Anyone have a plantation saddle?

[twofatponies]

I’m researching for an article - if you own one (modern or antique) or know of a good maker of such, or a collector who has some? I’ve found a few saddlemakers I want to interview, but more suggestions are always good, as are the experiences of anyone who has ridden in one.

It’s an interesting and less-known style of saddle, but popular in some circles for distance riding. Tucker, for example, makes a modern “plantation” saddle that is a spinoff of the traditional kind.

But there are folks who make more traditional ones, too, which is more interesting to me, like this: http://www.hillcrestsaddlery.com/Saddles/saddles.html

Or people who restore antique ones…

Thanks!

[katarine]

google ‘Buena Vista:’ saddle rather than plantation saddle.

They are very comfy.

http://www.doublediamondequine.com/Henry%20Miller%20Buena%20Vista.asp

http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/cwaemb/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=140

Rocking R makes one, as does Crestridge Saddlery

[Guilherme]

Steele Saddles in TN has an extensive line of plantation saddles and a long history of making them. The produce a quality product.

G.

[twofatponies]

There seem to be multiple styles: the “buena vista” which is more cavalry/westerny and also the “kentucky stitchdown” type which is like a more cushiony cutback? I love the ones with the ornate stitchery on the seat.

[PRS]

[QUOTE=twofatponies;4809312]
I’m researching for an article - if you own one (modern or antique) or know of a good maker of such, or a collector who has some? I’ve found a few saddlemakers I want to interview, but more suggestions are always good, as are the experiences of anyone who has ridden in one.

It’s an interesting and less-known style of saddle, but popular in some circles for distance riding. Tucker, for example, makes a modern “plantation” saddle that is a spinoff of the traditional kind.

But there are folks who make more traditional ones, too, which is more interesting to me, like this: http://www.hillcrestsaddlery.com/Saddles/saddles.html

Or people who restore antique ones…

Thanks![/QUOTE]

That Kentucky Stitchdown saddle in your link looked like a work of art. What a beautiful saddle!

[spookhorse]

I have an antique plantation saddle sitting in my living room. I’m pretty sure it is a Kentucky Spring Seat which dates to the late 1800’s/early 1900’s.

It was a curb find a few years ago by a member of my family and it was passed to me this winter. It would need a lot of work to restore it to ridable condition but the thought intrigues me… too small for me though so I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it :lol:

Extensive photos:
http://s112.photobucket.com/albums/n174/spookhorse01/KY%20Spring%20Seat%20Saddle/

[katarine]

Interesting, I’d never heard of a Ky Stitchdown, here’s one that needs some love:

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2899174

[JollyBadger]

My boyfriend has a Buena Vista in his barn, though he only ever rides in a Tucker “Plantation” trail saddle.

[jeano]

I rode a Beuna Vista once and was miserable. Horse didnt seem to mind it, though. It seemed to combine the worst aspects of some English and Western saddles to me in that the seat managed to be hard and slippery and I felt I didnt have good contact with the horse at all. I’ve sat on but not ridden the Tucker plantation style saddles and they seem comfy.

I like the look of the Ky stitchdowns, too.

[Susan_P]

About 10 years ago I considered buying one for my extra wide hard to fit horse. Brown’s in Sinking Springs, PA had 2 used ones and I took them on trial but I don’t think I could get used to them, not sure if I would be as secure in the seat when he would act up. They were very cheap too. Also the store told me they could order a Stubben and I think it was about $900 at the time. I decided not to buy any of them. I did end up with a Harry Dabbs Jaguar customized to fit my horse because you can replace the tree. That seemed to be a good saddle for him and I leased him to someone else. He was a lot of horse to hold on to especially cross country, so having a deeper seat seemed wise.

[JollyBadger]

[QUOTE=jeano;4812112]
I rode a Beuna Vista once and was miserable. Horse didnt seem to mind it, though. It seemed to combine the worst aspects of some English and Western saddles to me in that the seat managed to be hard and slippery and I felt I didnt have good contact with the horse at all. I’ve sat on but not ridden the Tucker plantation style saddles and they seem comfy.

I like the look of the Ky stitchdowns, too.[/QUOTE]

That was my experience with the Buena Vista, too. . .maybe it was just too big for me, but it was quite smooth and slippery the one time I rode in it, and generally just kind of big and cumbersome to tack up with.

Tuckers are comfy.:yes:

[leilatigress]

I ride in a Steel Plantation saddle that was made in about the 1950’s for my aunt. She had it built for her when she was gifted a very fractious short backed grey cob mare that had TB withers. The mare looked horrible out of saddle with those withers and that short back but looked stunning in an English saddle. My aunt however had issues hanging onto her as the mare tended to start the day a camel and ended the day a bunny rabbit. She gave it to me when I was complaining about fitting my TB into a western saddle. I rode that saddle and have since sworn off anything else. I now use it on a daily basis on a variety of tbs and have 0 issues with fit for horse or myself. It’s been kept in amazing condition and has only been re-seated once as she really did ride a lot!

[AdAblurr02]

Hillcrest Saddlery

Some years ago we custom ordered a plantation saddle for Mr. AdAblurr from Hillcrest - the tree was special ordered (20 inch Buena Vista type tree, wide bars) to fit my size-large hubby. He’s ridden it a LOT, mostly on a pair of TB boys we raised, who were full brothers. It fit both well, though they were quite different in conformation, and Mr. AdAblurr says it’s the most comfortable saddle he’s ever ridden in.

I just restuffed the panels this spring in preparation to put it up for sale, though - doesn’t fit any of the horses we have now, and hubby says he’s likely done riding anyhow. I can put up a page of photos on the website if the OP needs to see them?

Here’s another maker/rebuilder of the type - neat lady, very talented and knowledgable
http://www.4beatstitchery.com/Examples.html

Great pics of the stitchdown types - I sent her one a couple of years ago as she does re-do the oldies.

[twofatponies]

Very cool stitchery on some of those saddles at 4beat stitchery! Thanks for the link.

[AlfalfaGirl]

My stable mate has a 26 year + Steele Plantation saddle that is fabulous. I bought a Steele Old Timer but it didn’t fit me so I sold it but the workmanship on it was wonderful and it seemed to fit my gelding just fine!

[spirithorse]

May sound goofy, but the plantation saddle I used to own was great to ride in. Did low level dressage, played with cattle herding, trail riding…
I found it to be most comfortable for me and whom ever rode in it.

[LARGEBORE]

Does Steele have a website ?

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=LARGEBORE;4851021]
Does Steele have a website ?[/QUOTE]

Google is your friend.

G.