Saddle Gallery - Antique Saddles

VINTAGE SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKERY
Nancy from Iowa
Another wonderful vintage saddle of unknown heritage; most probably dating back to pre-1930. Nancy bought it used from a neighbor who had purchased it used 30+ years earlier. She paid $300 for two saddles, and miscellaneous tack and split it with a friend who took the other saddle. I'd say she got a real bargain. Nancy tells us that it is well made and heavy, with supple leather. She finds it to be well balanced and and a great fit for her horse.

VINTAGE RT FRAZIER SADDLE
Donna from Michigan
Donna bought this handsome saddle in 2011 from a man who said it belonged to his Grandmother. It has a 13" seat and a bear trap style pommel and high cantle. It's stamped in several places with the RT Fraizer logo. RT Frazier was a very successfull saddlemaker in Colorado from around 1880 into the 1930's. In 1917 he was the largest producer of stock saddles in the US.

VINTAGE TRAIL SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Amanda from New Hampshire
Amanda just bought this saddle for $100 from someone who wasn't using it. There isn't a makers mark, but it does have some numbers. It's in excellent condition and Amanda says it's a great fit for her and her horse. The style and fancy buck stitching probably places it in the 1960's. I think Amanda got a great deal on a classic saddle.

VINTAGE TRAIL SADDLE
Susan from New York
This solid trail saddle holds a saddle mark of "AA," but Susan hasn't been able to find any information on a maker with that mark. It has the look of a 1960's-era saddle with fancy buck stitching and full floral tooling. It's a heavy, substantial saddle with a wide tree.

O.N. ROMNEY RANCH SADDLE
Tammy from Washington
Tammy got this saddle from a family member a few years back, but hasn't been able to find out anything about the maker. The saddle has a mark that says Colonia Dublan Mex, which was an old mormon settlement in Mexico. Could it be that the maker might be related to presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney?  Whoever, the maker, it's a well made saddle with a high back, oversize swells, and large rounded fenders.  It has a brass horn and brass hardware. Top Notch.

VINTAGE STOCK SADDLE
Susan from New York
Susan picked up this handsome vintage stock saddle from a barn sale in upstate New York. She cleaned and oiled it and brought it back to life. Everything is in tack and the leather is quite supple. Pretty amazing for a saddle of this age that was stored in a barn.

VINTAGE MEXICAN RANCH SADDLE
Marshall from Texas
This is Marshall's personal saddle and has no maker's mark. Marshall explained: "Most all the northern Mexican ranch saddles are made from mesquite trees, the seat is fairly small, leather covered horns, swells and hi-backed cantels. Usually have small saddle bags made into the saddle for worm-medicine bottles, etc."

VINTAGE TEXTAN PACKER SADDLE
Marshall from Texas
Another one of Marshall's Packer saddles made for the WWI military by several different makers. This saddle was made by the famous TexTan Saddlery of Yoakum, Texas.

VINTAGE MEXICAN CHARRO SADDLE
Marshall from Texas
Marshall bought this saddle from a dealer some years back and estimates it dates from the 1940's. It has seen many miles but is still in solid shape. The large Mexican-style horn is wrapped with black rubber for dallying.

VINTAGE MEXICAN RANCH SADDLE
Marshall from Texas

Another great example of a Mexican Ranch saddle from around the 1940's. These were true "working" saddles.

VINTAGE MILIARY PACKER SADDLE
Marshall from Texas
Marshall tells us that this interesting vintage saddle is a U.S. Military Packer saddle from around 1917. The These saddles are relatively rare and Marshall has managed to aquire six of them. They are handsome saddles.

VINTAGE MEXICAN CHARRO SADDLE
Marshall from Texas
This interesting saddle is a Mexican-style western saddle commonly known as a Charoro saddle, and was designed for a female. Marshall believes it dates from the 1930's and wasfound in the tack room of a Mexican ranch that his father bought in 1956. The horn has inlaid tiny pieces of wood, probably mesquite.

VINTAGE MILIARY PACKER SADDLE
Marshall from Texas
Marshall tells us that this interesting vintage saddle is a U.S. Military Packer saddle from around 1917.

VINTAGE MEXICAN CHARRO SADDLE
Marshall from Texas
This interesting saddle is a Mexican-style western saddle commonly known as a Charoro saddle, and was designed for a female. Marshall tells us that it is from the 1950's and was used on his family's ranch in Mexico.

VINTAGE BRONCO TRAIL SADDLE
Connie from Minnesota
Connie bought this saddle 18 years ago at a tack shop in North Dakota. The only marking she can find on it is "Bronco" and a number. We haven't heard of Bronco before. It could possibly be a Canadian brand. The saddle looks similar in style to the 1960's/1970's Simco trail saddles.

VINTAGE FRAZIER PUEBLO SADDLE
Lauren from Idaho
Lauren's dad has had this saddle for as long as she can remember.  It's a beauty. Frazier's (originally (S.C. Gallup & Frazier Saddlery) was formed in the 1880's in Pueblo, Colorado. Their trademark was a steer, which appears on this saddle and their tagline was "Builder of the Famous Pueblo Saddle." Frazier was a savvy marketer who made the brand famous. In 1917 Frazier Saddlery was the largest producer of stock saddles in the US. The Saddlery closed in 1958.

VINTAGE VISALIA RANCH SADDLE
Steve from California
A gorgeous photo of a gorgeous classic saddle. This is Steve's Grandfather's Visalia Stock Saddle No. 158 with the famous 3B fork made around 1920.  Steve's grandfather was a rancher in the Arroyo Seco area of the Salinas Valley and this saddle was recently restored for display in our home

VINTAGE HAMLEY PARADE SADDLE
Belynda from Georgia
Belinda belives that this fancy Hamley saddle is a parade saddle (has attached saddle bags and lots of bling) and from what Hamley says it is one of the first 100 saddle they ever made but due to a fire the exact number cannot be determined.  It was made for a man named Orville Adams and purchased from a farm in Iowa. It certainly is an unusual Hamley saddle, that's for sure.

TRAIL/PLEASURE SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Rachel from Wisconsin
Rachel bought this saddle in an auction about 15 years ago for $200. She hasn't been able to find a maker's mark or brand on it. The saddle, unfortunately, ended up being too big for her..

VINTAGE BOB MARS SADDLE
Kristina from ?
Custom working saddle made by the Bob Mars Stockman Saddle Shop in Amarillo, Texas in 1954 for a Texas ranch manager. The current owner of this saddle has a copy of the actual bill of sale and a description by the saddlemaker.

VINTAGE RED RANGER TRAIL SADDLE
Jenna from Pennsylvania
Jenna picked this nice trail saddle up on the Internet five years ago. Red Ranger was a production saddle company operating in Tennesse in the 1950's and 1960's. Jenna likes the comfortable 17" seat and matching breastcollar and backstrap. And, as Jenna mentioned, the nostalgic look of buckstitich is popular with lovers of mid-century style.

VINTAGE SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Diane from California
Diane's husband bought this trail saddle for her 25 years ago. Diane hasn't been able to find a maker name or mark on the saddle, but it has some fancy tooling and pockets for carrying tools. It looks similar to some of the vintage Simco trail/pleasure saddles. I doubt this was ever a real working saddle.

JG READ & BROTHERS RANCH SADDLE
Diane from California
Diane just bought this very handsome working saddle made by the JG Read & Brothers Co. of Ogdon, Utah. JG Read made saddles from the 1870's well into the 1900's. This saddle is in wonderful shape and an excellent example fo a real working saddle.

VINTAGE CHARLES BLUEMEL SADDLE
Amy from Texas
Of all the saddles Amy owns (and she owns a few!), this is by far her favorite. Bluemel Saddlery operated in El Paso, Texas from the 1920's-1950s. Amy believes that Charles Bluemel most likely made this saddle in the late 1920's. It is still in full using condition and she rides it regularly. The tooling is superb in an elegant simplistic style. It is a very handsome saddle.

VINTAGE RANCH SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Penelle from California
This tough old ranch saddle has defintely been put to work. Penelle has found a serial number on it but no makers mark. She's working on cleaning it up and getting it restored. It has some nice tooling that adds some "show" to this working saddle. I think there's some miles still left in it.

PARADE SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Amy from Texas
Amy is a collector of western saddles and when she found this unusual saddle with matching breast collar and headstall at a small dealer in Texas, she just had to have it. The dealer didn't know it's history but Lisa's been told that there are over 2000 metal "dots" on all of the pieces.

VINTAGE TEX TAN TRAIL SADDLE
Lisa from Ontario,Canada
Lisa bought this nice Tex Tan from a lady who had stored it for over 25 years. It had been her Father's saddle and, as an english rider, she didn't have much use for it. Lisa bought the saddle from her for $50! After cleaning and conditiond, Lisa has a very handsome saddle and a terrific bargain.

VINTAGE BIG HORN TRAIL SADDLE
Alexey from Russia
Alexey recently purchased this vintage Big Horn saddle in Germany, with the help of his trainer. This is a classic old Big Horn from around the 1970's. Big Horn made a solid saddle in those days and this one still has lots of life left in it. It must have some stories to tell about its journey from Tennessee (Big Horn's original home) to Germany to Russia.

VINTAGE F.O. BAIRD TRAIL SADDLE
William from Texas
William purchased this handsome saddle at auction in 1970 for his sons' 4H activities. When he bought the saddle it had been stained black, but when cleaned up he discovered markings indicating it was an FO Baird Saddle from Long Beach California Saddery. F.O. Baird worked from the 1920's to 1960's for a variety of saddle shops and published several leather carving manuals.

VINTAGE ARIZONA PARADE SADDLE
Amy from Texas
Amy bought this unusual parade saddle for $1200 on Ebay from a dealer who didn't know anything about it other than it's previous owner lived in Arizona. The saguaro cactus engraved on the silver shows its desert roots. The saddle is covered with silver and has a matching breast collar and bridle equally embellished. It certainly is a one-of-a-kind saddle.

VINATAGE UNDERCUT SWELL SADDLE
Stephanie from Arizona
This interesting saddle is from an unknown maker with no marks of any kind. Stephanie purchased it for only $200 from someone cleaning out their tack room. It looks to have relatively little wear, but it's styling - the large swells and heavy weight (40lbs) - is from a bygone era. I suspect that it is likely of Mexican orign.

GEORGE LAWRENCE ROPING SADDLE
Anita from Washington
This is a nice vintage saddle (Anita thinks around 1940) from the George C. Lawrence shop of Portland Oregon. It has a 14.5 inch seat and 7/8 rigging. The saddle has been re-furbished with new wool, skirts, fenders, and stirrups. Anita says that although the saddle has seen many hard miles, it has never made a horse or rider sore.

VINTAGE RICHARDS & SCHOEN SADDLE
Helene from Sweden
This saddle is a real gem. With a makers mark from the Hawaiian Islands and a date of 1883, it's an unusual saddle. While it's obviously had quite a bit of wear, Helene says it's still a comfortable ride for both horse and rider. She's curious as to how this saddle made it to Sweden by 1940, and so are we. Helene might want to have this saddle appraised by a western collectibles appraiser to determine its value.

VINTAGE HAMLEY SADDLE
Ted from Georgia
This saddle is a wonderful representation of the high end of the Hamley brand from about 50 years ago. Ted has the original bill of sale and shares that it was made by Duff Severe when he was still with Hamley, who is the only saddle maker to have his work recognized by the Smithsonian Institute. The saddle is in excellent condition and riding shape.

VINTAGE VANCO RANCH SADDLE
Stan from California
This wonderful high-back saddle was owned by Stan's great uncle; a real family heirloom. The saddle was made by A.A. Van Voorhees Voorhies & Co (their brand was Vanco) in the early 1900's. The saddlery was founded in the 1850's and changed it's name to the Van Voorhees Voorhies-Phinney Co. in the 1920's when they took on a partner. (They had a real flair for company names.) They operated until the 1940's. Stan is conditioning the saddle in preparation for packing for the US Forest Service. It should be a great ride.

VINTAGE STOHLMAN PLEASURE SADDLE
Cindy from California
This interesting saddle was made by prominent leather crafters, Al and Ann Stolhman.  Their saddles are rare as they were more known for their tooling work and craft patterns sold by Tandy Leather. Both have now passed on, so this saddle is a piece of history.

VINTAGE FURSTNOW SADDLERY CO. SADDLE
Roger from Somewhere in the US
Roger says: "This is a Furstnow, model 06 in their #36 catalog that I think came out in 1930 or so.  It's called the Sid Special in the catalog.  According to the information I was given by it's previous owner [I bought it at a local auction], it was originally owned by a cowboy in the Ekalaka country of Montana.  New at that time it cost $85.00 and I bought it for $75.00 and then had my son, who makes and repairs saddles, replace the woolskin and the strings."

VINTAGE SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Shondra from Ohio
This lovely old saddle was given to Shondra by a dear friend who was getting out of horses and into minnies. Someone has told her that they thought the saddle was from around the early 1900's, but nothing is really known about it. Shondra still rides this obviously well built saddle.

VINTAGE SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
David from Belgium
David bought this handsome and interesting vintage saddle from an unknown maker off of ebay.

VINTAGE PORTER SADDLE
Jeff from California
This great little saddle was in a package deal with another vintage saddle and miscellaneous tack. Jeff bought the package for $150 as a gift to his wife, not knowing what a find he had. Jeff says it's a comfortable ride but is too small for her so he'll be selling it.

VINTAGE DON BENTLEY SADDLE
Gail from North Carolina
This handsome saddle was made by Oakland, California saddle maker, Don Bently in the 1950's. Gail's understanding is that is was made for Julie Nichols, who road it in parades including the Rose Bowl.

VINTAGE ALL AROUND SADDLE FROM MARSHALL FIELDING & CO.
Monica from Florida
Monica was given this vintage saddle from a friend who's father had it since the 196o's. It appears to be a saddle from that era. It's a handsome saddle, but unfortunately the leather is in pretty rough shape. Some serious cleaning and conditioning could restore it somewhat, but it will be hard to overcome the years of neglect.

VINTAGE HIGH BACK SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Rick from Texas
A friend picked up this saddle for Rick at an estate sale in Colorado. It has some information on the latigo keeper but no maker. I suspect a plate with a makers mark came off at some point. Rick has done a lot of work to get it looking this handsome and now keeps it as a display piece.

VINTAGE SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Ron from Iowa
Ron picked up this vintage beauty at a horse sale in Iowa from an Amish man who sold it right off the horse he was riding. It has a mark of a circle around either 2 W's (one reversed) or an M and a W. The saddle is a well crafted and in great shape. The fancy teardrop stirrups add some pizazz but are probably not original to the saddle.

REBUILT VINTAGE BEAR TRAP TEXAS TANNING SADDLE
Amanda from Oregon
Amanda picked up this saddle along with another old saddle for $50, a real steal. She then proceeded to have this saddle completely rebuilt by Doug Davis of Gervas, Oregon. Doug believes the saddle dates to before the depression. Western Hide & Company began business in Yoakum, TX in 1919, changed it's name to Texas Tanning in the 1920s, and to Tex Tan in the 1940s, which is what it is known as today.

VINTAGE SCHOELLKOPF JUMBO SADDLE
Jake from Texas
Jake just recently bought this handsome saddle to replace a smilar one he had back in the 70's. Schoellkpf built saddles in Dallas, Texas from 1869 until the 1970's; most notably, under the "Famous Jumbo Brand" mark. Jake thinks this saddle dates from the 1940's or 50's.

VINTAGE BUCK STEINER SADDLE
Anna from Texas
Anna doesn't know much about this interesting little saddle other than it holds the Buck Steiner mark. She's given it a deep cleaning to bring out its beauty. It obviously has seen many miles and probably has some great stories to tell.

ANTIQUE PONY SADDLE
Sharon from Florida
Sharon has had this interesting little saddle for about ten years and can't remember how she came across it. She used it for pony rides for kids for awhile but it's just been gathering dust of late. So, Sharon dug it out and gave it a spiffing up. It's obviously a vintage saddle and quite the little gem.

VINTAGE HAMLEY RANCH SADDLE
Chuck from North Carolina
This is a handsome short-cantle style Hamley saddle, probably from the first half of the 1900's. Chuck is wondering on a value and we can only recommend talking to a western collectibles appraiser. While Hamley is a storied old brand, there are quite a few of their saddles around. One thing you don't want to do is any repairs, such as fixing the torn leather horn cap. Repairs instantly decrease the collectible value.

VINTAGE BUCK STEINER SADDLE
Wilma from Missouri
Wilma was given this saddle by a friend as a thank you for a favor. I'd say that was a very nice thank you. This is one of those good, solid using saddles that Steiner was known for. Buck Steiner died in 2001 but his family still runs the shop Buck opened in 1930, Capitol Saddlery in Austin, Texas.

VINTAGE 1944 N. PORTER SADDLE
Lisa from Oregon
Lisa bought this classic vintage Porter saddle in 1986 for $750. She has the original bill of sale dated August 23rd, 1944. The buyer was a woman from Medford, Oregon who had the saddle custom made for her.

VINTAGE LICHTENBERGER-FERGUSON RANCH SADDLE
Noel from Florida
Noel picked up this saddle used as an 18 year old and, 22 years later, it's still his favorite saddle. It's a real using saddle and Noel has used it to break horses and work cows over the years. Lichtenberger and Ferguson were saddlemaking partners in Los Angeles from around 1900 to 1939. This is a handsome saddle, from the early 1900's, with tales to tell.

J.G. DYER PARADE SADDLE
Susan from Georgia
Susan bought this beautiful and rare 1960's parade saddle off of ebay about five years ago, along with matching bridle and breast collar. It's brown color (most parade saddles were black) and famous maker make it a real collectible. It is currently used for display only, which is a bit sad. This set belongs on a horse. The saddle weighs 70 pounds, including the tapadaros.

KING BIG HORN SHOW SADDLE
Grace from Virgina
Grace's grandfather picked up this saddle at a yard sale for only $25! With some elbow grease on Grace's part, cleaning and oiling, it's now a handsome saddle. Grace thinks it's about 30 years old. While it has a serial number (3140), it doesn't appear to have a saddle mark. Grace thought it might be a Simco, but we doubt it as Simco clearly brands their saddles.

KING BIG HORN SHOW SADDLE
Terri from Texas
Terri bought this good looking saddle from a tack shop in Weatherford, Texas. The seller had two of these saddles for sale that he had bought from an elderly gentleman. The saddles were in almost new condition but are thought to be from the fifties or sixites. Whatever its origins, Terri testifies that this saddle is a very comfortable ride.

VINTAGE RANCH SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Dave from Colorado
Dave picked up this handsome high back, loop seat saddle from a consignment shop. He was told by the seller that it was made in Texas and was used in a movie. That's all he knows about it. Whatever it's history, it's a grand old saddle.

VINTAGE R.T. FRAZIER SADDLE
Michelle from Missouri
This is a wonderful high-back, square skirt saddle by Frazier Saddlery. It was custom made for an individual and carries the letters H.L H. on the back of the cantle and has custom carving on the fender of a lady in an old time baseball outfit. R.T. Frazier was an accomplished businessman and ran a saddle operation in Colorado from the 1880's til his death in 1931. His widow ran the saddlery until it closed in 1958. In 1917 Frazier was the largest producer of stock saddles in the U.S.

VINTAGE VANCO HIGH BACK SADDLE
Debbie from Oregon
This is a gorgeous vintage 1920's highback, buckaroo-style saddle in wonderful condition. Vanco was a brand of the Sacramento, California-based maker, A.A. Van Voorhees & Co. (later renamed the Van Voorhees-Phinney Co). They were founded in 1850 and operated until the 1940's. Debbie bought this saddle at an auction fifteen years ago.

VINTAGE BIG HORN RANCH SADDLE
Kim from Georgia
This is an older model Big Horn all around saddle, probably from thirty to fory years ago. Kim doesn't know any more about the saddle other than it has the Big Horn brand with the model number 570.

POSSIBLE VINTAGE HARPHAM BROTHERS RANCH SADDLE
Emily from Nebraska
This is a wonderful vintage highback, A-Fork saddle that Emily picked up from an old cowboy. Emily believes this beauty may be an early Harpham saddle. The Harpham Brothers began operation in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1884. The only maker's mark is "Guaranteed California Stock" with a number 40 above it. Emily believes that Harpham used this stamp prior to 1927.

VINTAGE SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Aeron from Virginia
Aeron unfortunately doesn't know any background on the this saddle and there are no maker's marks. It is obviously quite an old saddle that probably has a real story to tell. It has repairs, but they even appear to be quite old. Quite a treasure.

VINTAGE TRAIL SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Cheryll from Ohio
Cheryll was given this saddle along with a horse she bought. There are no maker's marks on the saddle and Cheryl knows nothing about the saddle.

VINTAGE GREAT WESTERN SADDLE COMPANY SADDLE
Bunny from Manitoba, Canada
Bunny Eastveld is a master restorer or antique saddles and has done a wonderful job with this beauty.  Bunny dates the saddle around 1850-1890. It has a wooden horn, Mother Hubbard Skirts, and a really high (6") cantle, and over-leathers on the fenders.  It's what the old timers call a "beartrap" saddle. Bunny has this saddle in shape for riding.

VINTAGE PARADE SADDLE
Rhoda from ?
This flashy saddle from an unknown saddle maker was given to Rhoda years ago. Her grandson used it for a while for 4H.

VINTAGE SHOELKOPF SADDLE
Bernardo from California
Bernardo bought this handsome high-back saddle from an antique dealer years ago and knows little about it unfortunately.

HOPE TEXAS STYLE SADDLE
Betty from Georgia
This is a wonderful Hope Texas style saddle which which originated in Texas and was popular around the 1850's in the west. This saddle is on display now as it's a bit fragile, but I'm sure it has traveled many miles and would have great stories to tell.

VINTAGE SPANISH SADDLE
Nick from New York
This saddle was purchased in Spain and is thought to be around 60 or 70 years old. It's a hand-crafted saddle with beautiful stitching and still very soft and supple leather. The small size indicates that it was designed for a relatively small breed of horse.

VINTAGE D.E. WALKER SADDLE
Melissa from Connecticut
Melissa bought this wonderful D.E. Walker saddle at the famous Farmington, Connecticut outdoor antique show a few years ago. D.E. Walker was one of the original founders of the Visalia Stock Saddle Company in the 1870's. Melissa has a real piece of history here.

VINTAGE 1940's KIRWIN-NEILSON SADDLE
Dannie from Wyoming/Louisiana
Dannie bought this vintage beauty from a friend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Now that Dannie's hung up her spurs, the saddle is is just for display. That's a little sad as this saddle obvioulsy has many more miles left on it.

VINTAGE SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Amanda from Oregon
Amanda bought this interesting old saddle together with a vintage Tex Tan for $50. She doesn't know a thing about this saddle, but it's obviously had a long working life with a lot of miles. It doesn't show up in this photo, but the saddle came with a burlap cinch. Ouch.

VINTAGE SADDLE FROM GREAT WEST SADDLERY Co.
John from Ontario, Canada
This beauty is from Great West Saddlery Co., a saddlery based in Calgary, Canada that had it's beginnings in the late 1800's and ceased operations in 1931. Shows you what quality means to the life of a saddle. This saddle looks like it's still a great ride today. (I'd replace those obviously non-original saddle strings with strings that more closely match the saddle.)

VINTAGE SADDLE FROM MILES CITY SADDLERY
Dave from North Dakota
This vintage working saddle is a real beauty. Dave has retired it to a place of honor on a custom-made cedar log stand in his living room, but it looks to me like it has many more miles left in it. Miles City (Montana) Saddlery began operation in 1909 and is still in operation today.

VINTAGE TED FLOWERS PARADE SADDLE
Gerry from Ireland
Ted Flowers saddles are always special, but this one is extra special. What a beauty. And doesn't that horse seem to know he's wearing something special? Gerry tells us that the saddle arrived in Ireland 12 years ago and is now on display at Five Oaks Ranch in Ballyshannon.

1957 TEX TAN HEREFORD RANCH SADDLE
Harry from Florida
Herefords seem to last forever ... and just get better with age. Harry nabbed this gem off of ebay for $350 and put another $125 in materials into it. But lets be clear about the quality here - this saddle cost almost $1000 new in 1957. Keep that in mind when you're shopping for saddles today. You have to pay to get quality.

VINTAGE BIG HORN YOUTH SADDLE
Aine from Ireland
Aine picked this little beauty up at a flea market in Illinois for a song and brought it home to Ireland. It's definitely been around the block a bit, but it's a nice example of of a vintage youth saddle.

VINTAGE SADDLE OF FRENCH ARTIST
Michael from France
This beauty is an early 1900 saddle owned by french artist, actor, and director, Joe Hamman. Joe was a friend of William "Bill" Cody and took part in his famous Wild West Shows.

VINTAGE NOLTE OLSON SADDLE
Shawna from California
Shawna found this antique saddle gem at a recent flea market. It's from Nolte-Olson, which was a popular saddle brand in the the mid 1900's.

TED FLOWERS PARADE SADDLES
Saddlemaker Dusty Johnson from Colorado
Ted Flowers created gorgeous parade saddles in his SPOT SHOP located in Alexandria, Indiana. All production ceased in the mid-70's with his death. These saddles are all currently deteriorating due to age. Dusty has fully restored 103 saddles (so far!). These rigs are a true American icon of the golden age of Hollywood.  See more at: www.pvsaddleshop.com Dusty is the author of some of the best books on western saddles Saddle Savvy: A Guide to the Western Saddle and Saddlemaking: Construction and Repair Techniques.

VINTAGE MEXICAN SADDLE
Jasmine from the United Kingdom
Jasmine acquired this saddle in the UK from a friend and, unfortunately, doesn't know much about it. The only clue is the following maker's mark: Juan Galindo Jr.
Fabricante de toda clase de fustes
Los Reyes , Dto. de Texcoco Edo. de Mex. Jasmine says the saddle is very narrow and she has yet to find a horse in the UK that it will fit.

VINTAGE PARADE STYLE SADDLE
Jasmine from the United Kingdom
Jasmine acquired this saddle from the same friend as the Mexican saddle above. Not much known about this saddle either. No maker's mark, but it's obviously an antique. Jasmine's husband reports that it has very early machine-made nuts and bolts on the stirrups.

RANCH/ALL AROUND SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Melissa from Arkansas
This saddle is thought to be around 60 years old and is a great example of a real "using" saddle. This saddle had a job to do, and from the looks of it, did that job well. I bet it's as great a ride today as it was on its first ride.

RANCH/ALL AROUND SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Craig from Australia
This

RANCH/ALL AROUND SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN MAKER
Melissa from Arkansas
This saddle is thought to be around 60 years old and is a great example of a real "using" saddle. This saddle had a job to do, and from the looks of it, did that job well. I bet it's as great a ride today as it was on its first ride.

REPRODUCTION OF A 1700s SPANISH COLONIAL SADDLE
C.L. "Lee" Anderson from Arizona
Lee built this beauty to the exact, historically documented specs for this period saddle. It's a wonderful example of a mochilla-style saddle. You can learn more about Lee and the programs he offers at historicaloldwest.org.

VINTAGE LOOP SEAT, HIGH BACK SADDLE
C.L. "Lee" Anderson from Arizona
This beautiful saddle is from the George Lawrence Co. in Portland, OR. It is probably a Lewis and Clark commemorative model made in 1906. Lee fully restored the saddle and rides it daily as an Educational Living History Re-enactor. You can learn more about Lee and the programs he offers at historicaloldwest.org.

VINTAGE MEXICAN-STYLE SADDLE
Linda from California
This is a highly custom saddle with inlaid pearl initials (F.M.) on the horn and a horse head on the fork. Linda picked up this interesting saddle at a swap meet and is looking for any information anyone might have on the saddle. Contact us and we'll pass your comments on to Linda.

VINTAGE HIGH BACK SADDLE
Andrew from California
This high back double rigged saddle is thought to have been made between 1890 and 1910, but doesn't have a maker's mark. It was probably designed as a mule saddle. Notice the nifty pocket beyond the cantle for a map or tool. Andrew has had the saddle for about six years and has used it for mounted hold-up re-enactments and trail rides. It's had a lot of rides, but Andrew confirms tha it's still a fine using saddle.

VINTAGE ARIZONA SADDLERY SADDLE
Denny from Illinois
This wonderful saddle is the work of Arizona Saddlery of Prescott, Arizona which operated from 1918 to 1936. The saddle is in fabulous, ready-to-ride condition. It's such a great example of the quality craftsmanship and artistry of the era that I can understand Denny's decision to put it on display, but I bet it provides one heck of a ride.

VINTAGE HIGH BACK SADDLE
Melissa from Arkansas
This classic beauty was purchased used by Melissa's father in 1939, so it had its start earlier than that. It's not clear who the maker is but there's a worn stamp that appears to be either "TH" or "JH". The saddle has become a bit of an heirloom as Melissa continues to ride in it today and says she hasn't found another saddle that rides as well.

VINTAGE DENVER SADDLE
Amy from Wisconsin
This is a wonderful example of a high-backed saddle by the Denver Mfg. Co., probably from the early 1900's. Amy rides this saddle regularly for both short and long rides. She says she has yet to find a saddle with a better seat. Goes to show you that new-fangled techniques have nothing over old time craftsmanship.

CUSTOM BUCK STEINER SADDLE
Amy from Wisconsin
Custom saddle maker Buck Steiner started Capitol Saddlery in Austin, Texas in 1930. A Buck Steiner saddle was, and is, considered a high quality saddle. Capitol is still in operation today and run by the Steiner family. In addition to making custom tack and boots, Capitol is a full-featured tack store with a gigantic inventory. Amy has this saddle on display in her home.

VINTAGE MONTANA SADDLERY SADDLE
Amy from Wisconsin
There's no markings on this high-backed beauty, but Amy suspects it's from Montana Saddlery, which operated out of Missoula in the first half of the 1900's. Amy's husband rides this saddle regularly. They definitely built them to last.

VINTAGE HAMLEY & CO. SADDLE
Beverly from Florida
Beverly found this classic saddle from the legendary Hamley & Company five years ago in a flea market in West Palm Beach, Florida. This was a real cowboy's working saddle. It has a nickel horn and a high cantle and is in excellent condition. Hamley has identified it as the saddle made in 1931 for cowboy photographer, Howard Wilcox. Beverly has given the saddle a fitting home on display in her living room.