What’s an All Around Saddle?

We see folks misunderstanding this saddle type quite a bit. To many people, an All Around saddle sounds like just the ticket – it will work for whatever type of riding I do, they reason. Just like its name says … it’s an All Around, right?

Well, actually, that’s not the case. An All Around saddle got it’s name as a saddle suitable for both ranch work and competition events. A cowboy could buy one saddle to work in and compete in.

As a result, an All Around saddle is a substantial saddle; large, and relatively heavy. It usually (ideally) is made with a wooden tree that can stand up to the pressures of roping and pulling. It’s also designed to be a comfortable ride for long hours in the saddle.

All Around saddles are commonly (and accurately) lumped with ranch saddles. The difference is usually cosmetic and degree. An All Around saddle will tend to have a bit more flash than a ranch saddle as it is often taken into the competition arena where sparkle is expected. All Around saddles can also be a bit lighter weight than a true working ranch saddle. But both are designed to be able to rope and dally off of.

All Around saddles can be a great choice for everyday riding as long as you understand that this saddle is not a lightweight trail saddle. We’re big fans of the Ranch and All Around saddle for everyday riding. We figure, if you’re going to be spending long hours in the saddle, it makes sense to choose the saddle type that working cowboys ride.

Used Saddle Pick of the Week: 16″ Hereford Trail Saddle

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.

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LAST WEEK’S PICK:
Last week’s pick – a 15″ Price McLaughlin Reining Saddle – was a hard-to-find gem, but it seems to have gone undiscovered. The starting bid price of $580 seems to have scared folks off, but the saddle is worth that price. With no bids the seller withdrew his listing.

THIS WEEK’S PICK:

This week we’ve chosen a newer Hereford saddle as our Pick. While we prefer the construction of the older Herefords, the new ones are still solid saddles. Herefords are a longtime brand produced by  Tex Tan of Yoakum, Texas.

This week’s saddle is a 16″ Hereford Trail Saddle. The saddle is a relatively new saddle that has had excellent care. Close to “like new” condition.

Herefords are known for being big, substantial saddles and this one fits the bill. The seller believes the saddle has full QH bars. The saddle has a suede seat and a small sections of floral tooling on the fork, fenders, and jockeys.

This saddle is obviously going to get some interest. Herefords always do. As of this writing there are two bids with a top bid of $255. That’s not going to take this saddle home, though. It’s worth more than that and, at the price, it doesn’t meet the seller’s reserve.

If you’re looking for a high quality, solid production saddle that you can ride for many years to come, this one is definitely worth a look. But you’re not going to be able to steal it. The seller knows its value.

We present the Saddle Blog’s Used Saddle of the Week:
16″ Hereford Trail Saddle

Check out other Trail Saddles for sale in our tack shop.

Used Saddle Pick of the Week: 15″ Price McLaughlin Reining Saddle

We’ve been on hiatus for quite a while but we are back! Thanks for sticking with us.

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.

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LAST WEEK’S PICK:
Because of our hiatus, we don’t have a “Last Week’s Pick” to report on.

THIS WEEK’S PICK:

This week a Price McLaughlin saddle makes its first appearance as a “Pick,” and it’s about time. Price McLaughlin was a very accomplished saddlemaker from Boyd, Texas. While he made a variety of saddles, he was most known for his reiners. But all of his saddles had one thing in common … high quality craftsmanship … and they’re very much in demand.

This week’s saddle is a Price McLaughlin 15″ – 15.5″ Reiner/Pleasure saddle. The saddle has definitely had some use but it’s been well cared for, still looks great, and has much riding left in it.

The saddle has a bit of flash that you’ll often see on reining saddles with silver corner plates and silver lacicng.

There are no bids as of this writing and the starting bid price is $580. That’s a good price for a Price McLaughlin in this condition.

We present the Saddle Blog’s Used Saddle of the Week:
15″ Price McLaughlin Reining Saddle

Check out other Reining Saddles for sale in our tack shop.

A Buyer Beware Tip for Used Saddles

After a very long absence – over a year! – we are oh, so happy to be back. I thought I’d start out with a quick “buyer beware” post of something I just saw on ebay..

Someone is selling a vintage Billy Cook trail saddle with a cracked tree. Now, to give them credit, they are revealing in the listing that the saddle tree is indeed cracked.

But a saddle with a cracked tree is done being a saddle. What it is now is … parts. The seller has it listed for $162, which is a bit rich for “parts,” which makes me a bit nervous that someone might buy it for a riding saddle.

Don’t do it. A cracked tree is a serious defect that will be no good for the horse or the rider. Stay away.

Academy of Western Artists “Saddlemaker of the Year” For 2010 Awarded to John Willemsma

Forest Shupe Posthumously Awarded the “Don King Award” Recognizing Lifetime Achievement and Contribution To the Craft of Saddlemaking.

Oklahoma City, OK, August 19, 2010 — The Western Saddle Guide announced today that legendary Guthrie, Oklahoma saddlemaker John “Long John” Willemsma is the recipient of the 2010 Academy of Western Artists’ “Saddlemaker of the Year” Award.

John Willemsma has been building high quality, custom western saddles for more than 30 years. In 1986 John opened LJ’s Saddlery in Guthrie, Oklahoma to design and build saddles that meet  the needs of both working cowboys and non-professional horsemen and women.

John has had the great fortune of being able to study under some of today’s greatest saddle craftsmen, including Don King, Dale Harwood and Chuck Stormes. Combining the knowledge he gained from these masters with his study of early saddleries, particularly Visalia, Hamley and Ray Holes, has enabled John to bring very high standards to each and every saddle he builds.

The Academy of Western Artists (AWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting contemporary western artisans. 2010 marks the 15th year the AWA has awarded the “Saddlemaker of the Year.” The winner of the award is chosen by vote of top working saddlemakers. The pass recipients of this coveted award is a list of the finest custom western saddlemakers in the world.

2009    Cary Schwarz        Salmon, Idaho
2008    Pedro Perini        Marysfield, California
2007    George Holt        Dillon, Montana
2006     Steve mecum        Crowheart, Wyoming
2005    Chas Weldon        Billings, Montana
2004    Gaylord Thissel    Cottonwood , California
2003    Eddie Brooks        Spring Creek, Nevada
2002    Bill Maloy        Washoe Valley, Nevada
2001    Dale Harwood        Meridian, Idaho
2000    Pete Gorrell        Darby, Montana
1999    Don Butler        Sheridan, Wyoming
1998    Chuck Stormes    Alberta, Canada
1997    Don King        Sheridan, Wyoming
1996    Bob Marrs        Amarillo, Texas

It was also announced that saddlemaker Forrest Shupe of Sonora, California was granted the Don King Saddlemaker Award, named for the legendary saddlemaker, historian, teacher, artist, and craftsman, Don King of Sheridan, Wyoming. This prestigious award is presented to a living saddlemaker as a recognition of a lifetime of outstanding work and contributions to the craft. Sadly, Mr. Shoupe passed away shortly after being chosen for this award. Forest Shoup began his saddlemaking career in 1954 and will be remembered as a master saddlemaker, teacher, and invoator. His fine saddles will be around for a long time as both using saddles and as valuable collectibles.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF WESTERN ARTISTS
The Academy of Western Artists (AWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving cowboy and western heritage by recognizing and promoting contemporary western artisans and their craft. The annual AWA awards recognize excellence in:  Cowboy & Western Music, Cowboy Poetry, Western Music Radio, DJ’s, Chuckwagon Cooks, Gear makers, Leather working, Saddlemaking, Spur Makers and other Western arts and artists.

ABOUT THE WESTERN SADDLE GUIDE
The Western Saddle Guide is a free, in-depth, online resource dedicated to everything there is to know about the western saddle.  Coverage includes information on saddle types, fit, parts, accessories, brands, makers, care, history, and decoration, plus helpful tips and buying and how-to guides. The Western Saddle Guide can be found at www.WesternSaddleGuide.com

Herman Oak Leather Tannery Video

Here’s a fascinating video from Hermann Oak Leather (the premier maker of leather used for saddle making) on the leather tanning process.

The Cowboy Way

My last post was about the great Animal Planet series “Last American Cowboy” which features the Galt Ranch in White Sulphur Springs Montana, and several other ranches. I thought I’d share a fascinating book that also takes place on the Galt Ranch.

The Cowboy Way: Seasons of a Montana Ranch by David McCumber is an eye-opening look at what life is really like on a modern working cattle ranch. The Galt Ranch is a bit more modern than many ranches today, but it’s a good look at the skill set and incredible hard work that’s required to be a good hand.

David McCumber abandoned the corporate world and spent a year learning the ropes as a bottom-of-the-totem pole ranch hand. It was a learning experience, to say the least.

The Cowboy Way is a great read for anyone interested in the western lifestyle.

The Last American Cowboy

There is a great new series on Animal Planet that you just don’t want to miss. The show is called “The Last American Cowboy” and it follows life on three working cattle ranches in Montana. You see up close the very tough, but rewarding reality of this traditional lifestyle. I just love the show.

It’s especially enjoyable because I have a connection to one of the featured ranches – the Galt ranch. The Galt Ranch is a neighbor ranch to my good friends the Voldseths who own the Voldseth Ranch and the Bonanza Creek Country Guest Ranch. Both of these ranches are located north east of Bozeman, around White Sulpher Springs.

I’ve met Bill and Jill Gault and was lucky enough to have Bill give me a personal helicopter tour of his beautiful ranch.

It’s also great to see Tanya Hill on the show. Tanya is the wife of Galt foreman, Tyson Hill, and is a wrangler for Bonanaza Creek in the summer guest season. Tanya’s just a great gal with a lot of talents. She speaks French fluently, has traveled the world, and is a heck of a hand and horsewoman. I always enjoy riding with Tanya.

Last American Cowboy is on Mondays at 10pmET. The show started on June 7th, but if you set your DVR, you should be able to catch the earlier episodes on reruns. You can find more about the show on the Animal Planet Website:

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/last-american-cowboy/

And make sure to check out my favorite Guest Ranch in the world – Bonanza Creek Country:

http://bonanzacreekcountry.com

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