Enjoy these beautiful examples of custom western saddles submitted by our visitors. Note the saddle makers. You may just find the saddle maker who will create your own work of art.
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CUSTOM WILLEM MUIJS SADDLE
Loes from The Netherlands
Loes had this A-fork saddle built for her three years ago by Willem Muijs. The saddle was named "The Native Saddle" for the Haida figures of the wolf on it. Loes says the saddle is a great fit for both her and his horse.
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CUSTOM VAQUERO WESTERNZADELS WADE SADDLE
Louis from The Netherlands
This unique saddle was made by Louis van Kerkhoff of Vauero Westernzadels in the Netherlands. Vaquero is the oldest saddlery in the Netherlands.
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CUSTOM MARTIN KOSEL RANCH SADDLE
Martin from Montana
Martin built this handsome dark oil saddle on a bowman wood and rawhide tree. It has a #4 dally horn wrapped in latigo, flat plate rigging in the 7/8ths position, a 16 inch traditional seat and floral carving on parts of the saddle.
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CUSTOM EARL TWIST RANCH SADDLE
Colby from Illinois
This handsome and beautifully proportioned saddle is the work of Earl Twist, a Montanan saddle maker of some forty years. We are blessed in Montana with a riches of wonderful saddlemakers such as Earl Twist. Colby had been pining for his very own Earl Twist saddle since he met Earl back in the 1970's. It's a beauty and worth the wait.
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CUSTOM BONDO BOB RANCH SADDLE
Bob from Michigan
This custom saddles is styled after the early 1900's saddle designs, with the John Wayne saddle that's in the Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma as its inspiration. It features plate rigging, a Texs dally horn and large ornate floral tooling popular in the early 1900's. A handsome "old timers" style saddle.
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CUSTOM RON ROSS SLICK FORK SADDLE
Ron from Indiana
This very handsome saddle was created by Ron Ross who has been a professional custome saddle maker for 46 years. I'd say he's definitely gotten the hang of it. The saddle was exhibited at the 2009 International Federation of Leather Guilds Show that was held in Indianapolis in September 2009. In the Masters Division, it placed first as well as Best of Category.
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MARTIN KOSEL CUSTOM RANCH SADDLE
Martin from Montana
This handsome saddle was made by Montanan saddle maker, Martin Kosel. It's a Wade tree saddle built on a wooden/rawhide covered tree and has flat plate rigging in the 7/8ths position.
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CUSTOM PULLIN LEATHER WADE TREE SADDLE
Mark from Alberta, Canada
This custom Wade tree saddle is built on a hand built rawhide tree. Floral carving, stainless bell stirrups, inlaid seat and bucking rolls combine to create a really handsome rig.
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CUSTOM CORDELL HATCH RANCH SADDLE
Cordell from Idaho
This handsome saddle was was a built by Cordell Hatch for a customer from Utah. It is built on a Bill Bean tree with in-skirt rigging and hand tooled floral carving.
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CUSTOM RAFTER S RANCH SADDLE
Chuck from California
Chuck tells us about this custom saddle he made: "This is a ranch saddle built for Bucky McCullar of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It was made from an old standerd Bowman tree taken from a saddle that his father had won as an all around award in California in 1966."
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CUSTOM MARTIN KOSEL SADDLE
Martin from Montana
This flashy saddle was created by Montana saddle maker Martin Kosel. It is built on a Bowman wood tree and has floral tooling on the fork, fenders, and rear jockeys.
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CUSTOM ROSS MILLER WADE SADDLE
Ross from Montana
This is the latest saddle from Dillon, Montana saddlemaker, Ross Miller. Ross has really developed into a fine saddlemaker. He uses only the finest materials - Bill Bean tree, Jeremiah Watt stainless steel hardware, Monel stirrups. The saddle has clever "In-Plate" rigging - Flat-Plate style with the closeness and lighter weight of in-skirt style.
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FIRST SADDLE FROM A TEENAGE SADDLE MAKER
Micha from France
This "interesting" little saddle was Mischa Greschny's first attempt at saddle making as a sixteen year old in 1977. It really demonstrates Mischa's love for western saddles. I doubt too many other French teenagers were making western saddles!
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CUSTOM WOLFGANG FEY WADE SADDLE
Wolfgang from Germany
Wolfgang is a very talented western saddle maker all the way from Germany. This beauty won "Best of Category: Saddles Tooled" at the World Leather Debut 2008 in Sheridan, Wyoming. The flower tooling and bucking horse carving is really wonderful.
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CUSTOM GORDON ANDRUS ROPING SADDLE
Gordon from Wyoming
This handsome custom roping saddle comes from Gordon Andrus of Sage Creek Stock Saddle Co. in Cody, Wyoming, It has an inlaid seat and a pleasing combination of floral and geometric tooling.
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CUSTOM ROSS MILLER ROPING SADDLE
Ross from Montana
This is another handsome saddle from Ross Miller of Dillon, Montana. Ross made this saddle for himself. Ross used a Dean Oliver tree, Wickett & Craig leather, and Jeremiah Watt hardware,. The saddle has on-tree double 7/8 rigging, a double-layered padded seat and some flashy floral tooling.
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JENNIFER PAULSON CUSTOM SADDLE
Jennifer from Oregon
This handsome custom saddle is a Ranch/All Around saddle made on a Cliff Wade tree. It's a real working saddle and very handsome. From Paulson Saddlery of Albany, Oregon.
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KEITH VALLEY CUSTOM SLICK FORK SADDLE
Keith from Montana
Here's a recent saddle completed by master saddle maker, Keith Valley, of Billings, Montana and Jackson, Wyoming. It's a real beauty. You can see more of Keith's work on his website CowboySaddlery.com.
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RON STOLPS CUSTOM RANCH SADDLE
Ron from Canada
This saddle is a unique one with a gambling and cowboy mounted shooting theme. The padded seat is in the shape of a spade, the tooling includes a hand of cards and a mounted shooter, and the conchos are made with actual colt cartridges mounted in leather. Ron made this saddle for his own every day riding saddle. It's truly one-of-a-kind.
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DAN MAYER/JEFF HASLAM CUSTOM WADE SADDLE
Brian from Arizona
Dan Mayer (Lima, MT) built the tree and Jeff Haslam did the leather work on this handsome 90 degree Wade tree saddle. This is a solid, working saddle with a mule skin-wrapped roping horn, Nettles Monel stirrups, and flat plate in-skirt 7/8 double rigging.
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RANCH/ALL AROUND SADDLE FROM 246 RANCH SADDLERY
Kate from Nevada
Kate had this handsome saddle custom made for her by 246 Ranch. It's built on a Visalia A-Fork tree with single 7/8 rigging and a 15 1/2" seat. Kate uses the saddle daily for work.
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CLAIR MULLIN CUSTOM RANCH SADDLE
Claire from Oregon
Another great custom saddle from Clair Mullin. This is a nice working ranch/all around saddle built on a Will James tree. It has a 16 inch seat, 7/8 double plate rigging and custom floral carving. Very nice work, Clair.
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MJ LIGGETT CUSTOM REINING SADDLE
Michelle from Texas
This reiner was custom made for a customer in Finland. It has Hermann Oak leather, sterling conchos, black padded seat, and oak tooling and border stamping with antiqued, dyed edges. I bet this saddle is receiving a lot of looks in Finland.
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CUSTOM ROCKING T OLD TIME SADDLE
Jeremy from Texas
This is a very handsome old time-style, slick fork saddle from Rocking T Saddlery of Greenville, Texas. Rocking T saddles are all made-to-order, by hand. Jeremy says that this saddle was made from pictures of the 1880's U.S. Army "Muleskinner" and the "Packers" saddle. It's a beauty.
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KEITH VALLEY CUSTOM WADE SADDLE
Keith from Wyoming & Montana
This beautiful saddle was the winner of the Open Advanced-Sheridan Style Floral Style Division of the Don King Memorial Saddle Competition in May of 2008. The saddle is a Wade Tree, fully tooled, 78ths rigging with a 16 inch seat. |
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CLAIR MULLIN CUSTOM BUCKAROO SADDLE
Clair from Oregon
This is the latest saddle from custom saddle maker, Clair Mullin of Oregon. Clair makes a very handsome saddle. The saddle is a 3B visalia saddle, 100% rough out, with 5/8 plate rigging, bucking rolls and 1" stainless bound oxbow stirrup. Clair says she made this saddle for a buckaroo in Eastern Oregon. I'm sure that's one happy buckaroo. |
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KARL WICHERN CUSTOM SADDLE
Karl from Nebraska
Karl made this nice starter saddle during a saddlemaking course put on by Tandy Leather and taught by Dick Orent. (Check out the Saddle Library for Dick's book Saddle Doctor's Repair Manual For Western Saddles.) Karl is enjoying learning the craft of saddlemaking and is planning on taking more courses. |
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ROPING SADDLE FROM JOHN BUSCH CUSTOM SADDLERY
Denny from Illinois
Denny bought this fancy saddle from a friend who could no longer ride. The saddle was made in 1981 by John Busch Custom Saddlery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The saddle has matching tooled saddlebags, breast collar, headstall and reins. |
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WILLEM MUIJS CUSTOM SADDLE
Willem from the Netherlands & Kansas
This handsome Slick Fork (aka A Fork) saddle was made by hand by Willem Muijs. It has semi QH bars, 3-way rigging, a 16 inch inlaid, padded seat and is fully hand tooled and carved. Willem has been a saddle maker for 35 years, first apprenticing in Canada. |
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CLAIR MULLIN CUSTOM WADE SADDLE
Clair from Oregon
This handsome custom Wade saddle has 7/8 flat plate rigging, stainless steel stirrups and hardware, rawhide horn and cantle bindings, bucking rolls, and a basket stamp and floral carve combination for decoration. Clair (ClairSaddleShop.com) made it for a woman who does a lot of ranch riding. There's nothing like the comfort of a Wade for long miles in the saddle. |
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CLEBURNE REINING SADDLE
Stefano from Italy
This is a custom reining saddle by Darryl Slinkard of Cleburne Saddle Shop. Cleburne saddles are well known about top reining competitors |
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CUSTOM TRAIL/PLEASURE SADDLE
Susan from Tennessee
This little beauty
was custom made to fit the specific conformation of Susan's APHA performance mare. Hence the very steep slope of the seat. The saddle was made by Jay Bauman of Jay's Custom Leather in Muddy Pond, Tennessee. It has a Tennessean tree, endurance rigging and lightweight leather. |
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AUSTRALIAN WESTERN STOCK FENDER SADDLE
Craig from Queensland, Australia
This is Craig's first attempt at saddlemaking. Looks like he has the knack. This style saddle is popular in Australian and is known as either a Western Stock Fender or Half Breed Saddle. It's an interesting combination between a traditional Australian Stock saddle and a Western Stock saddle. While it has fenders, you'll notice that it has knee pads instead of swells. |
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ROSS MILLER CUSTOM "TROUT" SADDLE
Ross from Montana
This is a great example of the creativity that flourishes in western saddle making today. For a customer who's a fishing fan, Ross created this unique wade saddle with a jumping fish carved on the horn.
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ROSS MILLER CUSTOM ROPING SADDLE
Ross from Montana
This handsome custom saddle is the work of Ross Miller of Dillon, Montana. It's a 1/4 breed rough-out, 15 1/2" seat, with in-skirt rigging. The new owner will be using it for team roping and is definitely going to be looking good while competing. |
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JP JOHNSON CUSTOM WADE SADDLE
Jeremiah (JP) from Oklahoma
After a six year apprenticeship, this is Jeremiah's first saddle created under his own mark - JP Johnson. From the looks of this beautiful saddle, JP learned his craft very well. This saddle will be on display at the "Trappings of Texas" show Feb 23-Apr 29, 2007 in Alpine, Texas. |
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JIM HASBURGH CUSTOM ROPING SADDLE
Jim from Texas
This handsome roper is the custom work of Jim Hasburgh of Hasburgh Saddlery. Jim made this saddle for a Canadian customer who intended to use it, but ended up thinking it was so handsome that he now displays it in his home. In addition to the wonderful tooling, the seat has a stingray inlay. Yes, you read that correctly - stingray! Love it. |
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RON STOLP CUSTOM TRAIL SADDLE
Kelly from British Columbia, Canada
Now this is truly a custom saddle. Ron Stolps is a part time saddlemaker (full time firefighter) from Vancouver. Ron calls this saddle "The Gambler" and it's one of his "theme" saddles. It's made with Herman Oak leather, and is hand stitched and hand tooled. It has a padded soft calf leather seat in the shape of a spade, and hand tooled playing cards and a set of hand guns carved on the side of the saddle. The conches are made of real 38 shells carved into a leather piece the the shape of a revolver cylinder. You just have to love it. |
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CUSTOM ENDURANCE SADDLE
Aafke from the Netherlands
I bet this is a saddle you haven't see before. This beauty is the custom work of Aafke Brouwer and Willem Juijs of Midway USA Saddlery of the Netherlands. It is custom in every sense of the word. The saddle is Aafke's design and her own personal saddle. She did all of the carving and stitching. This isn't just a showpiece, Aafke rides this saddle on her Arabian, Tarq, and says it's a great ride. |
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MEXICAN CHARRO STYLE SADDLE
Janet from South Africa
Janet bought this interesting saddle some years back for about $100 USD in South Africa from a seller who described it as a mexican saddle. Some research has Janet thinking it is a Mexican Charro style saddle. Janet believes the wood tree is likely made from mahogany, which is an indication that it probably wasn't made in the Americas. It has rigging for a traditional cinch/double cinch, but has been adapted to take an 'English' girth with buckles. If anyone has any insight into the saddle, please let us know. But, regardless of it's origins, it's an interesting specimen and a great addition to the saddle gallery. |
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BARREL SADDLE FROM ROCKING T SADDLERY
Jeremy from Texas
This is a new saddle from Rocking T of Greenville, Texas (good saddlemaking country). It has a rawhide-wrapped wooden tree, a high cantle, and deep seat. Jeremy says his girlfriend rides this saddle and likes it alot as a trail saddle too. |
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TEAM ROPER SADDLE FROM ROCKING T SADDLERY
Jeremy from Texas
This flashy saddle is also from Rocking T Saddlery of Greenville, Texas. It comes with with a close contact tree and full hand-tooled floral. |
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SLICK FORK SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN SADDLE MAKER
Chrissy from Nevada
This is a slick fork, buckaroo style working saddle. Chrissy bought it used from a northern California tack shop about five years ago for only $300. She got a great deal. It's a well made saddle that's also a real comfortable ride. And surprisingly light weight for a working saddle. |
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LYLE HENDERSON CUSTOM WADE SADDLE
Keith from Alberta, Canada
This handsome Wade saddle (slick fork with wood post horn) is made in the old style with exposed stirrup leathers and a loop seat. Take a look at those gorgous tapaderos. The saddle was custom made by Lyle Henderson of Platte Valley Saddle Shop in Kearney, Nebraska. Keith notes that it fits both horse and rider well. I bet it's a great ride. |
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STEVE MECUM CUSTOM RANCH-STYLE SADDLE
Jeff from Montana
Steve Mecum is one of the greats in saddlemaking and this slick-fork, buckaroo-style saddle shows it. It's almost too beautiful to ride. |
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RANCH STYLE SADDLE FROM UNKNOWN SADDLE MAKER
Tanya from Montana
This is a well used ranch type saddle from an unknown maker. It was bought used and has been used a lot more since, and it's still a great using saddle. That's the sign of a well-built saddle. |
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STEVE MECUM CUSTOM WADE SADDLE
Pam from Wyoming
Pam had this saddle custom made about 10 years ago and paid about $2000. You won't get near a new Mecum for that price today. Pam asked to have the saddle made as light as possible and had it made as a total rough-out to provide as much grip as possible. Pam says: "I feel very secure in it and also very comfortable and have never gotten sore in it. I especially liked the security when riding in the steep drainages in the Wind River mountains of Wyoming while hunting for elk." |
