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Western saddle brands

Western
#1

I’m looking for a saddle that I can use for fun cow work (team penning, rounding up the neighbors cows when they get out, etc.) and also trail riding. I fit in a size 14 saddle. I don’t want to spend more than about $800 (totally fine with used saddles!) and I don’t want it to be super heavy but I also want it to be made of leather (not synthetic).

I have zero knowledge of what is and isn’t good quality so any help is appreciated! I live out in Kansas and there are fewer places to buy saddles than you might think!

#2

[QUOTE=bbird930;7643684]
I’m looking for a saddle that I can use for fun cow work (team penning, rounding up the neighbors cows when they get out, etc.) and also trail riding. I fit in a size 14 saddle. I don’t want to spend more than about $800 (totally fine with used saddles!) and I don’t want it to be super heavy but I also want it to be made of leather (not synthetic).

I have zero knowledge of what is and isn’t good quality so any help is appreciated! I live out in Kansas and there are fewer places to buy saddles than you might think![/QUOTE]

You sure of the size?
14" fits a smaller kid.

Here is a very nice, fully tooled, good quality 14" saddle for $850:

http://www.cowdogsaddles.com/saddle-detail.php?target=1260

I am 4’11" and use a 16" Stubben Rex, a 14 1/2" ranch saddle, 16" reining saddle.

#3

I am currently in a 15.5" one my barn is loaning me (my English saddle won’t fit my ever widening 5 year old paint anymore) and I have bruises on my thighs from the swell. I am literally swimming in it. I went to a store going out of business and found a Court’s 14 inch barrel saddle that fit me very well for $800 but I don’t know how well that type of saddle would do for some cow stuff. I’m 5’4 and about 130 pounds if that helps any.

My mother has an old Billy Cook from the late 70s/early 80s that weighs a ton and is hard as a brick. I believe its a roping saddle? Anyways, I can barely get it on anything larger than 15 hands without using a stool and my paint is pushing 16 hands. Are all Billy Cooks like this?

#4

I bought a used Caldwell reining Saddle for $800 that I used for ranch pleasure, reining, trail, and cow work. I got really lucky as it fits me and my horse well. It’s little on the heavy side (but I do come from an english background, so all western saddles are heavy to me). Momentum is your friend when putting on western saddles. I am about 5’7" and 135 lbs, and I am happiest in a 16" western saddle.

#5

[QUOTE=bbird930;7643704]
I am currently in a 15.5" one my barn is loaning me (my English saddle won’t fit my ever widening 5 year old paint anymore) and I have bruises on my thighs from the swell. I am literally swimming in it. I went to a store going out of business and found a Court’s 14 inch barrel saddle that fit me very well for $800 but I don’t know how well that type of saddle would do for some cow stuff. I’m 5’4 and about 130 pounds if that helps any.

My mother has an old Billy Cook from the late 70s/early 80s that weighs a ton and is hard as a brick. I believe its a roping saddle? Anyways, I can barely get it on anything larger than 15 hands without using a stool and my paint is pushing 16 hands. Are all Billy Cooks like this?[/QUOTE]

Courts are a higher end small production saddle. If it fits you and your horse and you aren’t roping, it would be just fine.

I have a custom Courts ladies all around. Fantastic saddle.

#6

The older Courts saddles were very good.

I had one arabian that nothing would fit very good but that old Courts barrel racer saddle, that didn’t fit me, but if it fit him.
I used a sheepskin seat saver and so we were both happy.

That saddle fit a friend so well, when I sold the arabian, she “borrowed” it and I never again saw it.
Best I know she is still using it.

If it fits you, why not get it?

When it is time to show in the bigger shows, maybe your trainer can loan you one of their show saddles, until you find one for yourself.

#7

A nice barrel saddle is perfect for what you are doing. Light weight, comfortable, and it has a deep seat for those sudden stops and turns.

You could buy a new Dakota for that price which are good saddles. I have one that we use almost daily that is eighteen years old. They are still a good middle of the road saddle. Used they run around $400 in my area.

14" is a youth saddle so you might want to look at a 15" simply because the way a barrel saddle is made it is a tighter fit.

#8

I wound up at a little saddle shop in a small town today that I heard had some nice used saddles. I talked to the owner for a bit and learned that he has made saddles for his whole life. He showed me a saddle he made for a man 3 years ago that he charged $3,000 for and the guy paid half up front and hasn’t come back since. So, he said he’d sell it to me for a good deal. He then showed me a saddle in for a minor leather repair that he made 50 years ago. That pretty much convinced me to get the first saddle he showed me. I got it, a hand made headstall and a nice set of reins for $1,000 and a guarantee that if it doesn’t work out to let him know and he will help me figure something out. Its a roping saddle and super comfortable. It has a 14.5 inch seat and fits me like a glove.

Here’s a picture of it:
[URL=“https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/10354946_10154424967190314_2631816034108314289_n.jpg”]
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/10354946_10154424967190314_2631816034108314289_n.jpg

Now the only thing I need for it is the piece of nylon to go on the right side of the saddle to hook the cinch to. Does anyone know where to buy this online? I’m limited to tractor supply here. The saddle guy said he didn’t have any in stock at the moment :frowning:

#9

They’re called an off billet, and you can get them at Schneider’s tack online, or Rod’s Western online, pretty much any supplier of western tack. I personally don’t like the nylon straps, at all, and have always switched mine out to leather. Personal preference, I know, but if you have a nice, quality leather saddle, why put on a piece of cheap nylon?

#10

Go leather off billet. Your horse will thank you when he can breathe better. I am surprised the saddle shop didn’t have one. I really hate nylon, hurts my hands and it’s hard to get tight enough with slipping or too tight on the horse. Cashel makes a really nice off billet, it has elastic.

#11

One more vote for leather billets, not nylon ones.
I too am surprised a saddler didn’t have some latigo around to make those from.

If the saddle fits you and most horses, that is great.

If it is a new saddle, can’t tell much, the picture is darkish, you may need to wet and twist the fenders and so train them with a broom handle with a weight on it thru the stirrups, so they are turned properly, so you don’t have to keep fighting them when you ride.

Here is a description and pictures.
I add a weight to the stick, a handy small pail full of eye screws we have:

http://www.cowboyway.com/HowTo/TurnStirrups.htm

Some saddles come with laced stirrups and those are already turned for you.

#12

It doesn’t look like a roper, more of a pleasure or equitation. Regardless, nice saddle.

#13

He told me he didn’t like leather because it stretches so much and said nylon would last longer. It’s definitely a roping saddle, that’s all he makes. As I was in there looking around 4-5 different cowboys came in to pick up their saddles that were in for repairs, all of them brands other than his. This is very different than the completely English world of North Atlanta that I grew up in!

I ended up getting this pad from Tractor Supply:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/weaver-leather-all-purpose-saddle-pad

I figured this would be a good starter pad. My horse doesn’t like anything pulling his hairs so a grippy pad would definitely be a no go. I’m pretty sure he would buck me off. I also ended up with this girth:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/weaver-leather-felt-lined-straight-smart-cinchreg%3B-5-in-x-34-in

Again, I figured that it would be a good start type situation and it was the only girth not made with tacky material on the side that touches the horse.

I also have a Navajo pad laying around here somewhere if the pad I posted above is terrible or something. Let me know if I’ve made some silly rookie mistake though!

ETA: I already have the broom handle thing going. No weights or anything. I don’t know why I already knew this bit of information, but I did! haha it was the first thing I did when I got it home!

#14

Lucky you.

#15

I use that same felt girth, so you should be good there.

That saddle pad is okay, although you could do just a 3/4" or 1" felt pad with your navajo over it for show. I don’t really love the fleece bottom pads as they make my horses hot and the fleece tends to get matted from the sweat. I only use wool felt.

As for nylon vs leather billet and/or latigo - I go leather. Sure it stretches, but only for the first few rides. No biggie. And the leather has just a bit of give in it to make your horse more comfortable.

#16

You might want to think about getting a roping saddle. As much as you will be around cows, throwing a rope might be inevitable.

#17

[QUOTE=Flash44;7644899]
You might want to think about getting a roping saddle. As much as you will be around cows, throwing a rope might be inevitable.[/QUOTE]

Looks like she did. :yes:

I have gone to wool pads, Diamond is great, I do have an Impact Gel I use for a lot of hill work. It is heavy and she sweats more, but that fine. I find fleece bottom pads to be slippery and collect stuff. Whatever works with your horse.

I think we need a picture of your horse all decked out in the new gear. :winkgrin:

#18

I’ll head out to the barn tomorrow and take some pictures, but here is a picture of him from last weekend at a local show in his english stuff!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t1.0-9/10440930_10154399540550314_7338845522842083424_n.jpg

He’s a 5 year old paint who grew up on a rodeo farm being used to chase bulls and he was started on barrels (but being 16 hands and having an easy 12 foot stride at a slow lope, he wasn’t able to turn very well).

#19

Handsome boy!

#20

Good choice, better than any recommended brand of saddle because you have the maker local to you. A master is proud of his work and will make it perfect for you. Keep his contact info to recommend him to others.

A custom saddle like that is a steal even at the full price of 3000$ When it needs conditioning or cleaning more than a dust off & wipe down, take it back to the maker for that, you don’t want to mess up and darken the color by over oiling - you can’t undo that. Plus a maker likes to see that his saddles are being appeciated and cared for.

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