So What's Your Saddle? Options

[Mike Franklin]

Mine is a custom made Draft Saddle on a Wade Tree. It has extra long stirrup leathers, an 18" seat and was built to fit my Belgian. It's my third custom saddle. I'll be putting on a pair of 1880's Gentleman's Riding Stirrups before I ride again.

[ December 08, 2006, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: Mike Franklin ]

[NW]

I have a Brian Costagno made Wade that is about 10 years old now. It has a smooth leather finish with only my brand tooled into the back of the cantle and a 16.5" seat. Rawhide on the cantle edge, and on the gullet edge. Rawhide on the horn edge, double row stitched around the leather edges, and rawhide covered oxbow stirrups.

I am putting together a plan for an arena saddle. Just need to get the details and line up a maker.

[rafterMK]

Rafter W Slick fork, roughout... 4" brass morans... double rigged... hobble ring and some other stuff, just dont feel like thinking about it.

[betsey]

i'll make you all snort in disgust...

a circle y flex lite saddle. 17" seat, 7/8 rigging. Yes, i know, it's not a custom, but it fits the horse well, and is comfortable for me. plus, i don't do anything with cattle, so my needs are far different....

betsey

[Mike Franklin]

If the saddle fits the pony and you and fits your needs then you have the perfect saddle for you. I'm 6'8" and 330 I just have problems buying anything off the shelf!

[D.A. Kabatoff]

Hey Rafter,

when you feel like talking about it... I'd be curious to know how old your saddle is and what you think about it in a bit of detail (good and bad). Especially interested in what you think about the seat shape and overall finish quality compared to the nicest saddles you've seen.

The reason for my curiousity is that I've seen these saddles available on Ebay for quite a while. I've seen the quality of them improve quite a bit since they first appeared and the price has also gone up a bit as well; although I'd still say they are moderately priced in the same way a McCall saddle is. It's always difficult to tell much from photos on a computer, so i'd be interersted in your own opinion. For people not wanting to spend alot on a custom saddle, I sometimes try to recommend alternatives that better fit peoples budget, and I'd like to know if these saddles are worth the money?

thanks,

Darc

[Cowboys Restless...]

I have two, my favorite is a Veach saddle which I had made last year. It is from Veach Saddlery in Trenton Missouri - Craig Robinson maker - grandson of Monroe Veach. It is more of an all round saddle with a 50/50 wood/rawhide tree. It has 3/4 tooling. I prefer tooling and the color of the leather to too much silver.

I also have a Tucker plainsman. I use this one for longer rides. This saddle is very comfortable and lightweight. It has the wide tree and fits my QH well.

Betsey, I used to have a Circle Y and loved it. It was older and I had the wool replaced with the real sheepskin because it got so warn. It was a great saddle and I kick myself for selling it! But when I got the Veach I though I didn't need 3,, heck,, can anyone have too many saddles?

[kalo555]

Billy Cook roper, suede seat,rawhide and silver laced cantle, basket weave tooling. Comfy, fits my horse well...love it.

[betsey]

Mike-

Exactly my thought process. Someday, i will go the route of a custom saddle. just not in the budget right now. and, for right now, this saddle is proving to be perfect for what i need. Everyone who sits in it comments on it's comfort. Macho also loves it...he is eager to work, even sweat stains, etc....

but, i admit, i do love hearing about everyone's custom saddles and i do drool over all the pictures!

betsey

[blackpondoutfitt...]

I ride and OLD Ben Veach saddle, fully hand tooled. Iam not surew how oldit is but I tlaked to him (he is in his 80's now) and he said it had to beold becuase it was made when he was still making saddles in Texas. I intend to take it over his way and let him look at it one of these days. I have an older slick seat hereford I ride as well.
Jen

[rafterMK]

Its the best quality saddle I could afford. My price limit also included 10 year old Mecum saddles, new Harwoods, and some castagnos. Maybe im a fool for not going with a new harwood, but this saddle has excellent quality leather, and no tooling in the places i didnt want it (wherever my body touches leather). The seat was customized by the last owner... who also happened to be the saddle store owner. The seat used to be more level so he added some leather just behind the (not really swells but the cantle anyway) and now its got a really deep seat and its the best saddle ive ever sat in. Its two years old. he rode in it for 1 and a half and I rode it for a half. You get your moneys worth even if you buy the ones that werent customized. Mines a buckaroo saddle, and its withstood my useage which should be an award in and of itself. I wear on saddles like i do on boots, and that should mean this saddle had a life expectansy of about a year, but even after the fall works it still looks like it did the day i picked it up. The seat is the most comfy ive ever sat by the way. I dont know what else you wanted to know but thats about all i can tell you so far.

[barrelhorses]

When I ride, which is not very often, I ride in a 17" Circle Y flex trail saddle.

My wife has two Martha Josey Ultimate barrel saddles which will be collecting dust for about the next year.

[Paul]

I currently have a Wade saddle made by Scott Brown (Big Bend). 15" seat, 4 1/2" cantle with Cheyenne roll, 3 high x 4" Wade horn. All roughout except for the exposed stirrup leathers which are flower carved. 4" Moran stirrups unlined but with heel blocks. I had Scott rig it for a southpaw so the cross over rope strap in on the left and the hobble keeper is on the right.

Paul

[ December 09, 2006, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: Paul ]

[EtxCowgirl]

Court's Sharon Camarillo combo saddle, basketweave design, silver laced square cantle, which was special made for my barrel horse.
The Copper Horse has a Bob's Custom cutting saddle, basket weave design, slick seat (which I dont really like)and wooden stirrups (which I LOVE).

[Mike Franklin]

If ya have a custom saddle it's a good idea to get a letter from the maker id'ing the saddle and when it was made. This is for insurance reasons and because some of those old saddles are worth a bunch'a money. I saw an Old Visalia on the Antiques Road Show that was appraised at $28,000 give or take a dollar. That's some real money if you ever sale.

[ranchroper]

Posted a pic of mine awhile back, but here's the info again; custom wade by Lyle Henderson of Platte Valley Saddle Shop. 16" seat, smooth out leather, 3/4 basket stamped. Wood post horn & 4 1/2" dished cantle, straight up binding. Oregon cross over rope strap. 8 button loop seat with plain brass slotted conchos. 7/8 flat plate rigged. 24" eagle bill taps. She's a bad ride mama!

[liam nomano]

i am riding a 15,1\2", half breed (rough out and basket stamp) on a Rick Reed "visalia" style tree.
it has a 5" cantle, half double stirrup leathers, 4" moran stirrups unlined and blocked with leather strips. the maker was my wife, while being taught by local saddle maker Mike Franchini
liam

[rocketgirl]

Billy Cook 16" full skirted Barrel Saddle. Kinda plain but comfortable. When I started team penning I traded in my trail saddle for it. I find it is a good all around "athletic type" saddle. I replaced the bel stirups with steel oxbows, I just like em.

[Mustang Blue]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cowboys Restless Heart:
can anyone have too many saddles?

---

You been peeking in my tackroom? LOL!
I have 6, all western (two are kids saddles, one of which a saddlesmith said is a collector..but I don't know the brand)
1 Rose Parade show saddle, as sold in Colorado Saddlery for $1800 (stole it for $400)
1 barrel saddle...I'll have to go out and see what it is...will report back)
1 handmade/tooled (Tandi kit) saddle (mom's)
and my favorite, a 16" Crates (second hand) for comfort for my horse first, then for me...fully rigged 1/2 breed roper (roughout seat and fenders, basket weave tooled swells & skirts, 5" rawhide with silver lace rolled cantle) Wide QH bars.
She's been around the block a few times and looks it, her beauty is the way she rides, keeps me in the saddle during a blow-up and the way it fits my short backed 'stang......only thing I don'tlike is it is HEAVY for me! (about 45 - 50lbs) LOL!


[ December 12, 2006, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: Mustang Blue ]

[Roan Ranger]

Hi Everyone, I'm a newby here...actually a Dressage Queen playing cowgirl (I've always been a "Closet Cowgirl and now I'm outed.). In addition to my Schleese Wave dressage saddle, I have a Reinsman All Around, 16" semi-QH tree w/a flat plate rigging (not sure how to determine whether it's 7/8 or whatever). The tree is a Steele Equi-fit. It fits her (The Dutch Princess) fairly well if I use a Professional's Choice Ortho Sport pad under it and nothing else. The bars are flared in the front to accomodate her shoulders. I am thinking of going to a Wade tree saddle and would appreciate any suggestions on which one to buy. I'm 5'8" and ahem...150 lbs. My mare is very broad in her back and has a short thoracic weight bearing area front to back. She has withers, but not TB type. The more I investigat western saddles, the more confused I am. I could write a book on dressage saddles but am pretty clueless re western. Any help at all will be much appreciated! By the way, I don't have access to cattle here in the North East, but I do herd about 40 head of deer from time to time... Thanks RR