SIE EQUESTRIANSIE English Event Leather Saddles

I bought this saddle off of the SIE official blog site (Its priced at $219 here:[...] ), and was pleasantly surprised. I was really taking a gamble on it, as the saddle itself was extremely cheap. In all honesty I really couldn't find any helpful reviews on it, so I pulled the trigger and went for it. I was a bit concerned when I first saw the packaging, as it was beaten up a fair bit & the interior packaging wasn't extraordinary either, yet the saddle itself was in great condition!I have a big paint mare who has fairly average withers, but she is very picky with saddle fittings. This saddle fit her beautifully, and comfortably; No pinching, and it sat wonderfully without rocking. She rode out quiet & happy under this saddle. Needless to say, I was surprised.Pros:1. Came with stirrups and leathers.2. Great quality, Nice sleek design.3. Strong hardware.4.Thick/strong leathers/girth connectors.5.Very comfortable knee pads, almost like memory foam.6. Strong front and rear knee blocks.Cons:1. The leather was on the stiffer side, more so than my preference is. Its texture & quality suggests with use, it may soften.2. Extremely shiny leather (This is just my preference, does not effect the saddles functionality)This is a wonderful saddle for those who cannot afford the outrageously priced eventing saddles, It has a beautiful elegance to it and allows freedom for the horses' movements. I haven't had it more than a week or two, so I cannot testify for its long lasting ability, yet it has held up wonderfully to my daily use (Even after my horse and I took a fall on the cross country course)! It oils well with leather conditioners!I have yet to come across any major issues with the saddles functionality. I have been using it for lessons, while my show saddle is getting repaired (I needed a cheap temporary substitute), and this saddle surpassed my expectations.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE: 2/5/18 (Almost 3 years after purchase!)Update as requested! I've have had this saddle for almost 3 years now. I can honestly say, this is the absolute best saddle you can find for an extremely low price! The hardware has survived many rainy days, and dips into the ponds on course without rusting at all. The billets have upheld wonderfully, no stretching, ripping or tears! Saddle flaps and stitching still look brand new...Though I do clean all of my tack often, which may be why this saddle has upheld for such a long time.As I stated above in my previous review, I only bought this saddle a cheap temporary substitute while my Ikonic Jump XC saddle was getting some repairs. I never intended for this SIE saddle to last long, but I am pleasantly surprised at how nicely it has held up.I use this saddle daily, I love how comfortable it is and how nicely it fits my mare.My saddle did suffer some scratches from wear and tear, and the general results that daily riding can bring-but after oiling and conditioning those marks are hardly noticeable.I can not recommend a better saddle for this price! I was and still am very impressed with SIE, it is an excellent temp. substitute saddle, or training/ lesson saddle, or even a simply a cheap option for those who cannot afford those down right outrageous top-brand saddles. (I have also bought SIEs dressage edition to serve as a training saddle for my new colt.) Great product!My one dislike, was for the irons that mine came with. Though the quality was okay, and they didn't have any flaws to my knowledge, they just felt cheap and did show up a few rust spots from just sitting on a shelf after I replaced them. Not a big deal though because those are obviously easily replaced.(I added a picture of my saddle today, 3 years after I bought this SIE Eventing/XC saddle for anyone who would like to see how its upheld!)