their prices as low as they can.)

Do any of the treed saddles have as big a following?

Someone mentioned another soft saddle and I can't find the post again.
Sorry. Would the person let me know your experiences with this other
saddle. Thanks .

I'm not adverse to paying a considerable amount for a saddle that will last
at least half a lifetime and give pleasure in it's workmanship each time it
is looked at.

Thank you all.

Ann

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