George Holt – 2007 Saddlemaker of the Year
August 3, 2007 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics, Hall of Fame, Happenings, Resources
Oh, we are busting our buttons here in Dillon, Montana! Our very own resident master saddlemaker, George Holt, has been awarded the Academy of Western Artists’ prestigious Saddlemaker of the Year award for 2007. Past winners of this award have included a who’s who of the top western saddlemakers – Don King, Steve Mecum, Don [...]
Avoiding Girth Galls
June 9, 2007 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics, Saddle Parts, Saddle Tips
Girth galls are ugly, painful sores caused by the cinch (girth) being placed in the wrong position or by a worn, damaged, or twisted cinch. Galls are a man-made problem and an injury that is definitely avoidable. The most common cause of girth galls is positioning a saddle too far forward. This seems to be [...]
Check Your Tack
June 6, 2007 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics, Saddle Parts
There’s more to saddle care then just keeping it clean and tidy. You need to regularly check your saddle thoroughly for worn and damaged parts. These are problems you want to discover while you’re on the ground at home, rather than in the saddle in the middle of nowhere. When inspecting your saddle, pay particular [...]
Who Made My Saddle?
June 3, 2007 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics
That’s probably the most frequent question I receive from readers. It seems that a whole lot of folks are trying to find out more information about the saddles they own or are considering purchasing. It can be a tough search. There have been thousands of saddlemakers through the years. Tracking down information about a maker, [...]
How Should You Place a Saddle on the Ground?
May 27, 2007 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics, Hall of Fame, Saddle Tips
When a saddle isn’t on a horse, the best way to store it is on a saddle stand or rack. But what do you do when when you’re away from the barn and need to set your saddle down temporarily on the ground or in a vehicle? The best techniques will avoid these three pitfalls [...]
Helmets and Western Riding
May 18, 2007 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics
I’m feeling spunky today so I thought I’d take on a controversial topic – riding helmets and western riding. I know that whatever I say, I’ll end up angering some, but I think the debate is healthy. Traditionally, western riders have not ridden with helmets. Helmets don’t fit particularly well with the style of western [...]
What’s a Rough-Out Saddle?
April 12, 2007 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics, Saddle Types
Ever wondered what "rough-out" is? Is it the same as suede? Why are some western saddles made with it and why do some folks prefer it? Let’s get the skinny on rough-out. Leather saddles are made from heavy hides known as saddle skirting. Skirting comes in different weights (thickness) and grades (quality). The thickest skirting [...]
Saddle Weight
March 15, 2007 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics
Weight is probably the most common gripe about western saddles. Real working saddles can weigh over 60 pounds and just an average western saddle will weigh over 30 lbs. Quite a difference from the lightweight English saddles. There has definitely been a trend towards creating lighter western saddles, especially with synthetic materials. But there’s a [...]
