Choosing the saddle side of equestrian saddles & pads means balancing rider seat size, horse fit, discipline, and condition without letting price obscure a repair issue-or letting a higher price substitute for the right configuration. For jumping and close-contact riding, the useful question is which combination matches your priorities: a specific seat and tree setup, new leather, a French-made saddle, or the lowest listed price.
Quick take
Start with the non-negotiables: seat size, tree wording, jumping or close-contact designation, and condition. At a glance, the Cliff Barnsby supplies a specific medium-tree configuration, the Butet includes a cover and reflocked knee rolls, the Premium English Jumping Saddle has leather and a forward-flap design, and the BT Crump is the low-price candidate. The $800.10 spread is large enough that price should be treated as a separate filter, not a proxy for fit.
Listed-price comparison
The bars show price position only; they do not indicate fit, construction, or riding performance.
| Saddle | Listed price | Price bar |
|---|---|---|
| Cliff Barnsby English Close Contact Jump Saddle | USD 350.00 | |
| Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle | USD 1,000.00 | |
| Premium English Jumping Saddle Close Contact | USD 479.48 | |
| BT Crump English Riding Saddle | USD 199.90 |
Decision matrix
- Fit screen: Use seat-size and tree wording as matching criteria, not as a quality ranking. The Cliff Barnsby names a medium tree, while the Butet names a standard tree.
- Condition screen: Cliff Barnsby, Butet, and BT Crump are marked Used; the Premium English Jumping Saddle is marked New.
- Style screen: All four are identified as English jumping or close-contact saddles, so the choice turns on configuration and condition rather than a switch between English and Western tack.
- Repair screen: One strap on the BT Crump is missing a buckle. That is a practical factor to weigh alongside its seat and price.
Product notes
Cliff Barnsby English Close Contact Jump Saddle
The Cliff Barnsby English Close Contact Jump Saddle 16.5 Medium Tree gives shoppers a defined configuration: a 16.5-inch seat, medium tree, brown color, suede trim, and Jumping/Close Contact type. It is described as comfortable and as fitting a flat-backed horse, creating a clear use case for that back profile. One important limitation is fit history: it began pinching a horse after that horse's shoulder became more muscled. The saddle is used, so the buyer is choosing a particular fit history rather than a new condition. The medium-tree and flat-backed-horse details are the reasons to focus on this saddle, while the reported shoulder change is the reason not to treat it as universal.
Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle
The Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle has a 16-inch seat, standard tree, brown color, and Jumping/Close Contact designation. Its French origin, included Butet cover, supple leather, and reflocked knee rolls and panels give it a clearly described configuration for riders drawn to those details. That combination is the main reason to choose it. The limitation is that it is used and centers on a 16-inch seat, so it is a less direct match for a shopper specifically targeting another seat size. The saddle's listed condition and configuration should carry more weight than its styling alone when deciding whether the $1,000 price fits the intended use.
Premium English Jumping Saddle Close Contact
The Premium English Jumping Saddle Close Contact is marked New and uses leather, with model T-131 identified. Its 16-inch format, padded seat, knee rolls, and forward-flap jumping design make the intended riding setup easy to understand. The leather construction and new condition are concrete reasons to choose it over the used saddles when those attributes matter. Its limitation is the listed seat size: a rider specifically shopping for a 17-inch seat is looking at a different configuration. The description also names jumping, hunter jumping, eventing, training, competitions, and everyday riding, but the clearest practical distinction remains the new leather construction and forward-flap design.
BT Crump English Riding Saddle
The BT Crump English Riding Saddle 17 is identified as a 17-inch Jumping/Close Contact saddle in brown and is marked Used. That seat designation and riding type give it a straightforward use case for someone shopping around the 17-inch label while keeping the initial price at the bottom of this comparison. The concrete limitation is a missing buckle on one strap, making a repair detail part of the decision rather than a minor cosmetic consideration. The condition is also used, and the description points to the photos for overall condition. Choose the BT Crump when its seat and price fit the brief and the buckle issue is acceptable.
Final recommendation by use case
- For a flat-backed-horse use case: Choose the Cliff Barnsby English Close Contact Jump Saddle. Its title and flat-backed-horse fit description align directly with that requirement.
- For a Butet-specific purchase: Choose the Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle at $1,000. The named model, French origin, and included cover make the choice concrete.
- For the T-131 model: Choose the Premium English Jumping Saddle Close Contact. Its identified model gives shoppers a clear target when the leather forward-flap configuration is the priority.
- For the lowest listed price: Choose the BT Crump English Riding Saddle at $199.90. Its 17-inch title and Jumping/Close Contact designation define the use case, with the buckle issue as the key practical consideration.
