Someone explain to me the difference between BMSS and Circle y Treeless

[lawndart]

I really know nothing about treeless saddles, but found one to fit my horse. Unfortunately the woman wants a lot of money for a very used saddle. It is a original Bob Marshal Sport Saddle.

I can get a new one for $300 more, but it is made by Circle Y.

Someone please educate me as to the difference between the two, and why I should buy one or the other.

I appreciate any advice given.

[China_Doll]

Used BM usually go for around 800-900 in good condition on Ebay. The circle y’s do have the peaked pommel as a standard feature(the BM it is not standard) so that is nice for a high withered horse.

[lawndart]

Thanks China Doll!

[mysaygrace]

Someone please correct me if I’m wrong here, but I was told that the Circle Y saddles are glued where the Original Bob Marshall Saddles are actually stitched. I have two of the original Bob Marshall saddles & they are very well made & my horses & I LOVE them!!! I’ve heard several people say the quality of the Circle Y’s are not as good but I truly have no first hand experience with this. Maybe call Bob Marshall & ask them yourself what the differences are, I called them once about changing the stirrup placement on our one saddle & they were extremely nice.

[paintedtrails]

Ask on the Yahoo Treeless group too!

[cowboymom]

I have the Circle Y BMSS-I don’t think there is any glue on the saddle. The stitching is pretty good; I put tons of miles on the saddle in the mountains and there is no unreasonable wear/tear on the saddle anywhere. The leather is Circle Y quality which I don’t think is the best, certainly not as good as it used to be.

Mine is most similar to the first saddle on this page http://www.sportsaddle.com/trail.html and the differences I can see is that my saddle has saddle strings and breast collar rings (can’t see for sure if that bmss has them). My saddle is like this one http://www.tacktrader.com/show_item.php?tack_id=404930&share_this=Y.

Unless you’re passionate about the saddle and the differences between the two I certainly wouldn’t worry much about it. I can tell you that my saddle has held up EXTREMELY well to longer miles and rougher treatment than most saddles ever see. It’s not coming unraveled or falling apart in the slightest.

[HorsingRound]

I’ve had a Bob Marshall treeless made by Circle Y (very much like yours, Cowboymom, but mine’s round skirted) for 11 years now, ridden the tar out of it, and love it.

I paid $900 for it new, but could almost get that much for it used. To convert it to a trail saddle, I added “D” rings under the conchos front and back so that I could add strings to hold my saddlebags and hornbags, and I use a crupper with it.

[Heart_s_Journey]

I have one of the original BM treeless, no horn, roughout that I bought at a storewide sale back in Sept '96. It was marked half off, so with tax, I paid $318.00! I could probably sell it for double that now, but love it, so it’s not going anywhere.