The most expensive horse saddles

No one knows who the buyer was, but in 2015, someone paid $653,234 for a saddle! 

It belonged to the Crown Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. It was sold at a charity auction in November 2015. Rumour has it that the saddle may have contained pure gold but it’s a mystery if it did. With a price tag like that – you would hope so!

Then, in 2012, a saddle that belonged to the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa was sold for an astonishing $625,000. Pancho was a General during the Mexican Revolution from 1910 to 1916 and was renowned for his brilliance on the battlefield. He also appeared in several American Westerns as himself. It was a stunning, incredibly ornate saddle that was presented to him as a gift in 1920. His widow had given it to the movie director Howard Hawks in 1930 who hadn’t even noticed it had been stolen from his house until he saw it on an auction site 23 years later!

Gucci’s Guccissima saddle

The Italian couture fashion brand’s saddle – part of their equestrian range - comes in at £5387.22. The black leather saddle is not currently available though! Did you know that Gucci himself started life as a Master Saddler?

Hermes’ Cavale saddle

Supposedly designed to meet the needs of high-end show jumping, this other high profile couture brand has its Cavale saddle retailing at £6,265. Imagine dropping that on your stable floor, or your horse slobbering on it …

And if you really want to push the boat out you could buy a saddle pad from Hermes to go with the above, the Doudou Shock Absorbing Pad, which retails at $730

Devoucoux saddles 

This premium French brand has been in business since 1985. They are constantly researching with new technology to develop their designs. Offering a free test ride before you buy, the saddles come in a choice of black or Havana leather.

 They make saddles for dressage, show jumping, cross country, endurance, and leisure riding. Prices start from £2,650 and go up to £4,950

Passier Sirius Dressage Saddle

Heading to Germany now, we find the Passier brand. Their Sirius Dressage Saddle with freedom panels, deep seat, high thigh supports with Velcro, with knee and seat made of Jupa leather and the front and back trim made with patent leather will set you back $7,695.95. 

Passier Optimum Dressage Saddle

Another saddle from Passier is their Optimum Dressage saddle. This is extremely popular with riders who love its fit and the simple design. It suits riders who find it hard to sit up straight as it puts them in the correct position. This saddle costs $5,995

Passier Compact Dressage Saddle

More compact in design, this saddle is suitable for short backed horse breeds such as stock horses or quarter horses or chunky ponies. It’s made from soft jupa leather that will last for a very long time. This saddle costs $5,850

Voltaire saddles

Voltaire was founded in 2010, in the USA. In 2012 their workshop expanded and moved to Bassussary, France. They specialise in cross country, jumping and dressage saddles. One of their saddles even has a connectible Bluetooth feature linked to your smartphone. Their saddles retail at £1,290 - £2,500.

Antares saddles 

Antares is another French luxury saddle brand. Their saddles are completely customizable. They are considered to be high quality and offer comfort and durability. They specialise in jumping saddles. Prices range from $2,900 - $6,400

CWD saddles

CWD is well known for its incredibly comfortable jumping saddles. You should expect to part with between $6,000 to $9,000 for one of these.

Harris Western saddles

These absolute show stoppers belonging to this popular western show saddle brand will cost anything from $15,000 and $25,000 new, with custom saddles selling for more. 

As you can see from the above, there are lots of expensive saddles out there. When it comes to horses, the sky really can be the limit in terms of how much money you can spend. So our advice is to do your research. Decide on the type of saddle you want and have a look at several brands. Get a feel for their quality and after-sales service. Look for reviews before you spend your hard-earned cash and hopefully, you will find a saddle that is perfect for you and your horse.