Anyone have any comments on a Dakota brand of saddle? I looked at one today and it was okay. Just wanted to see if anyone had any feedback.
Kinda like a Kia. You’ll get there. …but it won’t be special.
Saw one on Craigslist last year, it had a basket weave stamping, and looked like a decent saddle. We actually hauled my little QH about 30 minutes to the location to try it on him. The saddle didn’t fit him correctly, but even worse, although the seat was padded, it had “hard” inner points (at least to my tush), not comfortable…this after riding in it for only a few minutes.
Obviously we were passing on the saddle. Then one of the girls commented it was being sold because the owner had ridden on a 2 hour trail ride in it, and now his horse was VERY back sore.
…So I’m not sure if it was this particular Dakota saddle, or if they are all made the same way. I would spend the asking money on a well used, but better “name” saddle.
Dakota Saddle are no frills, basic Saddles, but for the money are good Saddles.
Made in the USA with Steele Brand Trees and American Cow Leather.
I have seen a few dozen of their Barrel Saddles ridden very hard at a Barrel Racing Club that were between 8 and 15 years old, they held up very well.
I have seen quite a few Roping Saddles also with some age on them and were going strong.
I would rate them as good as many of the off the shelf brands like American, Simco, etc.
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For myself personally, Dakota is one of the western saddle brands I stay away from…
[QUOTE=SouthernTrailsGA;8088682]
Dakota Saddle are no frills, basic Saddles, but for the money are good Saddles.
Made in the USA with Steele Brand Trees and American Cow Leather.
I have seen a few dozen of their Barrel Saddles ridden very hard at a Barrel Racing Club that were between 8 and 15 years old, they held up very well.
I have seen quite a few Roping Saddles also with some age on them and were going strong.
I would rate them as good as many of the off the shelf brands like American, Simco, etc.
.[/QUOTE]
Yep.
I have a Dakota barrel racer that I custom ordered several years ago. It still is like new. The only thing I would change is that I ordered it in black, and that is not a good color-fast color. The tops of the fenders, under the jockeys, is rubbed to a faded gray color. You can’t see it, but I know it’s there.
I have friends with off-the-shelf Dakotas in the lighter & medium browns and they don’t have that issue and are still in excellent shape.
I find their bars to have a slight flare to the front, so helpful for horses with a large shoulder. In fact, that is one of the reasons I love mine, is because it fits my horse with very prominent shoulder blades. However, the tree has slightly too much rock for his back. He’s a tough to fit horse. Too much rock is better than not enough, so it’s working for him, and he is not sore despite its less-than-perfect fit.
For the price I would absolutely buy another one.
The saddle didn’t fit him correctly, but even worse, although the seat was padded, it had “hard” inner points (at least to my tush), not comfortable…this after riding in it for only a few minutes.
What works for one does not always work for another.
I wouldn’t let this stop someone from at least giving a Dakota a try.
I find mine the most comfortable saddle I’ve ever ridden in. I think it depends on saddle style (ropers tend to have a flatter seat where a barrel saddle will have a nice hugging seat with a higher cantle).
