So, I bought this saddle on eBay. I think I got a good deal on it… could the western saddle folks take a look and tell me what you think? I haven’t received it yet (it’s in transit), so I still have to check the fit, but preliminary thoughts?
Thanks!!
ETA: It’s a Tex Tan of Yoakum Hereford Saddle
What are you wanting to do with it? Occasional trail ride? Daily use to work cows? Etc…
It looks very clean and well maintained for an older saddle. Without knowing the brand it’s hard to estimate a price.
For my area for this saddle- If it’s a no name saddle it could be worth $250 and up, but if it’s a brand name saddle you’re looking at a lot more money.
I edited my post… it’s a Tex Tan Hereford. 
Plan to trail ride… some local shows, nothing fancy.
Thanks!!
Looks like a reasonably nice saddle with some poor repairs here and there. The two that jump out at me are the seat belt latigo and the rats-nest of a braiding job on the rear jockeys (who braids the skirts onto the rear jockeys?!?). Getting a saddlemaker to clean those up would be easy.
Might have been relined at one point, and the double stitch line on the cantle says to me the seat was replaced (poorly) at one point.
Probably had a cantle plate at one point based on those old screw holes too.
Looks very nice, hand tooling, not stamped and clean and clean lines.
The seat is shallow enough to calf rope in it and it looks stout for most anything.
Will do fine for what you want to do, if it fits you and the horse.
We have similar saddles, all with these latigo straps.
For showing in some classes, you may not want them there.
we use seatbelt latigos, that doesn’t hurt a thing. It’s not ‘traditional’ but that doesn’t matter to everyone- including me.
Looks like it was well cared for, and comfortable. If you’re going to show I’d pair it with a simple bridle in a similar color
http://www.rods.com/martin-hammered-one-ear-headstall.html
or totally rock it old school
http://www.rods.com/rawhide-buckstitch-browband-headstall.html
Hi, I recognized the Hereford stamp right away. I looks like a good solid saddle for what you have in mind. If you can find a serial # on it you might be able to get some information from TexTan.
I bought a Hereford saddle in the mid 90’s for my daughter and was able to get some information when i contacted them. Mine was already 20 years old and had NEVER been on a horse. Was in brand new condition and had been owned by a series of unfortunate women who had gotten divorced before they were able to use it.
According to TT/Hereford it was their top-of-the-line roping saddle in 1973. Has hand carving and deep stamping. She used it to show and ride for several years. It is still in very good shape and we broke the unridden/divorce jinx.
The laced back jockey is standard and I would disagree with the person who said the seat had been replaced. It has some wear but I would bet it is original.
I think you did good overall if it fits you and your horse. The one we have is comfortable and has worked on a variety of horses.
Mary
OP, for an older saddle, I think that is a nice find. The Tex Tans are one of those brands that were really good in the older days.
What’s the serial number on it? Do you know what year it was made?
As do I! I will never have leather latigos on any saddle again. When it’s humid outside, the leather doesn’t slide. When it’s cold outside, the leather is too stiff and doesn’t slide. “Seatbelt” is the way to go, IMO. 
Nice saddle!
Hope it fits your horse.
If you want a really “old school” type bridle, try to find something the same color as the saddle – with ferrules for trim!
Sorry, I meant latigo strings, to tie stuff to the saddle, not latigos to tie the cinches with.
The seat looks original.
As for the housing lacing, that is how many of my saddles are put together, but that lacing in this saddle is not right, too skimpy, really.
It should be flat and tight and not really crossed over like that.
Any saddler can re-lace it where it does more good than so loose back there.
That looks like a very nice, solid, good quality saddle.
The seatbelt latigo is fine structurally, I just meant to point it out as not likely to have been original.
OTOH, if the rear jockeys came laced like that originally, the saddlemaker needed to be fired. When the saddle was made it would have likely been laced, but the skirts would have been laced to each other and then SEPARATELY the jockeys laved to each other and laid on top. Lacing through both jockeys and skirts together looks terrible, and prevents the skirts from flexing as readily.
The skirts were probably relined, and rather since that requires removing the lacing it was easier to do this than pulling the skirts off completely and doing the job properly.
Likewise, I almost guarantee the seat was replaced because of the hash job of stitching. In this photo:
http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/showimage.aspx?gid=5532&image=829970022&images=829970022,829972140,829970309,829970134,829972175,829970076,829972239,829972290,829972329,829970182,829970441,829970343,829970389,829970225,829972096,829972364,829972487,829972515,829970271,829972447,829972402,829972542,829970498,829970547&formats=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0&format=0
…notice how the back line of stitching is done with a diagonal saddle stitch, where the front line is done badly with a skipping stitch. Even the hole are punched wrong, since the diamond awl was held with the long angle parallel to the cantle binding rather than angled at 45 degrees, which would have resulted in the same stitch you see everywhere else on the saddle.
What likely happen was the job was rushed as well, like the skirts. The original seat leather would have extended up and under the cantle binding, and replacing it would have required pulling the binding and restitching it.
Rather than do that, the binding was peeled back, the seat cut off, and a new (not even straight) stitch line grafted on to put the seat back in place. Believe me, sewing a cantle binding is tough enough work once, so adding a double stitch line makes little sense.
Not structural, but sure not very pleasing to the eye.
Some nice bridles here, Liscar, including some trail bridles –
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/headstalls.html
One of them ought to match your saddle.
Don’t know how old it is, but Tex Tan has been a top brand and yours looks like a nice one.
There is a photo in the link I posted with the serial numbers, they’re kind of hard to read, and appear that the end may have been worn off… but, I’m guessing from a little research, that it was made in 1980. I paid $290 for it, and was super excited at that price! Just hoping it fits me, and my horse. I have hope as it measures the same in the gullet as my current Wintec (which is GOD AWFUL … OMG, my seat bones KILL me after about 15 minutes in that saddle), so fingers crossed. I could ride in one of my english saddles, but I wanna play cowgirl on my QH.
Those headstalls are COOL! I have a few, including one show headstall, it SHOULD match the saddle. It’s a one ear and a darker oil, however, and I’ve been told that is “so not in”, but I don’t care much as I’m just having fun!
When I get the saddle, I will post pics of it sitting on my horse.
[QUOTE=mestle;8137617]
Hi, I recognized the Hereford stamp right away. I looks like a good solid saddle for what you have in mind. If you can find a serial # on it you might be able to get some information from TexTan.
I bought a Hereford saddle in the mid 90’s for my daughter and was able to get some information when i contacted them. Mine was already 20 years old and had NEVER been on a horse. Was in brand new condition and had been owned by a series of unfortunate women who had gotten divorced before they were able to use it.
According to TT/Hereford it was their top-of-the-line roping saddle in 1973. Has hand carving and deep stamping. She used it to show and ride for several years. It is still in very good shape and we broke the unridden/divorce jinx.
The laced back jockey is standard and I would disagree with the person who said the seat had been replaced. It has some wear but I would bet it is original.
I think you did good overall if it fits you and your horse. The one we have is comfortable and has worked on a variety of horses.
Mary[/QUOTE]
Truly hope the jinx does not continue!!!
[QUOTE=Flash44;8137950]
Truly hope the jinx does not continue!!![/QUOTE]
Well, its been ridden a lot and so far, so good on breaking the divorce chain.
I choose to believe they were tied so breaking one kills the other.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
