Used Western Saddles: Yes, I am talking about them AGAIN
February 2, 2008 by Saddle Sense
Filed under Saddle Buying, Saddle Types
I’m a bit of a broken record. It seems like I’m always talking about buying used saddles, rather than new ones. But I don’t apologize and I won’t stop talking about used saddles. There’s two reasons for this. The first is that one of the wonderful things about western saddles is that, if they are well made and cared for, they’ll last a lifetime or longer. That means that used saddles aren’t used up. They often have many, many great years left in them.
The second reason is that there are so many shiny, new, low quality saddles that are flooding the marketplace today and I cannot bear it that so many people fall for them. I see it endlessly in forums across the web and in the inquiries we receive. Folks will talk about their "beautiful" new saddle that they bought and will post a link to a flimsy, poor leather quality, shellacked saddle that makes me weep … and I bet makes their horse weep too.
Please don’t fall for this. A new saddle priced at $400 can NEVER be a quality saddle. It takes at least $750, and probably closer to $1000, to get a decent saddle. But western riding doesn’t have to be a rich person’s activity. If you have $300-$700 to spend, you can find great values in the used market.
And there is no larger selection of used saddles than on ebay. The Western Saddle Guide partnered with ebay to present their huge tack selection in a store designed by horse people, for horse people. You’ll quickly be able to find exactly what you’re looking for. Shop by new or used. Shop by saddle type. Find all types of tack and horse riding accessories in easy to use categories
So, get on over there and shop the Western Saddle Guide Tack Store. But, puhleeeze promise me that you won’t buy a shiny new saddle priced at less than $750. Look for those great used bargains.
To help you out, we’re introducing a new blog feature called: WSG’s Used Saddle Pick of the Week where each week we’ll highlight a quality used saddle currently for sale in our Tack Shop. This week our pick is: 14" Crates Barrel Saddle. You have to act fast because the auction ends in a couple of days, but it’s a very nice saddle from a very good saddlery – Crates
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Hey can you tell me about a circle (C) saddle do you know anything about them please reply. get along little doggie.
Leo,
Circle S is a very average production saddle brand. There’s a whole group of these new saddle brands that have relatively generic names that sure seem to me like they’re intended to fool people.
The number of brands that use the words “Circle”, “Silver”, “Royal” and “King” in them seems a bit too many to be coincidence. And when you try to research who the company is behind the brand, you often end up with a dead end. For Circle S, the best I can come up with is Shiloh Tack, which appears to be a distributor for the brand. http://www.shilohtack.com/
If the maker of a saddle appears to be hiding, I think they’re tring to tell me something.
I have an older ryon roping saddle,it is double rigged,17″ seat with a 3,1/2 rise and a wrapped horn,full square skirt and 3,1/2 w stirrups.it is fully tooled including the rise in a floral nut pattern and white edge leather stitching, It is very comfortable and we have used it on the ranch for years. It is now mine and I was wondering what it was worth? it is in awesome condition,being the only thing replaced has been the rear cinch,tie strings and 1 concho (silver like the others)
the serial number on it is 8 11377.
thanks,John oh, taraventuresoutfitting@gmail.com is the ranch e-mail,this would be preferable to get an answer to,
I am cleaning out my tack room from having given riding lessons for 40 years. I have some old but well cared for western saddles and need to find them good homes. I have a 1967 tooled with padded seat M.L. Leddy 14″ Barrel Saddle, a 15″ smooth leather saddle made in Bastrop Texas at Texas Saddlery, a 15″ from Joshua Texas made by Lee’s Saddle and Tack. Then there is the really old JC Higgins (Our pledge of Superior Saddlery)with tapederos and all. How do I price these? Thanks for your help. Darla Ryder
I have a Western Saddle I bought 4 years ago that I am selling because I found two Donkey’s to spend my time with instead. So, I am selling this saddle, but I don’t know much about type or make etc… I posted a pic on Craigslist in Salem, Oregon. The saddle maker says “Action Company”. How can I tell if is just a pleasure saddle vs. some type of special saddle, like a barrel saddle, etc…??? Just having a hard time identifying it.
Thanks for your time,
Sue
Great to see your info back on board! While I have had to reduce my riding to a hair above “none”, I’m still interested in saddles. Especially the way you present it – in “plain English!” Best regards!
Frank
Hi, Frank. It’s great to be back. Sorry to hear you’re not doing much riding. Glad you still enjoy Western Saddle Guide.