Slippery Saddles

I receive a fair amount of mail asking me what causes slippery saddles and how to deal with them. I have to be a bit delicate in my answer because the culprit is invariably a low quality saddle.
Slippery saddles are almost always caused by a finish that some saddle manufacturers put on their saddles. Good [...]

Saddlemaking Video: Start to Finish

The saddlemaking process is fascinating and complex. Keith Valley, an accomplished saddle maker, has created this wonderful time lapse photo slide show that documents the making of a saddle from start to finish.
This is definitely a “must-see” for western riding enthusiasts.
If you’re interested in learning more about saddlemaking, you’ll also want to check out Keith’s [...]

Saddle Repairs & Alterations: Saddle Specialists Only

We receive quite a few inquiries from folks looking for somewhere to have their saddle repaired or altered (i.e. their fenders shortened). The advice we always provide is to seek out a local saddlemaker. Most saddlemakers, in addition to building custom saddles, will also do repairs and alterations.
It’s important to have someone very knowledgeable with [...]

Cheap Saddles Aren’t Cheap

The tough economic times we’re experiencing has all of us looking for ways to cut back and be more frugal. When shopping for saddles it can seem that the best buy is a new, cheaper saddle. But that’s a decision that can end up being a costly mistake.
Cheap saddles are cheap for a reason. They [...]

The Three Most Important Saddle Parts

Can you name the three most important parts of the western saddle? If each of these three parts are correctly designed then you’ll have a solid saddle. Get just one wrong and the saddle can never be “right.”
The answer? The saddle tree, the seat, and the rigging. While every western saddle part has a role [...]

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