Has anyone bought a saddle from this maker? I've got my eye on one of the western saddles and I'm wanting peoples experiences and opinions.

http://www.equissentialsnw.com/Default.htm

MY Rule of Thumb as to what's a custom saddle or what's a shop saddle. If you get a premade saddle, handmade, high quality off the rack you're getting a shop saddle. If the Maker starts off by wanting to know about your horses measurements and what kinda tree you'll want, the shape of the cantle, wether you'll be ropin' or not, then you're likely getting a real custom saddle. My Maker even sent the tree to my house so it could be placed onto the horses back before he'd start the leather workings. I saw my wood grow into a saddle, that's custom.
Understand that both types TEND to be better than those assembled on a factory line. Generaly, it's like the shop saddle is a step up from the factory, then the custom is the top.

I bought a saddle form them not to long ago and from a distance it is beautiful, however I was disapointed to see that all of the sterling silver on it was tarnished and some pieces bent. Since I paid over 3,000 for my saddle I sent it back to get fixed and had no problems, but when I got it back the silver was in worse condition. I tried to get a hold of them again but my phone calls where never returned.

Jen, if I remember correctly, we only cleaned one corner plate, the whole saddle was not returned, and it cleaned up nicely. If this was not the saddle, then please contact me so we can get it cleaned for you -
C. Stovin