Thanks hr but being a ladee I want one with a bit of bling! We have a lovely saddle from Don for our qh so are quite aware of the price!!!!!!!!! It's a lovely saddle but quite plain so that's why I thought we
might get one from the states. Any more info please keep it coming.

Jeannine March from March N Tack sell Continental, I just had her fit me a saddle last weekend. She part exed my other one - remember the one I had at the Summer Camp Misty? Well, it wasn't fitting and my but has obviuosly shrunk somewhat since then!

Jeannine also had a 5% offer off saddles too? She's Hertfordshire based but was going to come out to me if needed. I took Seren to her instead.

I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm for importing a saddle, but bear in mind there will be a chance that it may not fit your horse correctly when you get it, not having had the chance to have a proper fitting and preferably a test ride. Also it's nice to sit on a new saddle before you buy it. They vary considerably and if you're spending a lot of money comfort and a good position for you is just as important as a proper fit for the horse. I know it' tempting with the current exchange rate, but there will be certain amount of luck needed to get a saddle that's good for you and most importantly good for the horse.

The VAT, import duties and clearance fees mainly depend on the value of the item as its disclosed from the seller

My last canadian order was valued at around $1200 or about £600 and I got charged £105 VAT, £16 Import and £14 Clearance fee.
So I ended up paying £135 or 22.5% more than I expected

Definately, would not go to the expense of importing such an expensive item, without fitting it to a horse, especially an arab, which are tricky to fit because of their short wide conformation.
Contact a saddle fitter, Continental are very good quality saddles, well worth the cash!

Post edited by: appynospots, at: 2008/02/18 16:28

Just add my 10p here too - you will find that saddles from the states and from Aus differ greatly in the type of tree and forks available - what we know as FQHB and XFQHB is vastly different - I have a lovely saddle from Aust that "should" fit given it is FQHB and 16" but is far from suitable and having seen the myriad of things that are different between makes - it is really not worth the risk.

The saddlers and saddle fitters over here have been trained and know their products and can see your horse - surely their health is too precious to risk on "a bargain" from overseas, no matter how tempting it may appear.

Jude