Close Contact Saddles
March 14, 2009 by Saddle Sense
Filed under Saddle Types
Have you heard the term “close contact saddle” and wondered what it meant?
The basic goal of a close contact saddle is to eliminate the bulk under a rider’s thighs in order to position his legs closer to the horse. This provides more feel, better leg control, and a more natural leg position.
Training and reining saddles [...]
Plastic Western Saddles?
December 19, 2008 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics, Happenings, Saddle Types
Sound crazy? Well, it’s true. During a short period of time in the 1940’s, the All Western Plastics Company in Nebraska produced plastic saddles.
It was a short-lived venture with only 65 saddles produced, but they are a highly collectible item. Wyoming rancher, Tom Harrower, owns 46 of them and is always on the hunt for [...]
Antique Saddles & Collectible Value
October 30, 2008 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics, Saddle Buying, Saddle Types
Many, many people email us asking if we can help them identify the maker of their antique saddle and determine it’s value. Unfortunately we don’t have the resources to provide that service. What we can, and do, tell folks is that there are tons of antique saddles out there and very few have any collector [...]
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 [...]
19th Century Miliatry Saddles
September 25, 2007 by Saddle Sense
Filed under General Saddle Topics, Resources, Saddle Types
Border State’s Leather in Arkansas is a very special type of saddle shop. Owner Doug Kidd produces replicas of 19th century military saddles and also some Revolutionary War and WWI saddles.
Kidd’s saddles are considered to be the most historically accurate and authentic saddles available. He uses authentic hand tools and machinery of the period to [...]
