I want to buy mo' pretty western saddles. Update p. 3: My mind has been pried open

[Fillabeana]

I can’t believe no one has asked the question yet,… but what do you intend to do with your saddle?

Pretty sure the OP is just window shopping, admiring a nice floral carving job on the internet, and we’ve hijacked her thread in several different directions since.

My personal saddles are made by Dale Harwood and Chas Weldon. My husband has a Steve Mecum. They are functional art. They are true Wades.

Yup. GORGEOUS, but beyond the eye candy of the Steve Mecum saddle, these true Wade saddles support a rider in this (‘dressage’) position:

http://johnandcatparks.com/The_Trinity_Ranch/Gallery.html#21

And I’m assuming the photographed saddle in this post
http://johnandcatparks.com/The_Trini...allery.html#19
is a Steve Mecum saddle simply because I’d think a Chas Weldon, and probably also a Dale Harwood, would be a bit older. But just an assumption. And I love Steve Mecum’s stuff, too.

[horseteachme]

I am recently looking at the Skyrider saddle too. How did this saddle work out for you?
I am a little hesitant about this saddle for several reasons.
First the tree is an Arizona bar and Rod Nikkel will not even make these bars.
Second, the tree does not have a lot of leather skirting and my saddle fitter said less skirting does not spread the riders weight that well.
Third, the high rise of the saddle seat is awful. However, I asked and then will do a flatter rise. I
But, being stubborn and desperate for a light weight saddle I am considering the Skyrider.
The tree is made by Steele Saddle company who also makes a saddle. His saddles are interesting too. They are western trees and padded and not skirted with leather.
Anyway, any input on the basic Skyrider is helpful. It’s been a year so you either have it still or are moving it down the road.

[Pocket_Pony]

I did not keep the Skyrider saddle. I was worried about the fit because of the angle of the bar . . . and they only make their saddles on one tree. They were kind enough to offer to take the skirts off and shim the angle with leather and re-skirt it (at no additional expense) but I just didn’t feel in my gut that it was the right solution and I’d always wonder if it was a good solution and then if I wanted to sell it, I’d have a non-standard Skyrider to sell and I just saw potential for being a big mess.

Having said that, I have an acquaintance who has one and loves it, but at the same time I also wouldn’t call her someone who is at all knowledgeable about or interested in saddle fit and she’s very much a weekend rider.

I did actually see that saddle (probably that very one!) on another horse at a clinic a few weeks ago and I was glad I didn’t keep it.

The service of the company was very good in dealing with me deciding it wasn’t right for my horse.

I don’t see how more skirting distributes rider’s weight better - the tree distributes the weight - IMO, skirting just makes for a heavier saddle. But I’m no expert on western saddles.

If this saddle isn’t 100% (or even 90%) what you want I’d keep looking. A lot of saddlers are making lighter weight saddles these days with less skirting for those who want a western saddle but don’t need a real working saddle.

I’m getting a JJ Maxwell, and they make light saddles. I think other brand names that make lighter saddles are Specialized (a little funky looking but I had one and really liked it), Crestridge (got one, didn’t like the way it fit my horse), Allegany, Rocking R . . . even McCall makes a lightweight lady wade (but I was less than impressed with the attention to detail with the one I saw).

I find slogging through western saddle land much more difficult than english saddles. But there are more options than Skyrider for you to consider. If you at all live near a saddler, I’ve decided that working with them in person is the best way to go.

[Bluey]

The last saddle I bought, I called Tony Zimmerman at cowdogsaddles.com.

He asked what I needed.
That was a reining saddle, my old ranch saddle was not really putting me where I needed to be.
He took measurements, I am extremely short, so he suggested a lady reiner with junior fenders.

He said if it didn’t fit or I didn’t like it, no problem, send it back and they either return my money or, if I tell them why I was not keeping it, they would try making another with the changes, also totally guaranteed.

I went ahead and ordered, also wanted back cinch and breast collar, because I will use it some for ranch work too.
The saddle was made quickly and fits the kinds of horses I specified and myself like a glove and it is pretty enough to show in.

Those folks know what they are doing and can’t beat that for service.

[Plumcreek]

40 years ago I was corrupted forever when I sat in a Monte Foreman design saddle at one of his clinics. My saddle for the last 15 years has been a Bob’s Doug Millholland model that has the Monte Foreman in skirt rigging with NO bump under your knee and allows you to ride same as in a hunt seat saddle.

http://www.bobscustomsaddles.com/dougmilhollandreining.html

It has fit every horse I have owned. I took a look on Google and you can find them for around $1500.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=Plumcreek;7699674]
40 years ago I was corrupted forever when I sat in a Monte Foreman design saddle at one of his clinics. My saddle for the last 15 years has been a Bob’s Doug Millholland model that has the Monte Foreman in skirt rigging with NO bump under your knee and allows you to ride same as in a hunt seat saddle.

http://www.bobscustomsaddles.com/dougmilhollandreining.html

It has fit every horse I have owned. I took a look on Google and you can find them for around $1500.[/QUOTE]

I forgot in my previous post that my saddle is a Bob’s too and with in skirt rigging.

I had one of the Monte Foreman saddles some 35+ years ago for a ranch and colt breaking saddle, made in their Colorado shop.
Sadly that saddle didn’t last two years until it started coming apart, it just was not made for hard work.
I finally got tired of getting it sewn back together and sold it and had a local saddler make me a real ranch saddle I still have and looks like new, under the same use the other had.

[Plumcreek]

Bluey, I should have added that I hated those Fallis Monte Foreman saddles. They had a very flat seat that hurt my thighs. I did (and still) own the Charmichael Roper model that did have a nice seat, but also a dally post horn that I was worried would punch through my stomach at some point with greenies.

Was thrilled to find the Bob’s Doug Milholland (one of Monte’s early students) saddles.