Saddle brands, tack brands, new to western

[Milobloom]

I’ve been riding most of my life but I’m starting to ride western for the first time since I was a teenager and back then I rode in those cheap package saddle/bridle/girth for around $100 and liked it!
Now I’m much more picky, I’ve borrowed a Crates saddle which I love, Tucker’s are pretty good, circle Y’s are to wide for me. Any suggestions on other saddles to try that feel similar? Also what brands of bridle and reins are recommended, I like nice simple tack.

Any suggestions on where to look for used saddles would also be appropriated.
Thank you

[NoSuchPerson]

I recently rode in an older, used Teskey saddle that I liked very much. www.teskeys.com

[Showbizz]

What western discipline are you planning to pursue?

[Showbizz]

For work bridles/reins, I like Cowperson Tack, Harris and Martin leather.

[Milobloom]

@Showbizz

What western discipline are you planning to pursue?

Western dressage/trails really I just started riding in a western saddle because I had sold my dressage saddle and haven’t got the new one yet and the horse and I like it

[Tee]

If you like the Crates, there is a Used Crates sale page on Facebook. I’m using a Crates reiner for everyday and WD and love it.

Work tack, I’m mostly sticking to the Shutz Brothers bridles anymore. Weaver is pretty good too, and a little less expensive.

[Rackonteur]

It’s been awhile since I shopped for tack, but have you looked at Billy Cook saddles? The genuine Billy Cook ones – I’ve heard there two kinds – the genuine and the not-genuine? The only one I ever saw, which was used for trail riding was a really nice-looking saddle but weighed a ton!

I have found nice saddles (and junk ones too) at local feed-and-seed type stores. Not at big chains, just locally owned stores out in the middle of nowhere. Great stores!

I like plain tack too, especially plain bridles. If you get one, be sure it has a throatlatch, even if it’s a one-ear bridle.

And please don’t get a Tom Thumb bit!

Have fun!

[Milobloom]

Thank you everyone.
Rackonteur I promise I understand bits well enough to never touch a tom thumb and at this point plan to leave her in her snaffle.

[WhoaNellie44]

@Tee

If you like the Crates, there is a Used Crates sale page on Facebook. I’m using a Crates reiner for everyday and WD and love it.

Work tack, I’m mostly sticking to the Shutz Brothers bridles anymore. Weaver is pretty good too, and a little less expensive.

I second Crates reining saddles (the used ones from before Crates sold to Fabtron) or other Crates models. You might like the Lady Reiner if you can find one.

[beau159]

Crates do have very nice saddles. I can’t be of much help on where to look for a used one, but scour the internet!

Just by happenstance, my saddles for my horses are Circle Y. Just happened to be what I found that fit each of them. And they work fine for me too.

For bridles and reins, I don’t really have a preference on brand. I do like the heavy harness reins. For regular riding, I usually do something similar on the headstall. For showing, I’m not loyal to a certain brand – just whatever style suits my fancy!