Those of us who ride Saddleseat know how difficult it can be to find a used saddle without the help of the internet, as so few tack shops cater to our style of riding. However there are things everyone should know before bidding on a saddle online, and as someone who has been duped in the process before becoming successful, I've become pretty good at spotting the good items from the junk.

LOOK FOR:

• Items with a reputable brand name (Barnsby, Shively, Whitman, etc... of if you're budget isn't large Borelli's can be quite decent for Argentine saddles) , if you're unfamiliar with it, ask around. If nobody you know has heard of it, beware.
• Listings with multiple pictures that show you all angles of the saddle. You want to be able to see the billets, stirrup bars, cantle, flaps and seat for sure. The underside isn't the most important (as far as scratches and aesthetics go) but it's nice to be able to have a complete understanding of the product before you bid on it.
• Honesty! The longer and more detailed the description is, the better. And check the sellers feedback to see how products they've sold in the past have lived up to their listing desciptions.
• The lines of the saddle. You can spot a cheap saddle easily if you know what to look for. The cutback pommel should NOT slant forward, it SHOULD be in line with the rest of the seat. The flaps SHOULDN'T be overly far forward as many of the cheap Cutbacks on Ebay are (these saddles are clearly made by people attempting to sell the same saddle to Hunt and Saddleseat riders)

BEWARE OF:

• Sellers that have multiples of the exact same saddle (in the same size or in many sizes) because odds are that it's a cheaply made piece of junk.
• Items that are part of a package at an amazingly low price. If somebody is selling a brand new saddle complete with bridle, bit, leathers, girth and irons for $300, it's TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! You're better off paying more for a quality product.
• Sellers who flat-out admit that they don't know very much about English or Saddleseat saddles. If they don't know what they're talking about, you can't be sure you're bidding on something that will suit your needs.
• An item desciption that says the saddle can also be used for something else. I've encountered several "Lane Fox" saddles on Ebay that "could also be used for some Dressage riding" A Saddleseat saddle and a Dressage saddle are two different things that position the rider in completely different ways.
• Sellers that are unsure of weather the saddle they are selling has a spring tree, or if the tree is just plain broken.  You don't want to take the chance because a saddle with a broken tree can be just plain dangerous (though some people with low-backed horses swear by them)

IF IN DOUBT:

• Ask the seller all the questions you may have
• Have someone who's knowledge you trust look at the listing and ask the seller and additional questions they may have
• If you still are unsure how you feel, DON'T BID ON IT! You're always better safe than sorry.