Hi! Doing some research on western saddles, taking my first steps into that world. I’m familiar with Circle Y and Crates, but am looking to expand my knowledge of different saddle brands. Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.
Thank you!
The professional ranch worker I know (works cattle on a ranch in WYO as a career choice when not leading a mule train carrying hunting supplies for clients) has a custom made saddle. It took a couple of years to have it made and cost 3-4X what I’ve ever seen a western saddle sell for --without silver --just a plain working saddle.
My western saddle is an inexpensive “King” brand --I think it was about $400. I bought it because it was the lightest saddle in the shop that fit my horse. I can’t lift some of those monster western saddles --so no point in having one.
Another point is that I am just starting out showing Western after 50+ years of English riding. Until I have a better foundation and knowledge of the discipline, I think my $ is better spent on a great horse and great instruction. Expensive equipment may come later . . .if at all.
I did receive a pretty saddle blanket for Bob for Christmas . . .
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Do you have a particular western discipline in mind? That might help aim you in the best direction as far as a maker and type.
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What type of riding do you do?
Reining?
Trail?
Cutting?
Barrel racing?
Or just general leisure?
That’s going to influence a saddle maker recommendation.
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Trail or all around would be best for me, thank you!
Check out Steele saddles: https://steelesaddle.com/
They have a loaner program so you can try one out before you buy. They will also customize the saddle so that it will fit both you and your horse. I have the Frontier model and I love it. So does my horse.
J.M. Capriola saddles are/were very well made using saddles. Not cheap and not fancy.
https://capriolas.com/saddles/
Looking that up really takes me back to the days of beautiful Garcia bits, romal reins, bosals, and the Quarter Horses and Arabians I rode in my childhood. 
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I would also advise you to try as many saddles from friends that you can. What is comfortable to one person, the next person hates.
As far as trail saddles, I have experience with the Circle Y Flex2 trail saddles. I love the fit on my horses and the saddles are SOOOO comfortable with a cushy padded the seat. Now as far as leather quality, unfortunately Circle Y is not at all what it used to be, sadly.
For saddles I have experience with I would recommend either Double J or Martin because they have lovely, lovely high quality leather on their saddles, but you’ll also pay a hefty price for it!
I do know that Double J offers a “try before you buy” program which is really nice.
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It really depends on what you’re going to be doing in the saddle.
To me, trail and all around are very different.
Trail - city trail, ranch trail, or actual in the woods trail?
All Around - cattle all around? Show all around? Just a generic western saddle to use to do whatever you want all around?
I’m asking because you specifically mention “higher end” so I can’t tell if you’re wanting something show quality or if you just want something with a good reputation that will get you a lot of years for your money.
Reining saddles are going to have a flatter seat. Cowhorse/cutting saddles are generally doing to have a deeper seat. Trail saddles will generally have a more padded seat. If you’re planning on doing any roping, you need to ensure you’ve got the right tools - some saddles won’t have the right configuration to hold a rope.
FWIW, I prefer to ride in a reining saddle most of the time - I grew up riding H/J and I don’t like feeling “stuck” down in a deep seat. Granted, I don’t do miles and miles of rugged outback trail riding, but in general they’re pretty comfortable. Most people have good things to say about Bob’s (https://www.bobscustomsaddles.com/saddles-catalog) and you can occasionally find them used.
More context could probably give you some additional resources.
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Trail riding, meaning actual trails, you likely want a higher cantle, forward angled horn of a moderate size, and smaller swells. A hard seat or lightly padded seat, and ample saddle strings.
There are many good brands, and your wallet is looking at anywhere from 1500 new to 5000, you can get as persnickety and big name/small maker as you like.
What’s your budget?
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I love Bob’s reining saddles. If I were more patient I’d have ordered one and waited. But I am not. 
So I ride in a Martin that I found slightly used. It does have a flatter seat than my all-around western show saddle had, that’s for sure. But that has also made it a nice trail saddle, too, because it’s easier for me to get on/off without the higher cantle of some trail models.
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I ride in a Martin’s, too. Love that saddle. It’s technically a trail model, but I use it for Ranch classes as well. And I’ve logged hundreds of hours on real trails in nearby mountains on that saddle and it’s like coming home every time I ride. But it is VERY heavy, which I’m feeling more and more as I get older. Part of that is the breast collar and back cinch, which just makes more straps to deal with as I saddle up. I have other saddles, but this is my favorite.
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I have 2 Martins and a Circle Y Julie Goodnight saddle.
I use the Martins for cattle work and riding my youngsters. I have a ranch cutter and an all around. Both saddle have rough out for a little extra stick. The ranch cutter is heavy, about 35 lbs. with the rear cinch on. The all arounder is less than 30 lbs., including the rear cinch. They are my go to saddles. If I could only ever have one saddle, it would be the ranch cutter.
I use the Circle Y saddle for trail riding. Not a light saddle, as it weighs around 35 lbs. without a rear cinch. It has a gel seat, which is really comfortable for long rides. It is a Julie Goodnight Blue Ridge, that was developed for gaited horses, but also works well on my QHs and Paints. One of the reasons I choose this saddle was it does not put me in a chair seat. I like my leg underneath me, and many trail saddles don’t allow that.
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My Martin is about 35 lbs, too. I unbuckle cinch and rear cinch to saddle my mare, who fortunately is only about 15.1 or at my age I couldn’t do it gracefully. 
I like it for ranch riding. While it’s not a roping saddle, the horn is tall enough that once I wrapped it, it’s fine for dragging a log in trail.
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I’ve never seen a cutting saddle with a deeper seat. Bigger and flat yes, deep never. Have an ex who trained cutting horses and rode in both is that were flat and had friends that rode cutting and theirs were flat too. Like sitting on a board. Almost zero padding.
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A few of the girls in my barn ride in Bob’s Lady Reiners. They do the AQHA all around - not quite congress/world winning level but go to novice champs, the Florida shows etc. and do well. Those saddles are very comfy
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The trend has kinda changed on the flat, seated cutter board style. A lot of people have been ordering the tall front-ends with a big rise. I am personally not a fan of them.
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Wow! That is a huge difference to what I was introduced to.
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That makes two of us!
My cutting saddles are an in-between version now, a bit of a rise, not too tall of a front end but there’s still room to move. Boss rides the same.
I think I’d fall off if I had to ride a cutter board now lol
I’ve always ridden a flat seat cutter, but noticed that change in new saddles a few years ago.
I was taught that a flat seat cutter gives the rider the ability to move better with the horse, causing less interference with the horse doing its job.
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