Bob Marshall Original Sport Saddle
Barrel Saddle
All Purpose Saddles
Manufacturer: Bob Marshall Original Sport Saddle
Model: Barrel Saddle
Category: All Purpose Saddles
Purchase: To be honest, I have always had the Circle Y Bob Marshall Barrel Saddles. I absolutely love them. I have 2 that are now over 10 years old, and they are in outstanding condition. I have used these saddles EVERY DAY as a horse trainer. I competitively compete in barrel racing, and my Circle Y's have helped me and my horses. I have even done a 25 mile endurance race recently in my Circle Y, and my horse never got sore. I now realize how precious these two saddles are because Circle Y and Bob Marshall no longer do business. So, the only other way to acquire one is to order an Original through Bob Marshall, or find an older/used Circle Y Bob Marshall.
Likes: I can honestly say that I don't think that there are any good things about the ORIGINAL BOB MARSHALL SADDLES. I think that it's a fantastic concept because these saddles, when built properly and professionally are great for the rider and the horse as well. However, when built carelessly, can do harm to the horse and put the rider in danger.
Dislikes: In my opinion, there is ONE true way to measure a seat in a saddle, and Bob Marshall can't even get that right. He uses the leg measurement as an excuse and an escape route for this company when sending the wrong size. I mean realistically, we are all built in different shapes and sizes. It doesn't really matter how big or small someones thighs are in a saddle. What matters is can our rear ends fit there.
Quality: I am extremely disappointed with the Bob Marshall Original saddle and the customer service with the whole Bob Marshall experience. The quality of the saddle is the WORST I have ever seen. I ordered one last year, as did 2 of my clients. We all ordered 15" saddles, we each got different sizes in return. I got a 14 1/2 ", one of my clients got a 12 1/2", and the other received a 14". The girl with the 14" saddle has only had problems with losing one of her conchos. The other girl has not only lost conchos, but the stitching in her saddle is already coming out, and both of these saddles are under 1 year old. My saddle was a total disaster right out of the box. I ordered the newest model, the Whalen, fully tooled, and paid the extra $300 to have it that way. When I got it, it was not only tooled WRONG, but it was completely crooked! Also, there had been black paint that had been apparently splashed on the underside of the jockey.
Summary: The worst thing about this entire thing is that the company, including Bob Marshall himself, refuses to accept responsibility for any of these problems. When I gave them the photos of the saddle, their response was..."We are aware that we tooled it wrong, but figured that when you saw it, you would like it regardless. But, we don't really notice that it's crooked." They still haven't refunded my money, and on custom orders, you have to take a loss of a $200 re-stocking fee. And buyers beware to their "return policy" because they DON'T stand behind their products!
Rating: 1
Author: All Star Training
Date: 0000-00-00
Usefulness Rating: 3.375 out of 5.
8 reader(s) voted.
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