Albion K2 GP

[jay]

I tried one of these at our last saddle fitting. It fitted jay really well and was really comfy....but I couldn't afford it! I was just wondering if anyone else had tried one and what they thought of it?

I've seen a couple of 2nd hand ones on ebay and thinking of bidding on one. Its nearly 4 years old but in nearly new condition. Do you think the fitting will be similar of the new ones? I rang up albion and asked if they'd changed the tree in the past few years...she wasn't particularly helpful, just said she didn't think so

If I do get it I'll get a fitter out to check its fitting him alright, so do you think I should give it a go? I don't want to rush into it and buy it on impulse, but at the same time I'm not 100% happy with our current saddle. Humph!

[bevbob]

Why dont you try Hey farm saddlery?? they have quite a lot of Albion saddles that are second hand and might be able to help?
If you can box your pony up there they have a fantastic fitter and so many 2nd hand saddles to choose from.

[jay]

Thanks for the advice bevbob. I've not heard of Hey Farm Saddlery before...whereabouts is it?

[bevbob]

Its Huddersfield Jay, not too far from me and maybe you depending on where abouts in cheshire you are.

I have found them brilliant and very cheap. They have a warehouse full of saddles, rack upon rack of second hand ones all neatly put into order of WH, GP, Jump, dressage etc and all labeled with fit, size etc.
They let my friend take away 3 saddles to try on her horse. They have a master saddle fitter there who will come out to your horse if you cant get up there.
Definately worth a ring though.

www.discountsaddlery.co.uk/

[jay]

It's a bit of a trek from me, unfortunately I'm near Chester. Will definately give them a ring though...would be worth the trip if there's plenty to try.

Thanks!

[flintfootfilly]

When I was searching for wide saddles for Megz a few years ago, everywhere I rang would say oh yes, we've got a couple of wide ones in. Then when they said what make and width they were, it turned out they weren't truly WIDE in a Dales sense at all, so not worth going to see (I kept a notebook of which ones we'd tried and whether they were too narrow (99% of them!) or too wide (only 1 saddle!).

It wasn't til I rang Hey Farm that the first question they asked was, what style are you looking for! That floored me, because I was getting to the stage that ANY style in a wide enough saddle would have been just great! But like Bev says, they have a whole barn full of saddles, and it was just amazing to be able to get particular about style and colour in a super super widefitting saddle! I ended up with a Frank Baines that time round.

I'd definitely make Hey Farm my first port of call if I was looking for another 2nd hand saddle for any of my gang. Great choice, and they let me take a carfull away and bring them back a few days later. It's about and hour and a bit from here, but well worth it. From memory, they stay open til 8ish quite a few nights, so that made it possible to go on an evening after work, which was really helpful.

Sarah

[jakesmum]

I have used them for mail order as no where near me but fab all the same

[julie]

Try albion again as they are usually more help. The albion K2 has been about a while - mine was three. Just sold it for £600! What size was it as these are often for sale. Try horse quest tack and ad trader too!

[jay]

Thanks, will try them again then. It's a 17 1/2" MW. Will try horse quest and ad trader as well...thank you!

[jacquidales]

I rode Harvey (now owned by Pam) in an Albion K2. I used it for jumping and some hacking. I loved it. Very comfy and as the tree is slightly diferent in design to most GPs, it's fab for chunky shoulders.

Hey Farm is one of my local saddleries. I think Jo is the fitter now as Linda no longer doe sit. She is very knowledgable and they've always stocked lots of Albions.

[khristyne]

I had a favourite med albion dressage saddle altered to fit my XXwide pony! They just replaced the tree, it cost £150 and was money well spent. They knew the history of the saddle from its no and were really helpful. I dealt with a lady called Het.

[jay]

I've spoken to Hey Farm and he's going to have a look at what they've got at the moment and give me a ring back....he was very helpful.

I've got a little carried away with e-bay fever though....have put a bid on one! I've never spent that much money on e-bay before. I really hope it turns out to be alright if I do get it.

[julie]

Albion K2's can be altered up or down up to 2 sizes for about £150!

[jay]

Hay Farm got back to me and unfortunately they didn't have his size in black, only brown in the albion. They were so helpful though....wish they were closer to me!

Thats great to know, thanks southerner. Well, I put my bid in on ebay, totally not expecting to get it, but I was the winning bid...I can't believe it. It should be arriving this morning so I'll be very disappointed if its not in the condition they'd described. Even if I need to get it altered it will still only have cost less than half the new one...yay! Have even got someone interested in my old one already