Choosing between equestrian saddles & pads gets difficult when two saddles share a brown finish but differ in configuration and price. The practical question is whether the Butet package or the Cliff Barnsby setup better matches your buying brief, and whether the extra spend is justified by the details you actually want.
Quick verdict
The Butet is the focused pick for a shopper who wants French origin and is comfortable with the higher listed price. Cliff Barnsby is the more practical choice when a lower price and the stated flat-backed-horse use case matter more. The $650 spread makes this a clear priorities decision. Both are jumping/close-contact saddles, but their seat/tree configurations differ, so choosing by the exact setup matters.
At-a-glance comparison
| Detail | Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle | Cliff Barnsby English Close Contact Jump Saddle |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 1,000.00 | USD 350.00 |
| Seat/tree | 16-inch seat; Standard Tree | 16.5-inch seat; Medium Tree |
| Color/condition | Brown; Used | Brown; Used |
| Saddle type | Jumping/Close Contact | Jumping/Close Contact |
Where each product wins
Butet wins for package-specific details: a Butet cover is included, and the saddle has supple leather and reflocked knee rolls.
Cliff Barnsby wins for practical extras: it has suede trim, and stirrups and stirrup leathers can be included. Those details may matter to a shopper assembling a complete riding setup.
Product notes
Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle
The Butet's main reason to choose is its condition detail: supple leather and reflocked knee rolls give shoppers something specific to prioritize beyond the named format. Its limitation is equally clear: it is used, which matters to anyone narrowing a search to new condition. The included Butet cover adds a concrete part to the package. Choose it when the leather and knee-roll details, along with that cover, matter to your brief; the trade-off is that this is a particular used saddle rather than a new-condition purchase.
Cliff Barnsby English Close Contact Jump Saddle
The Cliff Barnsby's clearest reason to choose is its horse-specific use case: it is described as fitting a flat-backed horse well. Its listed suede trim and possible inclusion of stirrups and stirrup leathers add practical specificity. The limitation is also concrete: on one horse, shoulder pinching developed after that horse became larger and more muscled. That history cannot predict the result on every horse, so it should remain a context cue, not a guarantee. The saddle is used, another condition point for shoppers narrowing their search. Choose Cliff Barnsby when its stated horse context and included-equipment possibility align with the job; the trade-off is the prior shoulder-fit issue.
Final choice by use case
- For an exact seat/tree brief, choose Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle for the 16-inch Standard Tree configuration.
- For the alternative exact configuration, choose Cliff Barnsby English Close Contact Jump Saddle for the 16.5-inch Medium Tree setup.
- For a budget-led decision, choose Cliff Barnsby if the $650 spread matters more than French origin; choose Butet if French origin matters more than that spread.
