I just returned from a fabulous trip to Gettysburg. I'm a history geek so this was a real treat.
It was wonderful to see that they have maintained the dignity and essence of this important place in American history. It has not become some tacky, commercialized amusement park. The battlefield remains mostly as it was July 1st-3rd, 1863. It is extremely powerful to stand on those fields and remember what happened there.
They have recently opened a new museum and visitor's center that is fabulous. It's not a boring, old fashioned museum, but rather incredibly engaging with multimedia presentations that put you there during those bloody three days.
I especially enjoyed the section on the cavalry. There were great displays of the calvary equipment including the famous McClellan saddle. The McClellan saddle was adopted by the US War Department in 1859 as standard issue. George McClellan (who would later lead the Union Army for a period in the Civil War) designed the saddle and gave it its name.
This saddle was lean and mean and designed to be light, inexpensive, and sturdy. The design was so effective, that the saddle, with some modifications, continued to be used for the U.S. Cavalry into the 20th century.
The two photos below showing the McClellan saddle were shot in the Gettysburg visitor center museum. I apologize for the fuzzy quality but I was shooting through reflective glass and I am a very amateur photographer.
Probably the biggest thrill of the trip was riding horses on the battlefield. These were rental horses and we were in a controlled group, so the riding wasn't the best …. but to be horseback on those fields sent chills up my spine.
We rode the roads they rode. We rode the fields where the famous Pickett's Charge took place. We stopped at the Trostle Farm and saw the hole in the barn made by a cannonball. It was as close to living history as I've ever experienced.
I really recommend putting Gettysburg on your list of "must see" places. It is so fabulously preserved and presented and such a powerful piece of American history.
The "Used Saddle Pick of the Week"
Every week we scour the Internet searching for a particularly juicy bargain on a high quality used western saddle and feature it here on the WSG Saddle Blog. The saddles featured are listed for sale on ebay as of the date of the post.
Checking out our Picks each week will give you some great insight into buying used saddles. Make sure to click through to the actual listing to see all of the photos and description from the seller.
The Western Saddle Guide is not the seller of the saddles featured and does not make any representations about them. We encourage all potential buyers to do their own due diligence on the seller and the saddle before purchasing.
LAST WEEK'S PICK:
Last week's pick - a 14.5" Hereford Trail Saddle - was picked up for a bargain price of $251. There was plenty of action with 16 bids, but the bidders were pretty timid so the winner got themselves a great little saddle for a song.
THIS WEEK'S PICK:
This week we've gone back to a classic brand - Circle Y. While the newer Circle Y's don't measure up to the older ones, it remains a solid brand.
This week's pick is a 16" Circle Y Roping Saddle that would be a solid choice for an all around riding saddle. This saddle has obviously been well cared for and has lots of rides left in it.
The saddle has a 16" suede seat, and tooling on the fork, skirts, rear jockeys and fenders. I wish the seller had provided more info, including gullet width, so make sure you inquire before bidding.
As of this writing, there are already two bidders with a high bid of $570. This saddle isn't going unnoticed and won't be bought for a song, but it's a good saddle that could easily become someone's favorite saddle.
We present the Saddle Blog's Used Saddle of the Week:
16" Circle Y Roping Saddle
Check out other Circle Y Saddles for sale in our tack shop.
I'm a bit late, but I want to give notice to all my fellow Montanans that Bozeman is the place to be this Friday, June 26th.
The Western Folklife Center says it best:
Join us on Friday, June 26, 2009 at the Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture for an extravaganza of cowboy poetry and music, as Stephanie Davis, Wallace McRae, Paul Zarzyski and Wylie & The Wild West perform a benefit concert for the Western Folklife Center and the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.The evening also features a Silent Auction in support of the Gallatin Historical Society Pioneer Museum of historical and comtemporary cowboy photos.Click here to Purchase Tickets
Visit their site to buy tickets: Western Folk Life Center
Seeing Stephanie Davis perform is worth the ticket all by itself.
The "Used Saddle Pick of the Week"
Every week we scour the Internet searching for a particularly juicy bargain on a high quality used western saddle and feature it here on the WSG Saddle Blog. The saddles featured are listed for sale on ebay as of the date of the post.
Checking out our Picks each week will give you some great insight into buying used saddles. Make sure to click through to the actual listing to see all of the photos and description from the seller.
The Western Saddle Guide is not the seller of the saddles featured and does not make any representations about them. We encourage all potential buyers to do their own due diligence on the seller and the saddle before purchasing.
LAST WEEK'S PICK:
Last week's pick - a very solid and uncommon 16" Vintage Crates Trail Saddle - was snapped up for a great price of $380. Deals like this one is why I love the used saddle market. You can certainly find a new saddle with a $380 price tag, but the quality of that saddle will be no where near the quality of this used Crates. And the used Crates has a longer life left in it than the new saddle.
THIS WEEK'S PICK:
This week we've chosen a really nice little Hereford Trail Saddle. Hereford has been a solid brand for decades and continues to be.
This week's pick is a 14.5" Hereford trail saddle that would be a great choice for a youth or small adult. Handsome but not overly flashy with a suede seat and tooled skirts. The seller doesn't mention a gullet width or bar type, so make sure to inquire before bidding. As a smaller saddle, it probably has semi QH bars.
The saddle looks to have been well cared for and should be a good prospect for resale when outgrown. With only one bid and a high bid of only $125 as of this writing, this is a bargain waiting to be discovered.
We present the Saddle Blog's Used Saddle of the Week:
14.5" Hereford Trail Saddle
Check out other Hereford Saddles for sale in our tack shop.
My sister, Jill Stefani Wagner, who's an artist, just sent me a link to the website of a Montana painter that she thought I might enjoy. She was very right.
Deb Schmit paints a variety of subjects including landscapes and people … and horses! Her profile says she lives in "Middle of Nowhere, Montana." A girl after my own heart.
Her paintings are wonderfully lush representations of life in rural Montana (that's about 98% of Montana) and they really speak to me. Maybe they'll speak to you too.
Check out Deb Schmit's Painting Journal.
The "Used Saddle Pick of the Week"
Every week we scour the Internet searching for a particularly juicy bargain on a high quality used western saddle and feature it here on the WSG Saddle Blog. The saddles featured are listed for sale on ebay as of the date of the post.
Checking out our Picks each week will give you some great insight into buying used saddles. Make sure to click through to the actual listing to see all of the photos and description from the seller.
The Western Saddle Guide is not the seller of the saddles featured and does not make any representations about them. We encourage all potential buyers to do their own due diligence on the seller and the saddle before purchasing.
LAST WEEK'S PICK:
Last week's pick - a nifty little 13" Teskey Barrel Saddle - sadly didn't receive a single bid. The seller put a bit steep starting bid price of $750 that probably scared folks away, but the saddle is worth that price and a bit more. Hopefully the seller will re-list it.
THIS WEEK'S PICK:
This week's pick is a handsome vintage Crates Trail Saddle. You don't see many Crates saddle of this period for sale, so this is a special little gem. I'm a big fan of Crates saddles. They're well built, balanced, and attractive saddles.
This saddle has the look of Simco saddles of this period with dark oil and full floral tooling. The seller hasn't listed a gullet width, so you'll want to inquire before bidding. Saddles of this period are usually semi QH bars.
There is only one bid as of this writing of $314. This would be a nice addition to the barn as it is one of those saddles that most folks will find comfortable.
We present the Saddle Blog's Used Saddle of the Week:
16" Vintage Crates Trail Saddle
Check out other Crates Saddles for sale in our tack shop.
