Choosing among equestrian saddles & pads is really a discipline-and-format decision: three entries here are English jumping or close-contact saddles, while one is a western trail saddle pad. Start by deciding whether you need a complete saddle or a pad, then narrow by condition, listed fit details, and price. That keeps the widely separated choices from being treated as direct substitutes.
Quick take
- Cliff Barnsby: A used English saddle with a medium tree and a 16.5-inch seat.
- Butet: A named close-contact model with supple leather and an included cover.
- English Jumping Saddle Close Contact: The new-condition, leather-built choice.
- BAR J Saddlery: A western trail pad rather than a complete saddle.
Listed-price comparison
| Saddle or pad | Listed price | Price position |
|---|---|---|
| Cliff Barnsby English Close Contact Jump Saddle 16.5 Medium Tree | $350.00 | |
| Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle 16\" Seat Standard Tree | $1,000.00 | |
| PREMIUM DARK BROWN ENGLISH JUMPING SADDLE CLOSE CONTACT 16 INCH HORSE TACK | $479.48 | |
| BAR J Saddlery 100% Wool Fleece Western Horse Trail Saddle Pad ~29\" x 32\" x 1 | $55.00 |
The listed prices span a $945 spread. The bars show relative price position within this comparison only; they are not a performance ranking.
Decision matrix
- Need a complete saddle for English jumping: Compare Cliff Barnsby, Butet, and the English Jumping Saddle Close Contact entry.
- Need a western trail pad: BAR J is the dedicated pad format.
- Prefer new condition: The English Jumping Saddle Close Contact entry is the new-condition choice; the other three entries are used.
- Want a medium-tree cue: Cliff Barnsby is the saddle with that listed specification.
- Want a named Butet model: The Butet Close Contact saddle is the direct match.
- Shopping for dressage: The saddles here are identified around jumping or close-contact use rather than as dressage saddles.
Product notes
Cliff Barnsby English Close Contact Jump Saddle 16.5 Medium Tree
Choose the Cliff Barnsby when you want a used English close-contact jump saddle with a 16.5-inch seat, medium tree, brown finish, and suede trim. Its fit context is a flat-backed horse, with shoulder pinching reported after the horse became more muscled. That makes the listed fit details a useful reason to consider it, not a universal guarantee. At $350, it sits below the other two English saddles. The tradeoff is the used condition and the fit sensitivity around changing shoulder shape. It is a focused jumping choice, so it is less suitable for someone who needs a western trail pad or a dressage-labeled saddle.
Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle 16\" Seat Standard Tree
The Butet makes sense for a shopper drawn to the named Butet Close Contact model and its stated supple, well-cared-for leather. Brown color, standard tree, French origin, an included cover, and reflocked knee rolls give this used saddle several concrete specification and condition details. At $1,000, it carries the highest listed price, making budget a central consideration beside the $945 spread across the set. Used condition is also a limitation for someone specifically seeking a new saddle. Keep it aimed at jumping or close-contact riding: its stated saddle type does not make it a western pad or a dressage saddle.
PREMIUM DARK BROWN ENGLISH JUMPING SADDLE CLOSE CONTACT 16 INCH HORSE TACK
Pick this new-condition English jumping saddle if a leather construction and a clearly described jumping design matter most. The description names a padded seat, supportive knee rolls, forward-flap design, lightweight tree, and durable stitching. Those details give a concrete reason to choose it for a shopper wanting a new close-contact saddle. At $479.48, it falls between the $350 Cliff Barnsby and $1,000 Butet on price. Its limitation is format: the title names a 16-inch English close-contact jumping saddle, so it does not answer a request for the western trail pad. Model T-131 is the listed model identifier.
BAR J Saddlery 100% Wool Fleece Western Horse Trail Saddle Pad ~29\" x 32\" x 1
BAR J is the right format when the goal is a western trail saddle pad rather than a complete English saddle. Its 100% wool fleece, contoured design, woven top, fleece underside, and listed approximate 29 x 32 x 1 dimensions make the intended pad format easy to understand. At $55, it is the lowest listed-price entry and sits $295 below Cliff Barnsby and $945 below Butet. The limitation is scope: it is a used saddle blanket or pad, not one of the English jumping saddles. Choose it for the western trail setup named in the title, not for a jumping or dressage saddle brief.
Final recommendation by use case
For western trail riding, choose BAR J Saddlery because it is explicitly a wool-fleece western trail pad. For a new English jumping saddle, the PREMIUM DARK BROWN ENGLISH JUMPING SADDLE CLOSE CONTACT 16 INCH HORSE TACK is the direct match through its new condition and leather construction. For a medium-tree English saddle, choose Cliff Barnsby. If the named model, cover, and supple leather matter most, choose Butet, while accepting its highest listed price and used condition. For dressage-specific riding, this set is centered on jumping rather than a dressage-labeled saddle.
