I have someone offering to trade a saddle of mine for a Broken Horn show saddle, I think it’s older. It’s supposed to be in excellent shape with tons of silver. I won’t be wanting to use it but I was interested in what sort of market would be out there for this type? She said it was a 3k saddle when they bought it. I’m getting pictures, right now I don’t know what type of saddle or color or anything like that. I don’t want to find out after I make the deal though that it’s dark oil and only light is being used, or vice versa.
Google images is still showing everyone in light leather for western pleasure.
There are a lot of folks riding in black tack. It’s a great option if your equipment has darkened over time, and there is a lady here in MN who dyes them for around $500.
It really depends on what breed you’re showing. And at what level. While there are a few saddles at stock breed shows that have been dyed black, the vast majority are in light colored saddles, the lighter, the better. Morgans and Arabs show in a lot of black tack. Open shows? Most people show according to their breed show preferences. But if you’re going to market the saddle to folks who only show at local shows, I wouldn’t worry too much about it since you’ll see a little bit of everything.
There’s still a market for older, darker saddles because they’re perfect for a black dye job. But I think it’s a fad that will pass quickly in the stock (QH/Paint) shows. Only my opinion based on what I’ve seen at my trainer’s barn, and her clients show at the World Show level for both breeds.
For Arabians, I’m seeing both light and dark oil being used, depends on what color is most flattering for the individual horse. My friends who show AQHA/APHA are all showing in light tack.
Whatever looks best for your horse.
Black - http://gohorseshow.com/Media/4/jpg/2012/12/d7303d8f-155d-40d3-47a1295ea3bb2101.jpg
Black - http://aqha.com/Showing/World-Show/2012/Classes/Open-Western/~/media/Images/Showing/Events/World%20Show%202012/Open/jrwpwc.ashx?w=350
Medium - http://www.p5equestrian.com/Carli2013congress.jpg
light - http://www.aqha.com/Showing/World-Show/2012/Classes/Open-Western/~/media/Images/Showing/Events/World%20Show%202012/Open/2yo%20wp%20wc-2.ashx?w=350
Light (w/ black accents) - http://www.aqha.com/Showing/World-Show/2012/Classes/Open-Western/~/media/Images/Showing/Events/World%20Show%202012/Open/srwpwc.ashx?w=350
LOL! The second picture down is Huntin Big Dreams. I got to meet him a few times here at shows, and he is the biggest sweetest snuggle bug pocket pony you’ve ever me. He was the horse that sealed the deal on my breeding to his sire, Huntin For Chocolate.
At the moment it seems black and light are in, lighter medium is fine, darker medium is iffy. But, the truth is… if it fits and it looks nice, it will be fine. There was a trend recently, for the pros to show in gasp roughouts with NO silver.
lol…
[QUOTE=propspony;7711818]
LOL! The second picture down is Huntin Big Dreams. I got to meet him a few times here at shows, and he is the biggest sweetest snuggle bug pocket pony you’ve ever me. He was the horse that sealed the deal on my breeding to his sire, Huntin For Chocolate.
At the moment it seems black and light are in, lighter medium is fine, darker medium is iffy. But, the truth is… if it fits and it looks nice, it will be fine. There was a trend recently, for the pros to show in gasp roughouts with NO silver.
lol…[/QUOTE]
Yup - I’m very familiar with Huntin Big Dreams 
Worked with a full sibling of his when I worked at the farm HFC, aka Chuck, used to be at.
[QUOTE=saddleup;7710770]
Morgans and Arabs show in a lot of black tack. .[/QUOTE]
Not recent by any account but when we showed our old style Morgans in the 1990s/early 2000s on all bays we used dark brown leather with black felt pads… but our tack had been made in the early 1950s, all the silver was real stuff. Bridles were rolled leather, it just went well with our horses.
The one buckskin we went lighter, newer tack which was the current trend, he was/is a little more cocky/flashy hey look at me dude whereas the others were more of a presentation of calm, do-the-job and be happy horses.
We wanted the tack to compliment the statement we were making with our horses, we didn’t want the tack to be the statement. It seemed to work for us as our backyard horses were competitive nationally.
[QUOTE=bugsynskeeter;7711900]
Yup - I’m very familiar with Huntin Big Dreams Worked with a full sibling of his when I worked at the farm HFC, aka Chuck, used to be at.[/QUOTE]
Wow! Meeting a couple of his babies, all of whom were snuggle bunnies, and seeing the video of him being ridden double bareback at a show doing flying changes, and then seeing the pics they took of the little girl who just wanted to “ride a horse” and him being the “safest” one on the farm… were why I bred to him! My filly is everything I wanted and more!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100471801343358&l=fb79954741
So did you get a chance to meet him? What was HE like? Any pics???
Yes - I remember shipping semen to you at the Las Vegas airport on Memorial Day I believe
It was May, I don’t remember if it was Memorial Day. It was also a Saturday. The airport was wall-to-wall tourists, and they put the Equitainer on the baggage carousel…
also… telling your non-animal boss you’re going to be 4 hours late to work because your semen was delayed, and you have to go get it RIGHT NOW, is not something I hope anyone else has to experience.
However, the resulting foal is amazing, and if we ever were to show western, (never say never, right?) it would be black for us ALL THE WAY!
I’m sure what’s in style differs for different breeds. I show Quarter Horse. We see a lot of black tack and a lot of light. The trend in black started a few years ago, I first noticed it the the World show. I think it is driven by the cost of saddles. Most QH. Exhibitors prefer the Harris or Blue Ribbon saddles, which can easily run 8,000 and up. There are a lot of older saddles, with sterling silver, if you dye one black it looks almost new. I ride a 16.2 hand white gelding with a dyed Harris saddle that is about thirty years old. Before the dye job it was unremarkable, since the dye job everybody compliments it.
[QUOTE=propspony;7712845]
It was May, I don’t remember if it was Memorial Day. It was also a Saturday. The airport was wall-to-wall tourists, and they put the Equitainer on the baggage carousel…
also… telling your non-animal boss you’re going to be 4 hours late to work because your semen was delayed, and you have to go get it RIGHT NOW, is not something I hope anyone else has to experience.
However, the resulting foal is amazing, and if we ever were to show western, (never say never, right?) it would be black for us ALL THE WAY! :-)[/QUOTE]
I just remember flying it counter to counter - but couldn’t remember if it was a holiday or a Saturday. You were a great client to work with and I am glad she has turned out exactly like you wanted. I don’t have any pictures of Chuck and I, but it is a very cool horse.
[QUOTE=propspony;7712845]
It was May, I don’t remember if it was Memorial Day. It was also a Saturday. The airport was wall-to-wall tourists, and they put the Equitainer on the baggage carousel…
also… telling your non-animal boss you’re going to be 4 hours late to work because your semen was delayed, and you have to go get it RIGHT NOW, is not something I hope anyone else has to experience.
However, the resulting foal is amazing, and if we ever were to show western, (never say never, right?) it would be black for us ALL THE WAY! :-)[/QUOTE]
This is going down as one of my favorite COTH stories.
Oh gosh, the whole story is hysterical. Well, let’s see…
Swimmers were supposed to be here by noon, but there were thunderstorms, so they were delayed until after I needed to be at work (hence the boss statement)
But the fun started when they got here. (Well, not for my mare. She was unimpressed with the procedure)
You see, I didn’t know where I needed to pick them up. So, I head over to baggage claim (it was a weekend so no freight) and there is a line AROUND the airport for lost luggage/information. I ask the nice guy, who is first in line, if I could just ask a quick question. He graciously agreed.
I asked the lady behind the counter, if I were expecting an expensive package from Kentucky, where I might go about picking it up.
Without looking at me, she goes: “It’s on carousel 10”
I squeal something to the effect of: "I HAVE a package that is 2500.00 worth of… uh… something ON A BAGGAGE CAROUSEL???
I turn my head, and see… bumping merrily along around on a baggage carousel, my bright blue equitainer.
I made a noise that probably sounded like a combo of EEK! ACK!!! and OMG!!! and go running out the door to grab it. I pick it up, and hightail it to the door to run it to the vet, when the lady, comes tearing out of the office, and starts chasing me through the airport shouting: "MISS! MISS! You have to SIGN FOR IT!!!
Fine. Ok.
We go back, and I’m signing paperwork, when I notice the guy who let me cut in line, looking very curiously at the equitainer. So I ask him:
“You wanna know what’s in there, don’t you?”
He says: “Hell yeah, that woman was going to tackle you.”
So I tell him. Completely straight faced. “Horse Semen”
His eyes light up, and he says excitedly into his phone:
HONEY! HONEY! I’ve been in Vegas for less than half an hour, and I’ve already been bumped in line by HORSE JIZZ!!!
Yep. Then I had to walk, through the Las Vegas airport, during the highest traffic time of the week, through wall-to-wall tourists with a big, blue bucket o’baby horses that said something to the effect of: “Caution, Semen” on the side. (I’m sure Bugsynskeeter could tell you exactly what, if you cared)
But, 11 months later, out popped my girl, so completely worth it.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=845529949278&l=03bae6c5a3
Now, aren’t you glad you asked. LOL!
and having spent a long time today watching NSBA worlds, ALL colors of tack seem to be acceptable right now. I even saw a lady with a GASP breast collar, so…
whooo!
[QUOTE=propspony;7714159]
Yep. Then I had to walk, through the Las Vegas airport, during the highest traffic time of the week, through wall-to-wall tourists with a big, blue bucket o’baby horses that said something to the effect of: “Caution, Semen” on the side. (I’m sure Bugsynskeeter could tell you exactly what, if you cared)[/QUOTE]
When I bred mine, the Equitainer had a sticker on the outside that said something like “Cooled Semen. Do not open until the vet arrives.”
I’m in college, so when I take that thing home, a dude in my house goes nuts for the sticker. He wants to put it on his guitar case. Of course he does.
[QUOTE=mvp;7714462]
I’m in college, so when I take that thing home, a dude in my house goes nuts for the sticker. He wants to put it on his guitar case. Of course he does.[/QUOTE]
Well, I would imagine that most guys pick up the guitar in the first place in order to…
Uh tack, we’re talking about TACK colors!!! ROFL!!!
Broken Horn saddles are of exceptionally good quality. I like my Broken Horn better than my Blue Ribbon.
