A little over two years ago, after trying a few saddles at my trainers, I purchased a custom Devoucoux from the regional sales representative. Because I lived a plane flight away from the location of my horse, my trainer oiled and broke the saddle in for me so it would be ready when I arrived for my lessons. So much for seeing my “brand new” saddle! At HITS Thermal last year, I was in need of a second saddle. I lucked out because Devocoux happened to have a used duplicate of my current saddle, in beautiful condition and perfectly broken in for a fraction of what I had originally paid. The moral of the story is that high quality saddles, specifically the French brands, tend to get better with time and they offer an excellent value proposition.
UNBIASED EXPERTISE
Aside from leather quality and workmanship, the most important characteristics in purchasing a new saddle include fit for rider and horse, overall comfort, and technical specifications for riding discipline (hunters, jumpers and/or equitation). In the case of my Devoucoux, I had a trainer that allowed me to ride in other models in her barn and she then helped me coordinate with the brand's sales representative via photos and phone calls to place the correct order. It is imperative to have the advice of an unbiased expert(s) that understands your specific requirements to assist in this decision making process.
ENTER KATY AND DINA OF BLUESADDLES
Dina Mazzolla and Katy Baldini launched BlueSaddles.com in the spring of 2014 in order to meet the demands of trainers and riders searching for high quality, yet affordable used saddles that are in excellent and preferably, almost new condition. Both are competitive riders that are authorities in matching other equestrians with their equipment needs.
A USEF Hunter and Hunt Seat Equitation judge, Dina Mazzolla grew up working and riding at a local sales barn in Canada. Through hard work and dedication, she eventually achieved success up through the Grand Prix level. Dina then returned to school and was employed with a top consulting firm for a number of years. She returned to the industry as an amateur and proceeded to win the WCHR Adult Amateur Challenge. She then decided to work and ride professionally for several top hunter barns. Currently, Dina owns and operates Fair Harbour Farm with her business partner, Tricia Concannon.
Katy Baldini grew up in Massachusetts and was bitten by the horse show bug at an early age. Riding and showing were her life as a junior rider. For many years she was a working student for Tricia O’Connor and Lauren Stevens. As an adult, she took a leave from horse showing, although she never left the industry. She worked for, and eventually managed, a large show barn. She also spent multiple years working in tack shops where she developed extensive retail business experience. Currently, she is an avid amateur rider and can be found in the hunter arena on her show horse, Wendell.
THE BENEFITS OF BLUE SADDLES: VALUE AND EXPERTISE
Purchasing from BlueSaddles.com offers riders the level of performance and fit for a premium saddle at a significant discount; usually 40-60% off of the original price.
From a consumer perspective, I like the fact that a customer will receive an expert opinion across multiple top brands. This benefit contradicts the limited input from a sales representative employed by a specific company that might not have the perfect equipment solution for a horse and/or rider’s needs and potentially holds a biased opinion.
Katy and Dina use their hands-on experience to expertly guide clients smoothly through the purchasing decision. They have a tried and true process for clients unsure of the saddle and their exact needs. Katy explains, “We encourage these folks to ride in some saddles and try to get a feel for the brand they like, and we work with them based on height, leg length, body shape, personal preferences, and what level and type of riding they do. Pictures help a lot! For example we may recommend a full calf with a deeper seat for an adult who wants to feel very secure in the tack, while that same saddle may feel like too much for an equitation or hunter rider. Once we figure out the rider, then we take a look at the horse and make sure the paneling configuration and tree will work for that horse.”
PURCHASING, SELLING & CONTACTING
Purchasing
- Ordering a saddle at BlueSaddles.com is easy. The company offers a 14-day “Love Your Saddle” guarantee. A customer may return the saddle for any reason for a full refund of purchase price. There is no restocking fee and the customer is only responsible for shipping.
- If a client is looking for a specific saddle and it is not in inventory, the company will exhaust their resources to try to locate the model.
- All major credit cards are accepted at www.BlueSaddles.com and saddles are usually shipped the next business day.
COMING SOON: Dressage Saddles
Selling & Consigning:
- Saddles purchased for inventory, or accepted on consignment, must meet the basic value proposition of the business.
- They only accept high premium brands including, Antares, Butet, Delgrange, Voltaire, Devoucoux, and Tad Coffins.
- Each saddle is assessed based on condition, age, features (leather type, panel configuration, blocks), size (seat, and flap length), and market demand. These attributes determine a fair sales price.
Contact:
· Web: www.bluesaddles.com
· Email: sales@bluesaddles.com
· T: 617-710-4106
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluesaddles
· Instagram: @bluesaddles
· Twitter: @bluesaddles
{SAMPLE OF CURRENT INVENTORY}
as of 1/25/2015
To view the complete inventory selection, please visit www.BlueSaddles.com
(1) Butet
(2) {Editor's Favorite} Devoucoux Biarritz
(3) CWD
(4) Voltaire
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