Handcrafted and Top Quality Custom Saddles | Jim Taylor Saddlery Caldwell Saddle Co. How old is my western saddle? Thanks for your comment. To see Our Return Policy Click Here. Now that you have an idea of how to begin your saddle search, the next step is to know who the best western saddle makers are. For those folks who have experienced knee problems, please note that a Nevada twist on the stirrup leathers, which permanently turns the stirrups to hang in position for ready access, is included in the base price. The type of Western saddle that you choose for your horse depends more on the size and preferences of the rider. Everything begins with the saddle tree. VR Saddlery: Custom Hand Made Western Saddles Estes Saddlery, a division of Estes & Estes, LLC. CONTACT. He had four or five seamstresses creating them exclusively under the Porter label. After Mrs. Donaho died, the Storys inherited the second half of the business. Granite Station Saddlery | Custom Leather | Bakersfield, CA His affection for the art and sport of horsemanship brought his first career change; he became a sales representative for several large saddle companies. Some volume manufacturers of low end saddles are incorporating trees made of synthetic materials, but plastics have not been developed to the point of acceptance in high grade saddles. These arent saddles stapled together on a production line in parts unknown. This type of rigging differs from the inskirt style by incorporating the pieces that make up the flat plate itself as shown in the illustration. We thought our website browsers might have some interest in how we approach what we do. To this day, it still fits my horse perfectly and is incredibly comfortable. We still individually inspect each hide delivered to our shop. Our specialized Cutting, Ranch Cutters, Cow Horse, Cowboy, and Barrel Saddles are made with the finest Hermann Oak Leather and American made materials and workmanship by saddle makers with 36 years of custom western tack manufacturing. American Saddlery. Bobs Custom Saddles are unique in their show-stopping look and their durability, as they are constructed from the finest hand-picked Hermann Oak leather, hand-engraved sterling silver or silver overlay, and real sheepskin lining. Rigging positions essentially control where the front cinch wraps the horse. We focus on crafting comfortable, lightweight trail saddles which stand up to years of use in the toughest conditions. These items can be ordered separately or built along with your saddle to match perfectly the color, tooling and hardware. Ryon saddle photos below courtesy ofVal Samuelson. However, the Circle Y saddle brand also makes other necessary products for western riding. Take a look why this is. . In 1986, Tom and Charon struck out on their own, establishing the Caldwell Saddle Company in Toccoa, Georgia. Made by Saddle makers with over 100 years of experience. Sometimes buying a used saddle can be a more cost-effective choice if you don't have the money to invest in a high-quality new one. This ensures that their saddles are durable and will last for years, no matter how roughly they are used. If not, we will make recommendations on rigging position based on information gathered from the customer. One of the oldest saddleries in California, this business was started by Fred's father Marcus Stern and was in business from 1852 to the 1930s. This saddle company was founded by childhood friends Glen Taylor and Bob Brandon. The tree dimensions we use that allow us to fit our modern horses so well came about as a result of a three year trial and development process. Hello there! I really loved the one that is on the photo here. Yes! Dakota is a premier maker of western saddles. In 1950 they bought out HH Heiser (Denver) from the Denver Dry Goods Companywith the Keyston Brothers marketing under the Heiser - Keyston combined names and 1959, Lichtenberger (Los Angeles.) All our Saddles are Custom Made to Your Specifications. We will, of course, make the saddle without that feature if the customer prefers. This is a Miles City #8 Bronco or Contest Saddle that originally sold for $66. I still have one, my grandma's, that I wear with pride. Add to Cart. Photo courtesy of Beth, J.L. In our opinion, that company offers the best saddle skirting in the industry. Importantly, large amounts of carving or additional custom tack can increase the time it takes. I think she will find this article very helpful. Copyright 1993. Corriente Saddle Co. Corriente Saddle Co. makes the top of our list because there is hardly anywhere else we know of that you can get close to a custom saddle, brand new for just over $1000 in most cases. This could mean the brands I saw depicted the period that was showcased in the movies I watched; or a lack of interest in the saddles brands. Delays can be caused by your due date falling in the same month as our large World Show events. Both types endure because of their traditional use and the ease and economy of making them. Dry Fork Saddles has McCall Saddles, western saddles, ranch saddles, cowboy saddles, event saddles, lady saddles, light weight saddles & trail ride saddles. Quick Shop. A. Read learned saddlemaking beginning at the age of 17 working for Cornish & Walton in Ogden Utah during the 1870s. Courtesy of MichaelRedman. What would be your top choice out of these 5 that has the best bang for the buck? As for gullet size, 6 1/2 - 7 covers semi QH, regular QH, and FQH bars. Not only will we not carry those items, but we'll tell you "the why" about our SELECTions. Keep reading. Newton Porter, originally from Texas, opened a shop in Phoenix, Arizona around 1898. Cow Horse Saddles | Jeff Smiths Custom Western Saddles Come visit our tack shop in Toccoa, Georgia today. We work hard to find what the customer wants, then integrate numerous design elements, including the way the tree sits on the horse, the seat rise and seat pocket, the rigging type and position, fender style and length, and a number of other considerations. Best Lightweight Western Trail Saddles How Do You Choose? Some products include cinches, tie straps, headstalls, halters, collars, straps, reins, nosebands, curbs, spurs, fenders, pads and more. While Keith has generously shared details of this rigging type and other construction aspects of his saddles with other makers over the years, few go to the trouble to make it as we do. This company is loved by many big-time horse riders such as 4-Time NFR Qualifier Barrel Racer Clinician Sharon Camarillo. Welcome to Caldwell Saddle Company. In so doing, it adds the thickness of the flat plate, approximately , under the riders leg, but like our inskirt rigging, it is very smooth and without bulges or lumps in that area. Steve and Leslie Dobson, We would like to make a collection of photos and history of makers and maker's marks. In later years, they bought out several other companies and became the largest manufacturer of saddles and harness on the Pacific Coast. Adding a suede seat or roughout jockeys can help with that! Unfortunately, making and assembling the saddle became much more difficult for the maker, but the benefits in strength and appearance justify the trouble and expense. Flat Plate- Functionally similar to our inskirt rigging in providing a good wrap around the barrel of the horse, unhindered range of motion of the stirrup leathers and fenders, and tremendous strength. This saddle is in no way affiliated with our company or our product. High Noon (the Western America Tradeshow). Other positions; , , and center fire are placed progressively further toward the rear. for our saddles! We are the company that cowboys keep. When saddle makers attempt to make any of these types stronger, it is done by adding folds of leather around the rings at contact and wear points. Many of our customers want to visit our saddlery to take delivery of their new saddle. Meet our custom saddle makers, office managers and members of the Out West Saddlery family of Colorado. For example, you can buy a Circle Y saddle that is tailored for ranch work, roping, show, training, mounted shooting and more. If it is set fairly high on the saddle it gives the least wrap around the barrel of the horse, requiring the tightest cinching to keep the saddle in place. Brass, nickel, or leather, you you'll find all the rings, buckles, dees, conchos, and odds & ends you're looking for here. Incorporating this feature alone saves rider aggravation and discomfort in most cases. Superior craftsmanship is necessary to build a saddle that looks and rides like a Bobs Custom Saddle does. Andrew stayed as foreman and manger, bought to shop around 1909 and ran it til his death in 1936. Born in the 1860s in St. Louis MO, Mueller opened his first shop in Denver in 1891. Select from a variety of custom Wade saddles, endurance saddles, Amish saddles and many other western trail riding saddles. Its common for many horse riders to become frustrated and confused when trying to find the perfect saddle. With unparalleled attention to detail, our artisans hand-tool each saddle, hand-lay each ground seat, hand-stitch each seat and hand-craft each cantle to ensure every Bobs Custom Saddle meets the high design and construction standards our customers demand. You will look good while working hard as a top hand, competing in the show ring or experiencing the enjoyment of pursuing your favorite equestrian pastime. The Cheaney family in Gainesville, Texas have been saddlemakers for years. These accessories include ties, straps, clinches, headstalls, reins, spurs, collars and nosebands. mailto:info@saddlemakers.org . The Big Horn saddle company crafts gorgeous saddles. Allegany Mountain Saddlery has one of the most in-depth saddle fitting procedures available for remote fitting. Martin Saddlery The foundation of a great saddle is the tree upon which it is built. In regards to skirting leather, there are two choices- Hermann Oak and Wickett and Craig. This means that the density, weight, grain, and texture of each single piece in one of our saddles must meet our standards even if that means picking our way through several different hides to get exactly what we want. During this period, the cattle range started closing up and there was a corresponding decline in the need for saddles. MEET THE MAKER. Few know that it starts with a tree and the leather is put over the tree. In 1868, James Keyston began Keyston Bros. James began making whips and lashes in the stable of his father's home on Church Street in San Francisco. I would say Circle Y would be my top choice. Starting with the foundation: to maintain the consistency and quality of our saddle fit, we have stayed with the same quality tree manufacturer since day one. Saddle_Makers & Makers Marks: J.H Nance & Son of Coleman, Texas, Our family has owned this saddle since the 1960's It was received as a gift from the original owner who owned a large cattle ranch near Sonora Texas I think it was made between 1930 and 1940. Rick Simmons. This web site is designed to help you get to know us, as well as to find what you need, along with the DVD we now offer to show a lot of what this site discusses. Few people also know that they can buy used saddles with fine leather, in tip top condition and a very low price. Simco Leather Company, Chattanooga, Tennessee, active 1933 to present. The diligence we put into ensuring you have the best fit for your horse is second to none. First, lets talk about their western saddles. They made the pony saddle below. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. I have some good used saddles for sale. I must tell you that I have learned more from your post aboutWestern Saddle Brands than my previous experience. Only by having a known set of characteristics to work for and being unwavering in our selection can we offer the highest quality finished product.
